March 4-H 4-U Newsletter
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 3: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship deadline
- March 3: Maine 4-H Foundation Post-Secondary Education Scholarships due
- March 7: Speak Up, Piscataquis/Penobscot Regional Showcase registration deadline
- March 7: Maine 4-H Page Day registration deadline
- March 15: Piscataquis/Penobscot “Speak Up, Maine 4-H”
- March 19: Volunteer Connections Growing Beyond the Ribbon
- April 5: Speak Up, Maine 4-H! A Public Speaking Showcase
County 4-H News
Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey Informational Sessions
Monday, March 3rd and 10th from 6–7 pm – Virtual Sessions
Registration is required. All are welcome. The sessions are free.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a two-part online informational session for adults interested in becoming Maine 4-H volunteers. “Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey” will provide participants with information about the UMaine Extension 4-H youth development program through four short e-Learning modules. Attendees will also participate in an experimental learning activity, learn about the key aspects of positive youth development, and be introduced to ages and stages of youth. The two one-hour virtual sessions will wrap up with an outline of next steps and an introduction to a county staff contact to help with the application process if desired.
To register, visit our website.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jennifer Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu, 207.255.3345.
2025 Engineering Week Expo
Saturday, March 8th from 9:00 am -2:00 pm – University of Maine Field House – Orono, Maine
No registration is required. All are welcome. Free event.
Join us for the 2025 Maine Engineers Week Expo at the University of Maine Field House in Orono, Maine! This family-friendly event invites parents, kids, and community members to explore the exciting world of engineering.
We’re welcoming exhibitors to share their innovations and demonstrate how engineers shape our communities and enhance our lives. These exhibits will feature Maine’s leading engineering firms, schools, government agencies, and societies, all eager to engage with young minds and show the amazing career paths in engineering. Your participation will inspire future engineers and help build a strong, diverse workforce for tomorrow.
Speak Up! Penobscot/Piscataquis Counties 4-H Public Speaking Showcase
Share your spark with an audience! Cloverbuds and 4-H’ers may present a Demonstration or Illustrated talk. Youth 9-18 may qualify for the Speak Up, Maine 4-H! Public Speaking Showcase, held April 5 on the UMaine Campus. For more information email Trisha Smith at trisha.smith1@maine.edu or call 564.3301.
March 15th 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Snow date: March 16 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Registration Open: 1/2/2025 12:00 PM
Registration Close: 3/7/2025 12:00 PM
Central Hall Commons, Dover-Foxcroft
System Registration Link (must be logged into ZSuite to go to the registration page):
https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/34969
For more information, contact Trisha Smith at trisha.smith1@maine.edu
Club News
Independent Club
Gabe T. was awarded the UMaine Pulp and Paper Foundation scholarship for Mechanical Engineering. This will be for $8000 per year as long as he maintains their requirements that include internships, weekly meetings, and a GPA of 3.0 or above. He is one of many other 4-H members who have been awarded this honor in the past.
Additionally, he has completed a community service project to aid the Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Brewer. Gabe accepted donations and held a fundraiser to raise money to purchase items to make comfort care bags for families as they await the news/updates on their pets who are patients in the emergency clinic at night or on a weekend. The bags include bottled water, a blanket for their pet, snacks, and activity books to pass the time.
There are also children’s bags with a stuffed animal, kids coloring books and crayons. Each bag has a customized note card wishing them the best for their furry family member. Gabe delivered over 100 of these bags to the veterinary clinic over the February vacation week. The clinic was overjoyed with his efforts.
Gabe also has stayed busy as he is working towards approval for his Eagle Scout project. He presents to the Board of the Boy Scout Council next month in hopes to get his project approved
State 4-H News
Save the Date – 4-H Summer Learning Series
This year, the 4-H Summer Learning Series will take place from July 7 – August 8. Volunteers and staff work together to provide high-quality, hands-on, experiential learning experiences via Zoom. For most workshops, materials are mailed to participants ahead of time, making it even easier (and less expensive) to participate! Workshops and Registration will go live on May 23, 2025. For volunteers interested in presenting workshops, information will be updated in early March. Sign up for updates on our website
4-H Page Day in Augusta – Sign up Now!
Date: March 18, 2025
Where: Augusta Maine State Legislature
Time: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Deadline: First come, first serve, March 7
If you are interested in serving as a page – please complete this form.
