Cooperative Extension in Penobscot County

March 4-H 4-U

Table of Contents

• Important Dates to Remember
• County 4-H News
• Club News
• State 4-H News
• Penobscot County 4-H Leaders’ Association

Important Dates to Remember

• March 1: 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States intent to participate form deadline
• March 2: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship deadline
• March 2: Maine 4-H Foundation Post-Secondary Education Scholarships due
• March 6: Volunteer Huddle
• March 7: Maine 4-H Page Day registration deadline
• March 7: 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl
• March 18: Volunteer Connections: Moving into a New Era of Leadership with Teens
• March 19: 4-H Leaders’ Meeting
• March 25-29: Maine Science Festival
• April 11: Speak Up, Maine 4-H! A Public Speaking Showcase

County 4-H News

Speak Up, Penobscot County 4-H

We want every young speaker to have a chance to shine. Since interest was low, we will not hold a county‑wide Speak Up Showcase on March 14. Youth who hope to participate in the statewide showcase must first present at a county‑level event and earn the required qualifying score. If your child cannot attend another county’s showcase, Emily is available to schedule an individual presentation time so they can complete this step. Please email Emily Bishop at emily.pigeon@maine.edu with questions or to set up a time. We look forward to cheering on our speakers!

Fun with 4-H

Beginning this spring, Penobscot County 4‑H will offer monthly programs at the Bangor Public Library on the first Thursday of each month. Our first session will be on April 2 from 3:30 to 4:30. Youth will build their own catapults and compete to knock down paper “brick” walls made from origami cubes. All are welcome to join the fun and explore simple engineering in action.

Seed Starting

Bring the whole family for a fun seed‑starting program at the Millinocket Memorial Library on April 8 from 2:30 to 3:30. While adults learn seed‑starting tips and plant their own seeds with Horticulturist Kate Garland, youth will enjoy a story and a planting activity with Emily Bishop. Everyone will head home with something ready to grow!

Club News

Penobscot Livestock

On March 1st Penobscot Livestock had a zoom meeting. Our club discussed the first show of the year, the Fryeburg Youth Show. The Fryeburg Youth show is held at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds and is April 23 to 26.

Each year our club members must participate in giving a presentation to the group.  This will happen in April and we discussed preparing for this meeting. We also planned our next meeting where we discussed having a presentation on nutrition for cattle.

PVHA

This month PVHA explored algae and discovered how this tiny organism plays a big role in our oceans. After learning about different types of algae, youth made seaweed squishies that let them experiment with chemistry through alginate. The activity was a hit and helped connect science learning with something fun to take home. 

During their business meeting, members shifted gears to begin planning their club display for the fair. They brainstormed ideas, talked through possible designs, and took the first steps toward creating a display that reflects their interests and teamwork.

Shoes N’ Shears

February was a very busy month for Shoes N’ Shears. We learned and got hands on experience cleaning up a lamb after it was born (20 minutes prior to arrival), putting ear tags on the new lambs, and learning about bottle fed lambs and how to care for them. Not only did they learn about the bottle fed lamb, but 2 of the members took home the lamb over February school break and cared for her throughout the day and more importantly, her 2 feedings at night. The kids reported that they felt proud that they could be responsible and are now pushing for more animals at their own home not just the farm.

Another big part of our club this year is incorporating our sports, physical exercise and healthy living. Our members competed in 5 different cheer competitions all over the State of Maine. Members report they like having to move out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves; others noted stepping into leadership roles junior coaching which is also giving them the opportunity to build their confidence in the sport. When asking the younger members in cheer what they enjoyed they reported the comradery with their teammates and all things cheer! Some teams took home grand champion and 1st place, but either way we are so proud of the Shoes N’ Shears members on and off the mats, in muck boots or black shoes!

State 4-H News

Maine Science Festival

The Maine Science Festival will be held March 25-29 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. This FREE event includes a Field Trip Day for 7th- 8th graders, a Teen Tech Night, and Exploration Stations that include demonstrations and hands-on activities involving the sciences. Be sure to put it on your calendar because it really is a fun event! For more information on the Maine Science Festival please go to the website.

It’s Time to Think About Summer Camp!

Looking to take your Maine 4-H Experience to a new level? Check out the summer programs at your UMaine 4-H Camps! Opportunities for living in community, making new friends, building a sense of belonging, and honing your skills in a whole variety of program options such as, outdoor skills, shooting sports, STEM, creative arts, ecology, gardening, team work, and teen leadership. Each camp has scholarship opportunities to off-set tuition costs AND your County 4-H Programs have scholarships to attend camp too. One to three-week sessions available in both day and overnight settings. We hope to see you there!

