Piscataquis County 4-H Newsletter, February 2025

February 7, 2025 4-H, News

Table of Contents

Piscataquis County 4-H Calendar

  • February 6, 10-11:30 am, Piscataquis County 4-H Leaders’ Association meeting, Piscataquis Extension Office
  • February 19: 9:30-10:30 am, Dominoes with Jewel, Jim Robinson Field House, Dover-Foxcroft
  • February 19: 1:00-2:30 pm, Dominoes with Jewel, Thompson Free Library, Dover-Foxcroft
  • March 3: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship deadline
  • March 8: MEPC Engineering Expo, Orono
  • March 15: 1 pm, “Speak Up, Maine 4-H” at Central Hall Commons, Dover-Foxcroft. (Snow Date: March 16)
  • March 19-23: Maine Science Festival, Bangor
  • April 5: 10 am, “Speak Up, Maine 4-H!” State Public Speaking Showcase, DP Corbett Hall, Orono

Welcome to the Piscataquis County 4-H Newsletter

Welcome to the Piscataquis County 4-H online newsletter, where we’ll keep folks updated on what’s happening in 4-H around the county, state, and nation! We’ll promote nearby in-person events and online opportunities for youth and families offered through UMaine Extension and other trusted community partners.

County 4-H News

Executive Committee Members Needed

Role Description Purpose:  To support the county Extension office and county Extension staff in implementing the University of Maine Cooperative Extension plan of work in a way that addresses the needs and interests of county residents and aligns with Extension’s mission to help Maine people improve their lives through an educational process that uses research-based knowledge focused on issues and needs.

Time Commitment:  Approximately 12 Executive Committee meetings per year, typically held the third Monday of the month.  In-person and/or Zoom meetings.

  • New members are elected annually for a fixed-year term unless specified otherwise.

Responsibilities: Promote the educational programs of UMaine Cooperative Extension by:

  • Becoming familiar with the staff and programs of the County Extension office and help promote the educational programs offered.
  • Attending scheduled Executive Committee meetings and participating on standing and ad-hoc committees. Signing and completing all mandatory agreements and training. Helping to prioritize staffing needs by making recommendations to Extension administration and serving on search committees as requested. Overseeing the preparation of the County Extension office budget.

Qualifications: Commitment to helping people help themselves through an educational process. Ability to work as a team member. Interest in UMaine Cooperative Extension educational programs.

Benefits:  Becoming aware of the broad range of educational programs, publications and courses available to meet the public’s need through University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Serving as a team member, building upon and learning new leadership skills. Networking with committee members and the community and giving back to your community and making a difference.

For more information or to join one of our meetings, please contact Anette Moulton at anette.moulton@maine.edu or call 207.564.3301

Speak Up, Maine 4-h! Public Speaking 2025. Image with text that reads: Speak Up, Maine 4-H! Showcase your Sparks, Maine 4-H Public Speaking Program

Everyone knows public speaking is one of a person’s most important skills, and almost everyone is afraid of doing it! Maine 4-H has a solid history of preparing youth to speak confidently to a crowd and even pivoted to virtual presentations when we could not gather in person. This year, there is 4-H staff in every county in Maine, and we’re all encouraging our 4-H’ers to participate in Public Speaking. Piscataquis County 4-H will host a Public Speaking Showcase on March 15 at Central Hall Commons; all enrolled 4-H’ers are invited to present. Youth may register as soon as they have a title for their presentation (must be logged in to ZSuite to go to the registration page). Share your spark with your community!

If you’re self-motivated, you can find almost everything you need to know about 4-H Public Speaking on the Maine 4-H Public Speaking website. Megan and Leah are leading a virtual workshop on February 4, for those who would like a refresher. Sign up on ZSuite (must be logged into ZSuite to go to the registration page).

As with most things, public speaking takes preparation and practice, and that’s why we created The Macaws 4-H Public Speaking Club! We meet on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30-5:00 pm at Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft (contact Trisha Smith at email trisha.smith1@maine.edu for schedule). Most of our members plan to present at the Showcase in March, but that is not required in order to participate in the club.

Cloverbuds (age 5-8), as well as older youth, may present at the Speak Up Showcase on March 15. They will receive feedback, but no numerical scores. Older youth will receive both feedback and numerical scores. Their scores may qualify them for the State Speak Up Showcase on April 5 in Orono. Last year, 3 Piscataquis County youth qualified for the State Showcase, and they all won ribbons. We’re looking forward to a great season, and hope to see lots of our friends, families, and neighbors at the Speak Up Showcase on March 15!

Dominoes with Jewel

Dominoes falling around a circular table
An animated graphic of dominoes falling around a circular table for the Domino Mazes activity.