An opportunity to participate in 4-H Page Day is being offered on Tuesday, March 18. It is Maine Agriculture Policy Day in the Maine Legislature, a time dedicated to celebrating the hardworking farmers, producers, and agricultural leaders who sustain Maine’s economy and rural heritage. It’s also a time for youth to get actively involved in their democracy, to see how and who makes decisions that impact our state, and to be involved in that process themselves. 4-Hers age 13 or older are encouraged to serve as Honorary Pages. The Maine 4-H program has up to 20 slots for Honorary Pages and registration is first come, first serve with a deadline of March 7.
What does a page do? Legislators are constantly communicating and making decisions while in session and pages make that communication possible. Pages hand out information packets or place the paper information on their desks. Pages will also run communication and documents directly from legislator to legislator. It’s fast paced and pages will be moving around the chambers quite a bit, taking direction from the Clerks. We will meet at 8:30 for pictures and an orientation. Then at 9:00am we will divide our group with one going to the House and the other to the Senate where each group will receive their instructions. Session will begin by 10:00am and will likely conclude around 12:30pm, but the timing is never certain. Lunch will be on your own.
If you have questions or would like to request an accommodation please do so by March 7 by contacting Karen Giles, karen.giles@maine.edu .Thank you!
Penobscot and Piscataquis County Speak Up, Maine 4-H!
The Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties’ Speak Up, Maine 4-H! Public Speaking Showcase will be held at Central Hall Commons, 152 East Main St, Dover-Foxcroft on March 15 at 1:00 pm (with a snow date of March 16 at 1:00 pm). Enrolled youth must register to participate by March 7, 2025 via ZSuite (you must be logged into ZSuite to go to the registration page): https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/34969
For more information, contact Trisha Smith at trisha.smith1@maine.edu
Public Speaking – Save the Date
The state Public Speaking event has a new name! Speak Up, Maine 4-H! A Public Speaking Showcase will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the University of Maine in Orono. The snow date is Sunday, April 6. Stay tuned for events and details on our website soon. Please contact your local county office for information about your local events happening soon.
Become a 4-H Tick Project Mentor!
We are looking for volunteers to guide youth in learning about ticks and community science through the 4-H Tick Project.
Mentors will:
- Facilitate hands-on learning experiences through 4-H activities in classrooms, after-school programs, and/or community events.
- Model tick collection protocols and identification techniques.
- Share best practices for tick safety with young people.
- Make a valuable contribution to their communities.
No prior experience with tick science is required. The training will provide all the necessary knowledge and resources. This opportunity requires volunteers to work with educators and youth in various learning environments, including outdoors in tick habitat.
For more details and to register for the training, please visit: extension.umaine.edu/hancock/tick-project/volunteer.
The deadline to register for the training is March 30, 2025.
Summer Camp at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove
Registration for Summer Programs at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove 4-H Camps is now open! We would love to see you at one of our 4-H Camps this summer! 1 and 2-week overnight camps, day camps, outdoor trips, and teen leadership camps are open for anyone to attend. This is a great opportunity to diversify your 4-H
experience and continue building awesome skills. Scholarships are available from the Camps and the 4-H Foundation to help with tuition costs.
Some sessions fill up fast! To start planning your summer experience, please check out the program pages on our website which have more information and dates. We are excited to welcome you to the Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove Family! For questions, please email or call Emma at the contact information below.
Website: www.umaine.edu/tanglewood
Email: extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu
Phone: 207.789.5868
4-H Volunteer Connections: Register Today!
We are offering THREE virtual interactive sessions this winter for all 4-H volunteers! Join us for regional training and networking opportunities with 4-H volunteers from our 13 states in the North East Region! Session topics include the following:
– Growing Beyond the Ribbon – March 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
To read more about each session and register, go to this link! https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteer-connections/
Sign up for one, two, or all three! Sessions are free, but you must register! Questions? Reach out to Jen Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu. We hope to see you there!
2025 Engineering Week Expo
The Maine Engineering Promotional Council (MEPC) Engineering Expo will be held Saturday, March 8th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at the University of Maine Field House in Orono. This family-friendly FREE event invites the community to explore the world of engineering through demonstrations and hands-on activities. The 4-H Science and Engineering Center will be there along with Maine engineering firms, schools, government agencies, and societies who are invested in engaging young minds in career pathways involving engineering. For more information on the Engineering Expo please go to the website: https://www.engineeringme.com/expo.