• Blueberry Cove, Tenants Harbor in Knox County. Dates: June 21-August 14, 2026.
• Bryant Pond, Bryant Pond in Oxford County. Dates: June 21-August 14, 2026.
• Greenland Point, Princeton in Washington County. Dates: June 28-July 31, 2026.
• Tanglewood, Lincolnville in Waldo County. Dates: June 21-August 21, 2026.

Bryant Pond and Greenland Point contact, Bethany: 207.665.2068
Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove contact, Emma: 207.789.5868

Equine ESE Intent Forms Due May 1, 2026

The 2026 Eastern States (ESE) Horse Intent Form is now live and online.  The form is to indicate your interest in participating in the Eastern States Team Tryout event this summer, which will be on July 31- Aug 1st, 2026, at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds.

The event this year will offer an overnight opportunity for youth to qualify and to learn and grow while getting to know other youth who are also interested in trying out. Youth can participate in one of the tracks below:

• Teen Leader (4-H age 12 and up)
• Rider or Driver (4-H age 13 and up)
• Groom track (which is a learning track only)

If youth would like to come and learn about the team, help, and observe (especially if they aren’t old enough to qualify for the team yet), they can also come to tryouts as a “Groom” and will need to fill out the intent form.

Youth interested in any of the track options need to fill out the intent form. We use this info to contact and update interested families and youth.

The ESE intent form is to be filled out by May 1st.  Approval forms must also be filled out and sent to your county office by May 1st as well.

More details will be included in the tryout application packet on the UMaine 4-H Horse website.

The intent form does not bind you to the tryout event. Applications will be used to determine the event roster and final schedule.

If you have any questions, please reach out to: Tara Marble, tara.marble@maine.edu, or 207.778.4650.

4-H Page Day in Augusta – Sign up Now!

Date: March 25, 2026
Where: Augusta, Maine – State Legislature
Time: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Registration Deadline: March 14, 2026 – First come, first serve

Registered 4-Hers age 13 or older are encouraged to serve as Honorary Pages in the Maine House or the Senate on Youth Agriculture Policy Day, March 25th, 2026. The Maine 4-H program has up to 20 slots for Honorary Pages and registration is first come, first serve with a registration deadline of Saturday, March 14.

For more information and details about what a page does, please visit the event page. If you’re interested in participating, register now!  Reach out to Karen Giles with any questions.

Early College Outdoor Intensives

The UMaine 4-H Camps and Learning Centers at Tanglewood and Greenland Point are each offering Early College programs in conjunction with the University of Maine Division of Lifelong Learning. KPE 265 is a 3-credit course focused on skills in outdoor recreation. This is an introductory course in outdoor and adventure activities, forming the foundation of an outdoor leadership education. The course focuses primarily on participation in four different activity categories: canoeing; bouldering and climbing; hiking and orienteering; and challenge course. KPE 207 is a 1-credit course where participants become certified in wilderness first aid (WFA) and CPR.

Registration: Participants must complete enrollment with the University of Maine Early College Program. Once that is completed we will send you an invitation to enroll for the Tanglewood portion of the program.

UMaine tuition for this course is free for Maine high school students (public school & homeschoolers). Tuition for out-of-state students and Maine private school students is $149 for 2026 per credit for a total fee of $596 for 2026. (Please note there is an overnight fee for this course for all participants).

Overnight fees: $900, including all housing, meals, and certification fees, scholarships available.

Tanglewood:
Dates: July 19 – 31, 2026
Ages: 15 – 18
Visit the website for more information and registration links.
Email Tanglewood directly with any questions.

Greenland Point
Dates: August 2 – 12, 2026
Ages: 16 – 18
Visit the website for more information and registration links.
Email Greenland Point directly with any questions.

4-H Public Speaking Update

You asked, we’re excited! Performing Arts demonstrations will now be part of Speak Up, Maine 4-H the statewide Public Speaking Program.

From dramatic monologues to musical performances, this creative category is your time to express yourself and share your spark center stage.

Performing Arts demonstrations include:
– a spoken introduction
– your performance
– and a spoken conclusion

Specific details, including updated evaluation tools and judges’ support for all categories, are now available on the
Speak Up, Maine 4-H website and through county staff.

