Piscataquis County 4-H Newsletter, May 2025
Table of Contents
- Piscataquis County 4-H Calendar
- Welcome to the Piscataquis County 4-H Newsletter
- County 4-H News
- State 4-H News
Piscataquis County 4-H Calendar
- May 8: 10 am, 4-H Leaders’ Meeting, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Office, Dover-Foxcroft
- May 12: 3:30 pm, Needs Assessment for Piscataquis 4-H Families, Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds, Dover-Foxcroft
- May 27: 5:30 pm Tri-County 4-H Sampler, Aquatic Touch Tank at Newport Cultural Center, Newport
- June 5: 10 am, 4-H Leaders’ Meeting, UMaine Extension office, Dover-Foxcroft
- June 7: 9 am, Black Fly Festival, Milo
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
Thank You
Josh and Harold have finished fixing the 4-H display cases in the Bell Building at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds. Thank You!
Tractor Supply Company Paper Clover Campaign April 18-May 5
Check out our display at the Dover Tractor Supply, and thank them for their support!
Icewings 4-H Community Club 
For our last regular club meeting of the season, we dug into the planting boxes outside “The Wiley House” next door to Central Hall Commons. We removed rocks from selected planting beds, incorporated compost, and planted peas. One of our more experienced youth gardeners noted that pea trellises may be needed to optimize pea harvest. Most of our 4-H’ers have their own garden beds or help their families garden. We hope to see some beautiful produce in the Bell Building at the Piscataquis Valley Fair this year!
The Commons Crew hopes the garden boxes will provide interest and activities for a wide range of people in our community. The Commons Community Garden is supported by grant funding and donations from local businesses as well as larger suppliers, such as Johnny’s Selected Seeds and Coast of Maine soil amendments. Contact Tami Cox (tcox@centralhallcommons.org) to learn more about events and activities at Central Hall Commons!
Piscataquis County 4-H Needs Assessment with Kristy Ouellette and Jen Lobley
May 12, 3:30 pm
Piscataquis Valley Fairgounds
We Want to Hear from You!
Join us for an informal 4-H Family Needs Assessment session!
We are gathering to listen, learn, and better understand the needs of our 4-H families. Your input is incredibly important as we plan for the future of our programs. This is a relaxed opportunity to share your experiences, ideas, and hopes for 4-H.
We can’t wait to hear from you and work together to strengthen our 4-H community!
The Joy Truck Project.
The Joy Truck project, which began as a “roaming resource center,” has ceased to roam. She will be parked in Brownville Junction for the summer, where neighborhood volunteers will facilitate creative expression and other activities for youth. Thompson Free Library’s Read and Feed program will also bring books and fresh produce to the neighborhood twice a month through the summer!
We’re looking for folks interested in sharing time and expertise with young people, and we’d really love more volunteers who have 4-H training and background checks!
Please contact Trisha by email for more details: trisha.smith1@maine.edu.
Nightwings 4-H Archery Club
The Nightwings 4-H Archery Club resumes weekly meetings at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds on May 5 at 3:30.
Piscataquis County 4-H welcomes caring adults who want to make more opportunities available for our youth. Completing the application, introductory training, background check, and interview may be daunting, but we will help you through it. Get started here, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you hit a snag.
Contact Trisha by email (trisha.smith1@maine.edu) and make an appointment or stop by the office (hours: M, Th, F 8-4) to see Anette.
One Tomato
Since 2014, thousands of cherry tomato seedlings have been distributed around Piscataquis County by UMaine Extension staff and volunteers. The Executive Committee has committed to continuing the tradition of One Tomato in 2025, and Piscataquis 4-H youth are invited to participate.
We will have seedlings at the Black Fly Festival and other locations around the County at the end of May and early June. Keep your eye out for a One Tomato distribution near you!
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.
Maine Delegates Represented at National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C.
This April, three outstanding youth—Sabrinnah, Kaylee, and Kai—and a chaperone, traveled from Bangor to Washington, D.C., to represent Maine at the National 4-H Conference. Over six packed days, delegates from across the U.S. and its territories gathered for roundtable discussions, leadership development, cultural exchange, and connection with federal agencies. Highlights included the high-energy pin trade, a powerful multilingual recitation of the 4-H Pledge, and engaging presentations from collegiate facilitators. The Maine group quickly bonded with delegates from other states and territories, exchanging ideas, stories, and plenty of state-themed pins. Youth explored topics ranging from youth mental health to artificial intelligence and public land access.
