Piscataquis County 4-H Newsletter, July 2025

July 3, 2025 4-H, News

Table of Contents

Piscataquis County 4-H Calendar

  • July 8: 10 a.m., 4-H Leaders’ Meeting, UMaine Extension office, Dover-Foxcroft
  • July 14: 12 p.m., Deadline to register for Bangor State Fair 4-H Educational Exhibit
  • July 14: 3 p.m., Prepare for the Fair: Exhibits and Paperwork, Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds, D-F
  • July 16: 9:30-11:30 a.m., Dominoes with Jewel, Jim Robinson Field House, Dover-Foxcroft
  • July 19: Deadline to reserve exhibit space at Skowhegan State Fair
  • July 21: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., drop off Exhibits for Bangor State Fair (non-perishable), UMaine Extension office, D-F
  • July 23: 2 pm-7 pm, drop off Exhibits at Bangor State Fair, Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
  • July 29: 5:30-7 p.m., Tri-County Sampler, Nature Art. Lakeshore Park, Dexter
  • August 4: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., drop off Exhibits for Skowhegan State Fair, UMaine Extension office, Dover-Foxcroft
  • August 10: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 4-H Goat Workshop, Maison de Chevre, Dover-Foxcroft
  • August 16: 5 p.m.-7 p.m., Kids Only Art Show, Milo Town Hall
  • August 18: 3 p.m., Clean and prep Bell Building, Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds, D-F
  • August 19: 12 p.m.-7 p.m., Drop off Fair Exhibits and paperwork at Bell Building
  • August 24: 3 p.m.-5p.m., Pick up Exhibits from Bell Building

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

Prepare for the Piscataquis Valley Fair!

State and County Fairs are important places for 4-H to communicate with the public. Individual youth may show their art, handiwork, informative exhibits, garden produce, and more in designated 4-H Exhibit Halls. Club members may also get together to share their story by creating a club exhibit. Bangor State Fair, Skowhegan State Fair, and Piscataquis Valley Fair have the same general guidelines for individual exhibits; dates and some details differ. Check the Fair Book to be sure!

Trisha will conduct a “Prepare for the Fair” workshop on July 14th, 3-5 p.m. All Cloverbuds and 4-H’ers who plan to exhibit in the Piscataquis Valley Fair are encouraged to attend. We will review guidelines and the required paperwork, which is common to all 4-H fairs in the state. This includes a completed Life Skills Wheel, so we’ll talk about that and fill some out together.

Besides the opportunity to share 4-H with the public, fairs offer cash premiums for exhibits that earn ribbons. The amount varies by fair, but youth can accumulate a nice little sum and a collection of beautiful ribbons by exhibiting at multiple fairs. Trisha will transport exhibits from Piscataquis 4-H’ers to the Bangor State Fair and the Skowhegan State Fair. Those who wish to exhibit at the Bangor State Fair and/or Skowhegan State Fair may drop off their exhibits and documentation at the office at designated times or make arrangements with Trisha.

Icewings 4-H Community Club

Icewings, Cloverbuds and 4-H’ers are invited to the Prepare for the Fair workshop on July 14. We can schedule a time to make a Club Exhibit together, and we may have time to talk about thoughts for the fall. Join us! We’ll have snacks! 

Piscataquis County Extension Association 4-H Camp Fund

The Executive Committee of the Piscataquis County Extension Association works in partnership with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Piscataquis County Commissioners to ensure UMaine Cooperative Extension maintains a presence in our county. These volunteers also support our programs in more direct ways by judging at events, connecting staff and community, and raising funds. The Executive Committee has committed to making the 4-H camp experience cost-free for Piscataquis 4-H families. There are four Maine 4-H camps around the state, each offering a variety of programs for youth. Funding streams specifically for Maine 4-H camps and campers reduce the financial burden on families, and our Executive Committee is working to eliminate it entirely.

This summer, Piscataquis County youth are planning to attend Maine Sports Afield at Bryant Pond and a two-week immersive experience at Blueberry Cove. Maine Sports Afield introduces teen campers to a wide variety of hunting and fishing opportunities with the goal of exposing them to proven tactics and tips for greater success in the field or on the water. Blueberry Cove’s program focuses on building a connection to the natural world through community building, outdoor living skills, watercraft, farm and food systems, and the arts. 

Contributions to the Piscataquis 4-H Camp Fund may be mailed or dropped off at the Piscataquis County Extension Office, 165 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.

The Joy Truck Project 4-H Collaborative

The Joy Truck Project will spend the summer parked at 71 Railroad Ave. in Brownville Junction! She will be open Wednesdays 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m -2 p.m., and 2nd Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.. We will have 4-H creative exploration on Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., and Free Store Fridays 9 a.m.-2 p.m.. Merrilee will be on hand Saturdays and on other occasions as she is available. Donations of art supplies, clothes, books, games, and what-have-you are welcome anytime the Joy Truck is open.

The Joy Truck 4-H is open to any youth who shows up, whether it’s once or every week. Everyone will be invited to work on creating pieces to show at the Kids-Only Art Show in Milo on August 16 and for a Joy Truck display in the Bell Building for the Piscataquis Valley Fair August 21-24.