Maine 4-H Ag Ambassadors – Spring 2026

Maine 4-H is now accepting registrations for the spring 2026 Agriculture Ambassadors cohort! The program is designed for youth ages 14-18 who are interested in any aspect of agriculture. Youth spend time getting to know each other and learn both online and in-person in sessions facilitated by UMaine 4-H Staff and community partners. Sessions will focus on career exploration, exploring the Maine Food System with farm and production visits around the state, and building relationships with industry professionals.

This season we will visit local Maine Ag businesses like Libby Maple, Yeti Ridge Farm and more. Transportation assistance for these events may be available upon request.

In addition to the multi-week session, youth will serve in their ambassador role with Maine 4-H for at least 1 year. Youth will pick an agricultural area to focus on (ex. livestock, ag literacy/food systems, environmental stewardship, ag and health) during their term and explore leadership opportunities locally, statewide, and even nationally. Register today!

Spring 2026 Dates:
Online: March 11, March 18, April 1, April 8, and April 15
In-Person: March 21
Ag Policy Day at the State House: March 25 (optional)

Maine Agriculture Symposium at the University of Maine: April 19-21 (two nights), we try to offer transportation as best we can.

To register visit. For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Alisha Targonski at alisha.targonski@maine.edu or 207.622.7546.

Maine 4-H Sheep ESE Intent to Participate Form Now Available

The 2026 Maine 4-H Sheep ESE Intent to Participate Form  is now available online and must be submitted by April 17th, 2026. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Sheep Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September (including teen leads).

The Eastern States Exhibition (Big E) 4-H Sheep Program brings together 4-H members from six states in Springfield, MA for three days of events that showcase their animals, knowledge and skills. Members must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2025 and have completed at least one year in a sheep project.
Please contact Megan Cook with any questions or for more information at megan.cook@maine.edu or 207-532-6548.

March 2026 4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips, and tricks!

As a 4-H volunteer, you can incorporate simple actions to build belonging. Try out some of these ideas the next time you are working with club members or a group of youth:

• Know each young person’s name and call them by it.
  “Hi, Maria! Glad you’re here today!”
• Use icebreakers and team-building activities.
  These short activities spark fun, help youth learn about each other, and build early connections.
• Create safe spaces, including a shared set of ground rules.
  At the beginning of the year, ask the group: “What do we need to agree on so everyone feels respected and comfortable here?” Write down their ideas (like listening when others speak, no put-downs, etc.) and post the “Club Agreements” on the wall each meeting.
• Encourage engagement.
  Rotate leadership roles each meeting—timekeeper, snack helper, or discussion leader—so every youth has a chance to contribute and feel ownership.
• Utilize discussions to help youth learn from one another.
  After a project activity, ask open-ended questions like, “What worked well in your group? What was challenging? What would you try differently next time?” Then have youth share with a partner or small group before bringing answers back to the whole club.
• Cultivate shared experiences.
  Plan a simple community service project, like making thank-you cards for local first responders, where all members contribute to a common goal. Celebrate afterward with group photos and a reflection about what they accomplished together.

4-H Volunteer Huddle

Join us for a short “gather and learn session” to help you up your game. We meet on the first Friday of each month from 12:00-12:30 pm via Zoom. Whether you are an experienced 4-H volunteer or just getting started, there’s something for everyone. We’d love to see you there! No registration required!

March 6, 2026- Prepare for the Fair
This 4-H volunteer information session will highlight how mentors can guide youth in preparing their animals and themselves for a successful fair experience. Volunteers will learn ways to support members with showmanship skills, animal care, and confidence in the show ring.

April 3, 2026- Doing to Understanding: Applying Experiential Learning in 4-H ClubsLearn how to guide youth through hands-on experiences followed by purposeful reflection, helping them build confidence, critical thinking, and leadership skills.

Please note: The Zoom link and password will be emailed to all enrolled 4-H volunteers, or you can email Tara Wood tara.a.wood@maine.edu to request it.

4-H Volunteer Connections- Moving into a New Era of Leadership with Teens

March 18, 2026  6:30 – 8:00p.m.

In this session, you will learn how to partner with teen leaders to support the 4-H agenda. We’ll explore strategies for collaboration and share real-world examples from Maryland and D.C. 4-H programs. Register here!

Mark your calendars and save the date! Saturday, November 7th! The Maine 4-H Volunteer Summit- More details to come in the upcoming months, but we promise food, fun, connection, and learning! You won’t want to miss it!

Penobscot County 4-H Leaders’ Association

Penobscot County 4-H Leaders’ Association Meeting Minutes – February 19, 2026

Attendance: Emily Pigeon (staff), Lucia Brown (Sec./Treas.), Scott Leeman (Pres.), Donna Keniston, Donna Gangitano, Kaylee K., Leilani Stratton, Suzanne Schropfer

The meeting was called to order at 6:08.