Maine Science Festival
The Maine Science Festival will be held March 19-23 times TBD in February 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: https://www.mainesciencefestival.org/.
Explore Maine’s Aquaculture Industry with Virtual Field Trips from 4-H
Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) are an innovative way for youth to explore and learn about places and people that would otherwise be infeasible! These immersive, online experiences bring Maine’s thriving aquaculture industry to life—no travel required.
Accessible at no cost, the Virtual Field Trips are designed to break down geographical and financial barriers, making high-quality, hands-on learning available to all. Register online to receive a link to the VFTs. Each field trip also comes with complementary 4-H activity guides and lesson plans to help facilitate meaningful engagement with youth.
The first VFT currently available features the University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR), a large-scale, land-based aquaculture facility in Franklin, Maine. Additional virtual field trips are in development and will be rolled out throughout 2025 and 2026. These experiences offer insight into seafood production, workforce development, career exploration, and STEM concepts related to aquaculture technologies.
To register for a virtual field trip, visit extension.umaine.edu/hancock/aquaculture/vft.
For more information: contact Carla Scocchi, 4-H Youth Development Professional, carla.scocchi@maine.edu
4-H Science Toolkits
Maine 4-H has a lending library of 4-H Science toolkits. These come with activities and materials around a variety of topics. Recent additions include:
– eBird Explorers, exploring Ornithology for Cloverbuds
– Harmful and Shifting Species, which examines species impacting the Maine coast
– Power Protectors, which involves exploring energy use and an introduction to renewable energy through engineering design challenges.
Reach out to your local 4-H staff person or email 4-HScience@maine.edu to make a reservation or with any questions.
Penobscot County 4-H Leaders’ Association
Penobscot County 4-H Leaders’ Association Meeting Minutes – February 20, 2025
Attendance: Emily Pigeon (staff), Scott Leeman (Pres.), Corinna Caron (VP), Lucia Brown (Treas./Sec.), Donna Gangitano, Brooke Williams, Sadee Mehuren, Kaylee K., Donna Keniston and Tony Keniston.
The meeting was called to order at 6:09 by Scott Leeman.
Special Guest Sadee Mehuren, 4-H Animal Science Professional; started full time in that role a couple months ago. Sadee is joining to answer questions – she doesn’t have a list of dates yet because committees have not gone through the process yet. All of the leaders introduced themselves. The Animal Science Professional. Role was developed based on the need for that leadership in Maine. It was needed to supplement the skills and knowledge of others by someone with a livestock background. Sadee started out with the ESE teams and as a liaison to ESE committees. She is here to support members and leaders. She’s open to suggestions and needs for our and other counties. Sadee is working on a sheep and goat statewide clinic, has secured some funding for the ESE teams and is involved in a variety of things and wants to support in any way requested.
Corinna wondered if there were plans for consistency in ESE forms (intent, etc.). Sadee said probably not because it is dependent on factors outside the control of the committees. Beef is very early, and it would be hard to align the rest with that. Lucia wondered if there could be confirmation/affirmation of receipt of forms. Corinna wondered if Z-Suite could be used in that capacity. Sadee said that she would look into it for the future. She suggested that she could send a list out of youth that had signed up to leaders and county staff. That idea was well received.
Lucia asked about the sheep and goat clinic that was being planned. Sadee said that there was a concern about preparation for the sheep judging and quiz bowl. The goal is for June, after the Cumberland June Jamboree (6/8 TENTATIVE). Two tracks, one for kids that have expressed interest or are new to the project, very basic education. The afternoon would be basic handling and care skills. The second track would be for more experienced participants and would be geared toward a higher level. Wool evaluation, marketing, carcass evaluation, genetics, sheep and goat products, any ideas are welcome. Cumberland June Jamboree is not open to all 4-H participants. Showmanship may be an option or maybe in the future.
Emily has been working with Leah in Hancock County – they would love to have livestock at their June Jamboree. Their youth enjoyed that and would welcome more (6/13 – 6/14).
Lucia asked about the Fryeburg June Jamboree. That may be available this year.
All 4-H commodities have a website and the information needed is on those pages. Volunteers can select projects in Z-Suites – select projects that you want to be notified of. Ask Emily or Sadee for help if you need it.