The delegation also toured Washington’s historic monuments by night, danced with Coyaba Dance Theater performers, and visited both Maine senators’ offices on Capitol Hill. A behind-the-scenes Capitol tour, a walk through the U.S. Botanic Garden, and a brush with American history at the Smithsonian made for unforgettable memories. The week culminated in youth-led presentations to agencies including NASA, the CDC, the USDA, and the Pentagon, showcasing real-world applications of 4-H leadership. Wrapping up the conference, delegates attended a career expo at the Smithsonian and a celebration dance where music, laughter, and new friendships filled the ballroom. From pin trading to policy discussions, Maine’s 4-H youth made a lasting impression and returned home inspired, empowered, and eager to share their experiences. National 4-H Conference is one of several different opportunities Maine 4-H Members have to travel around the country and represent Maine on the national stage. Learn about applying for National 4-H Conference and Congress.
Skip the Stress – Get Into College with 4-H Direct Admissions!
Great news for Maine 4-H high school juniors and seniors: applying to college just got a whole lot easier. With 4-H Direct Admissions, you can be automatically considered for admission to all seven of Maine’s Public Universities—no Common App, no test scores, no essays, no recommendations, and no application fees required! If you’re enrolled in any 4-H program in Maine, you’re eligible. Just click to opt in, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Click here to opt in. We will do the rest.
Click here to learn more about 4-H Direct Admissions.
This is your future—made simple. #BeyondReady
Important Announcement: Maine 4-H Days Update
We want to let you know that Maine 4-H Days will not be held in 2025. While we know this event is a cherished tradition for many, we’re taking this time to restructure and reinvent the experience to better serve our 4-H community in the future.
Our goal is to create an event that is more engaging, inclusive, and aligned with the evolving needs and interests of Maine youth and families. We appreciate your patience and continued support as we work behind the scenes to reimagine what Maine 4-H Days can be. Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to share your ideas—we’re excited for what’s ahead!
Make Your Voice Heard – 4-H Annual Index Survey Now Open!
We’re inviting youth ages 12–18 to take part in the National 4-H Annual Index Survey—a brief, 8- minute survey that helps measure the impact of 4-H across the country. By participating, your child’s voice will help shape the future of 4-H in Maine and beyond.
Survey Deadline: June 30, 2025
Take the survey here.
By submitting the survey, you’re giving permission for your child to participate. Youth can choose to stop the survey at any time. Let’s make sure Maine youth are represented—thank you for supporting this important effort!
4-H Dairy Judging May 10th
The 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on May 10th at Lambert Run Farm in Norridgewock, ME. The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the 2025 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team. For a complete schedule for the day, please visit the 4-H Dairy Judging Contest webpage.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.
2025 UMass 4-H Cattle Academy
Registration for the 2025 UMASS 4-H Cattle Academy is now open! This event will take place from June 20-22nd at the Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton, MA. Youth who have a beef, dairy, or working steer project or are thinking about trying out a cattle project are invited to experience hands-on learning in washing, fitting, clipping, showmanship and more!
Please register by June 1, 2025. See you at the academy!
Fryeburg Fair 4-H Market Lamb Intents Due June 5 th
Intent forms for Fryeburg Fair market lambs are now available online. Market Lambs must be owned and in possession of 4-H’er by June 1, 2025, and must be a castrated male. In order to be eligible for participation, 4-H members must meet the following requirements:
Send Intent to Sell Form, original bill of sale/value of lamb statement, and pictures of your animal (front and side view) to your county office by June 5th.
Animal approval forms for lambs must include the scrapie tag number and list “Fryeburg Sale” as the show class.
Additional requirements as well as the fillable online form can be found here. For more information, please contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971; sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or the State 4-H Office at 207.581.3877.
Tri-County 4-H Sampler
Do you know someone who may be interested in 4-H? Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset County staff are hosting workshops on the last Tuesday of each month from April to September. There will be different workshops for youth to attend each month; this month, it will be Aquatic Touch Tank. Guardians will have a chance to talk to 4-H staff about youth enrollment and volunteer opportunities. Check back each month for the activity and location. This is a free event. Registration is required via ZSuites, for 4-H members and non-4-H members.
Location: Newport Cultural Center, 54 Main St, Newport, ME
Date: May 27, 5:30 – 7:00 pm
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Emily Pigeon at emily.pigeon@maine.edu or 207.942.7396.
Speak Up, Maine 4-H! 
We need your ideas! We are hoping to add a new category to the Speak Up, Maine 4-H Public Speaking program and State Showcase in 2026. Members and families can fill out our idea form here.
Questions? Please contact the planning committee at speakup4h@maine.edu or Laura Personette at (207) 581-8213.
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.
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).