Secretary’s Report: Scott motions to accept the minutes as written, Donna K. seconds.  All in favor.

The sock fundraiser netted $125.  We had no expenses so it was fine.  If we did it again, Lucia would recommend having a better advertising plan.  Lucia heard of a popcorn fundraiser that was successful for others but it relies a lot on social media.  With the small group of Leaders, that can be hard.

Volunteer Voices recap – ease of finding things on UMaine websites is a big source of heartache.  UMaine is revamping from the top down, and staff in the County offices will be trained to take over the website for their County.  They will try to link to the State page so that it is easier to keep things up to date vs posting on the actual website.  Emily and Wendy have done a cleanup of the County site – please check it out and provide feedback.  pdfs and word docs on pages are not accessible for readers who are visually impaired.  They have been putting a lot of forms into Z-Suites while developing accessible versions.

Emily was on the 4-H website looking at curriculum.  She is looking at programming for local libraries.  If our clubs are interested in specific curriculum, please contact Emily to discuss.

4-H is developing an interactive map with 4-H clubs that is clickable, Emily submitted information provided by Leaders – if you didn’t hear from her, check in.

On Z-Suite, youth emails are not being included for teens in particular.  Adding that email to their profile would be helpful if families are comfortable providing it.  This would allow them to be contacted directly for information gathering, etc.

Staff Report

Graduating Seniors?

Macy S. is a senior, and the office will be ordering cords.

Final call for Speak Up

We can host our own county-wide event, youth can attend another county’s event, or if needed, they cannot make any of those dates, they can come to the office to do their talk

Deadlines

• March 1: 2026 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States Intent to Participate deadline
• March 2: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship deadline
• March 7: Registration for Page Day
• March 15: FedCo Seeds Fundraiser deadline

 Current/Upcoming Events

• March 6: 4-H Volunteer Huddle
• Every first Friday of the month via Zoom 12-12:30
• March 7: Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl at Maine Farm Bureau building Augusta, ME
• March 14: Speak Up, Penobscot County Showcase at UMaine Cooperative Extension in Penobscot County Office Bangor, ME
• March 18: 4-H Volunteer Connections: Moving into a New Era of Leadership with Teens
• Via Zoom 6:30-8
• March 25: Page Day – AG Policy, State House Augusta, ME 8:30-3:30

Camperships – One request for Kaylee K. to attend Ignite by 4-H (a National Trip) in March.  She has requested a scholarship of $300 to cover the total cost of $350.  This is a youth leadership and career program to help youth explore their future.  Lucia made a motion that Kaylee’s request be approved, Scott seconded.  All in favor.

Commodity/Event Grants – None.

Fundraising

• Sock fundraiser – We sold 25 pairs.
• Bottle drive – discuss again this spring.
• Fedco fundraiser – Fedco fundraiser – a computer changeover delayed things a bit, but it will be up and running soon. That will run through March 15. No sales so far. It is on the County Facebook page.

Do we think it would help encourage youth to be more active in fundraisers if there was an incentive? Emily wondered about giving 4-H swag? How do we get more participation? Some clubs struggle to get their members to connect with the purpose behind the fundraising and what it means to them.  Younger kids may need some education to understand the connection (financial literacy). The State of Maine is going to be publishing some financial literacy modules – “Learn with Moose”, they offer different programs for K-12. Emily likes the idea of visual, like a temperature gauge, kids could color it in. Emily did like the Bloom for Good marketing aspect. It was easy to take the marketing materials and hang them up.

BSF

Fair book is live on the website.  No walk through has been done yet of the new gate/entry area.  That will be done between now and next meeting since it’s Tourney week right now.  Emily is working with Cross Insurance Center and Corinna for youth hands on activities.  Emily has requested that the Science Center in Orono come down a couple of days and also hopes to have the touch tank available some of the time.  There might be a good poultry activity – the fair gets extra points for that this year!  Share ideas with Emily or join up with her to learn more.

Next Meeting: March 19, 2025 – 6:00 pm

Secretary’s Report

• Staff Reports
• Scholarships
• Camperships
• Commodity Grants
• Fundraising
• Bangor State Fair

Lucia makes a motion to adjourn at 6:39 pm, seconded by Scott.  All in favor.

Contact:  Wendy Robertson, Administrative Specialist, by email at wendy.robertson@maine.edu or by phone at 942.7396 or contact Emily Bishop, Community Education Assistant, email emily.pigeon@maine.edu

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