Jewel is a young woman in our community with a passion for making Domino Mazes! She has a YouTube channel where she shares her creations. She has also been sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm at Thompson Free Library on the third Wednesday of the month at Ms. Michelle’s Homeschool Drop-In. During February vacation, on Wednesday, February 19, kids will have 2 chances to build domino mazes with Jewel: from 9:30-10:30 am at the Jim Robinson Field House, and at the library from 1:00-2:30 pm. Come check it out!

State 4-H News

Maine 4-H Ag Ambassadors – Spring 2025

Maine 4-H is now accepting registrations for the spring 2025 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 Mook Sea Farm and Aquaculture and the anaerobic digester at Stonyvale Farm (one of the largest in the US!). Check them both out!  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!

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

Spring 2025 dates
  • Online: March 04, March 11, March 25, April 1 and April 15
  • In-person: March 22 and March 29

Save the Date: UMass Animal Science Academies

UMass 4-H is inviting Maine 4-H members to participate in two-weekend workshops for animal and veterinary science.

The  Explore Vet Science will take place on Saturday, June 14 th and Sunday, June 15th at the UMASS Farm facilities in Hadley, MA. Participants will get hands-on animal experience, working with UMASS faculty and staff, to learn about the work of the veterinarian and career opportunities in animal and veterinary science. There will be an overnight dorm option available. This program is for youth ages 13-18.

The Animal Science Cattle Academy will take place on Friday, June 20th through Sunday, June 22nd at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Northampton, MA. This event is for any 4-Her with a dairy, beef, or working steer project. Participants will learn fitting, showing, and other aspects of their project from several experts from across the northeast! Youth are invited to bring their projects to the academy. However, we may have a local dairy farm to provide dairy heifers this year!

A registration form will be sent out once schedules are finalized for both events. Cost and other program information will be provided with registration. To express interest in the program as well as provide feedback for planning please visit the Forms page for the veterinary science academy and the Forms page for the animal science academy.

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 the Tick Project Volunteer page.

The deadline to register for the training is March 30, 2025.

Do You Know Someone Who is Interested in Becoming a 4-H Volunteer? Tell them about Start Your 4-H Journey!

University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a two-part online informational session for adults interested in becoming Maine 4-H volunteers on February 21 and 28 from 12 – 1 p.m. “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.

Registration is required. The sessions are free. To register, visit our website.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jennifer Lobley, jennifer.lobley@maine.edu, 207.255.3345.

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:

  • Building Connections for Success – February 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
  • Growing Beyond the Ribbon – March 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm

To read more about each session and register, visit 4-H’s Volunteer Connections page!

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!

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.

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, visit the Engineering Expo page.

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, visit the Maine Science Festival page.

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 the Aquaculture Virtual Field Trip page.

For more information: contact Carla Scocchi, 4-H Youth Development Professional, at email carla.scocchi@maine.edu.

4-H Dairy Quizbowl – Save the Date!

The 2025 Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts will be held on March 1st at the Randall Student Center at the University of Maine Augusta. The contest will start at 10:00 AM with the written exam, followed by the individual questions portion and then the buzzer rounds.

This event will serve as the official tryout for the Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Team. The top four eligible 4-H members will be selected to represent Maine 4-H at The Big E in the regional dairy quizbowl contest in September.

Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts are open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members ages 9-18. Youth will be divided into two age categories, Jr. ages 9-11 and Sr. ages 12-18. If you plan on attending please notify Sadee Mehuren via email at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu so that we can prepare for the event.

For more information on the event including the contest rules, please visit the 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl page.

ESE 4-H Dairy Intent Forms Available Now!

The 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States intent to participate form is available on the 4-H Dairy page. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States Team next fall, 4-H members must submit their completed intent form online or to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office before March 1, 2025.

Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971 with any questions.

Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships

Every year, the Maine 4-H Foundation awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to participants in the Maine 4-H Program pursuing higher education, this participation includes traditional club membership, as well as the many other ways youth can engage with 4-H, including at our Camp and Learning Centers. Dozens of different scholarships are available to applicants, and a single application is used for all.

To find out more about available scholarships, and access the application and templates, visit the Maine 4-H Foundation website.  Applications are due to your local UMaine Extension county office or one of our 4-H Learning Centers by March 3, 2025.

The Piscataquis County 4-H Newsletter is published monthly.

For questions or more information, contact: Anette Moulton, Administrative Specialist, by email at anette.moulton@maine.edu, phone at 207.564.3301 or Trisha Smith, Positive Youth Development 4-H Professional, email trisha.smith1@maine.edu.

Office Hours: Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and Wednesdays from 8 am to 12 pm (Noon)

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Institutional Equity and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).