Secretary’s Report: Scott motions to accept the Secretary’s Report as written, Corinna seconds. All in favor. No discussion.
Staff Reports:
Emily:
4-H fun fact – provide information on resources – we have touch tanks available free of charge for a moment of time due to a grant. The touch tank could be brought to a club; email Emily.
June 13 & 14th at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds – June Jamboree Hancock Cty. is inviting Penobscot County to participate. They would love livestock exhibitors.
Kristy Oullette sent out a needs assessment request form. This is for Maine 4-H constituents’ voices to be heard. You can pick from the option of teens or families meeting with Kristy to make sure 4-H is working for you and meeting your needs. Or you can pick volunteers to meet with Jen Lobley. They both are hoping to focus on retention and ways Maine 4-H can support it. Emily needs to know when, where, and who would like to meet with Kristy or Jen.
Will need to reschedule the Leader’s Meeting for June. Change to June 26th.
Tractor Supply Poster – Emily would like some ideas for the poster to be more eye-catching – would love to gather some to implement before next paper clover days.
Emily is looking for volunteers for the Executive Committee – it is for Penobscot County and would function as a representative of 4-H. Bi-monthly meetings.
Emily reported on upcoming dates and deadlines, which are noted at the beginning of the newsletter.
Club Audits: All Done and turned in!
Camperships/Scholarships: Gabe T. – has applied for $300 toward the CWF trip. The group would like to put the application for Gabe T. on hold for this meeting to gather more information. Emily followed up and reported that Gabe did participate in TSC last fall and was currently participating in the seed fundraiser. Lucia motions that we fund the $300 for Gabe as requested. He provided evidence of participating in fundraising as we requested. Scott seconds. No further discussion. No abstentions.
Emily asked if we wanted to add a line requesting participation in the past year. Emily also asked if the participants should have to submit a project record in order to receive funds. Donna felt that they should have to submit a project record in order to be eligible for funds. We couldn’t implement it until 2026. How would we handle new members? May need to add a spot on the form to address that. We had a lot of discussion about future amendments to the form and what requirements for next year would be.
Post Secondary Scholarships: Due by March 3. Will be forwarded to the Foundation as applicable and acted on at the County level during the March meeting.
Commodity/Event Grants: None
Fundraising: We have been approved by Fedco – Due to limited participation, the deadline will be extended to March 1. A new flyer will be made and publicized. One week to go; put a push on!
Emily has another possible fundraiser – the Maine School Garden Network is selling calendars for 2026 that they have created. Emily could forward the fundraiser information. The group would like to see that.
BSF: First weekend will be July 24-27 (Thurs-Sun) and the second weekend will be July 30-Aug 2 (Wed-Sat). Fair book has been sent out; it was sent to everyone but Brooke; Emily will provide it. Wording has been added regarding club requirements. Some schedule changes, please read closely. Working steer show and 4-H show will be held now on the 2nd weekend. There are 8 market steers. Many farms from around the state will participate in the shows. Brooke requested specific information be added re: the exhibit hall. Emily can address this on the needs request. She will need help, and this will be her last year.
Misc.
There are two gift cards from a former silent auction that were not used. Lupos Gym $25 and Bagel Central – the Bagel Central is an unknown amount and includes a mug. Both are still good. Emily will email the group.
Scott motions to adjourn and Lucia seconds at 7:55 pm. All in favor.
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Next Meeting: February 20th – 6:00 pm at the office or get the link from Emily by zoom.
Secretary’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
Staff Reports
Camperships
Post – Secondary Scholarships
Commodity/Event Grants
Fundraising
BSF – Review past awards and discuss sponsorship and application requirements, if any.
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Discuss fundraising opportunities in September/October. Put it on the agenda in that month.
September/October – Discuss campership form amendments (last 12 mo. fundraising, participation in the past and current year; project record could be submitted for past year participation).
Budget needs to go on the agenda in October.
Add to November Agenda, reminder that Club Audits not submitted timely (November) are due no later than January.
Track attendance from January – November
Contact: Wendy Robertson, Administrative Specialist, by email at wendy.robertson@maine.edu or by phone at 942.7396 or contact Emily Pigeon, Community Education Assistant, email emily.pigeon@maine.edu
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