Do you have a skill to share? Stop by The Joy Truck and talk to one of us, or email joytruckproject@gmail.com

We’re looking for folks interested in sharing time and expertise with young people in Brownville Junction, and we’d really love to help more volunteers through the 4-H Volunteer application, enrollment, and onboarding process! 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 a.m.-4 p.m.) to see Anette.

Nightwings 4-H Archery Club

The Nightwings club roster is currently full. They meet at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds most Mondays May-October. Club leaders are Levi Rollins and Joel Vail.

Silent Auction Fundraiser

The tradition of the Silent Auction at the Piscataquis Valley Fair has been revived! The Piscataquis 4-H Leaders’ Association, which provides financial support for local youth to attend 4-H camps and National Trips, as well as program supplies for clubs, is organizing the fundraiser. Materials are available at the office or from Joel or Levi.

Fundraising is not just about the money, although that is the core motivation. Youth are expected to participate in fundraising as part of their 4-H experience. It’s an excellent way to raise awareness of 4-H and practice Public Speaking skills. It can be fun and interesting to learn about and visit the businesses that shape and serve our community. You never know what can grow from a simple interaction!

The Silent Auction has been quite successful in the past, both financially and by increasing community connections between youth and business owners in the area. It can also be a great draw to the Bell Building so more folks can see the 4-H exhibits as well as view and bid on Silent Auction items. 

Other skill-building aspects of the Silent Auction include setting up an attractive display, inviting fairgoers to the Bell Building, assisting with record keeping and providing security. Youth, parents, and volunteers are responsible for setting up the display on Thursday evening at the Fair, and staffing the Silent Auction with at least one 4-H volunteer and at least one youth at all times the Bell Building is open. Executive Committee volunteers and/or Extension staff will also be present during open hours. See the Bell Building Staffing Schedule for details.

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 a.m.-4 p.m.) to see Anette.

State 4-H News

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

Tri-County 4-H Sampler

July 29, 5:30-7 p.m. Join Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset County 4-H staff for July’s Tri-County 4-H Sampler “Nature Art” at the Lakeshore Park in Dexter. We’ll break the ice with parachute play, then make dirt babies and explore the park for bits and pieces to create foraged friends. Parents are welcome to participate and encouraged to learn more about how 4-H can fit into their families’ lives. We can chat at the handwash station, over the DIY trail mix bar, and as we’re guiding youth to set up their dirt babies and foraged friends for display. Our evening will conclude with young participants telling the rest of us about their creations. Enrolled Cloverbuds and 4-H’ers may go home with an exhibit or two for the Fair!

Please pre-register here so we can bring plenty of snacks and supplies!

Location: Lakeshore Park 16 Crockett Rd, Dexter, ME

For more information or a request for reasonable accommodations, contact Emily Pigeon, Community Education Assistant, Penobscot County 4-H, Phone: 207-942-7396, Email: emily.pigeon@maine.edu.

Maine 4-H Celebrates “The Year of Youth in Agriculture” with New Ag Challenge

The state of Maine has officially declared 2025 as “The Year of Youth in Agriculture,” an exciting initiative to highlight the vital role young people play in the future of our state’s agricultural landscape. In celebration of this significant declaration, Maine 4-H is thrilled to encourage all our members to delve deeper into the rich and diverse world of Maine agriculture.

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Maine 4-H as well as the economy and heritage of our state, offering a vast array of unique and rewarding opportunities, from traditional farming and livestock management to innovative food production, sustainable practices, and agricultural technology. This is the perfect time for our 4-H members to explore the many facets of this dynamic industry.

To help you do just that, Maine 4-H is launching the 4-H Ag Challenge! This special challenge is designed to guide members through an exploration of the unique and vast opportunities within Maine agriculture. To complete the challenge, members must complete activities from each section, with the number of required activities varying by age group:

  • Cloverbud (ages 5-8): 2 activities per section
  • Junior (ages 9-13): 3 activities per section
  • Senior (ages 14-18): 4 activities per section

4-H Ag Challenge Download (PDF)

Once you’ve completed your activities, please return the form to the 4-H Ag Leadership team at extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu or to your local UMaine Extension office. As a special reward for completing the challenge, you will receive a specially designed Maine 4-H Ag Challenge hat! Prizes will be mailed to those who complete the challenge. This challenge will run through the entirety of 2025, giving you plenty of time to explore!

If you have any questions, please contact: 

Megan Cook
4-H Youth Development Professional, Aroostook County
megan.cook@maine.edu
207.532.6548

Big E Ruby Morris 4-H Scholarship

Every two years Maine has the opportunity to select an Eastern States Exposition participant to receive a $500 scholarship towards continuing his or her education beyond high school, and this is one of our years!

This is a scholarship that was established by The Morris Family who are longtime concessionaires at ESE.  A total of three $500 scholarships are awarded each year. In 2025 and future odd-numbered years, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont will each name a scholarship recipient.  In even-numbered years, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut name a scholarship recipient.

Visit the website for all information about applying.  Materials must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025.  If you have any questions, contact Jessy Brainerd at 207.581.3877 or jessica.brainerd@maine.edu.

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 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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