Piscataquis County 4-H Newsletter, August 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
- August 9: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., The Joy Truck Art Show prep and 4-H enrollment, 71 Railroad Ave., Brownville
- 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., Joy Truck 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. – 5 p.m., Pick up Exhibits from Bell Building
- August 26: 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Tri-County Sampler: Wilderness Skills, Palmyra Community Center, 4 Madawaska Rd., Palmyra
- September 30: 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Tri-County Sampler: Animal Science, Jonathan Bowman Center for Enrichment, 129 Hartland Road, St. Albans
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
Piscataquis Valley Fair!
The Piscataquis Valley Fair is an important place for 4-H and Cooperative Extension to connect with the public. We have hands-on activities and informative displays to engage visitors of all ages. Individual 4-H youth from Piscataquis, Penobscot, and Somerset Counties may show their art, handiwork, informative posters, garden produce, and more. Club members may also get together to share their story by creating club exhibits. The same general guidelines for individual exhibits apply to Bangor State Fair, Skowhegan State Fair, and Piscataquis Valley Fair, making it simpler for youth to participate in multiple fairs. Dates and some details differ; it’s always best to check the Fair Book to be sure.
The Piscataquis Extension Association’s Executive Committee, both past and present, provides most of the volunteer staffing of the Bell Building. In years when the Silent Auction is held, 4-H leaders, parents, and youth are also expected to maintain a presence in the Bell Building.
The Piscataquis Valley Fair Association generously allows enrolled Cloverbuds, 4-H’ers, and Leaders free admission to the Fair with their membership cards! Pick up your cards during office hours or make other arrangements through Anette or Trisha.
Office hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday, 8-4. 207.564.3301.
Anette: anette.moulton@maine.edu or Trisha: trisha.smith1@maine.edu
4-H Youth Exhibit Rules, Piscataquis Valley Fair
- Entries are open to 4-H members and clubs in Piscataquis, Somerset, and Penobscot Counties who are working on approved 4-H projects.
- Entries must be from current 4-H projects for the 2024-2025 4-H year. Exhibits will be judged by the Danish system and will be placed in three groups, BLUE-1st, RED-2nd, and WHITE-3rd. Each qualifying exhibit will be awarded a ribbon and premium. All Cloverbuds (5 to 8 yrs.) will receive a green ribbon and honorarium.
- 4-H exhibits may be brought to the Bell Building at the fairgrounds on Tuesday, August 20th, from 12 p.m.- 7 p.m. Appropriate paperwork will be available on site.
- Youth members must prepare 4-H exhibits.
- 4-H exhibits must be removed from the Bell Building by 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 25.
- For more information and Exhibition Hall Rules, go to the 4-H in Piscataquis County page.
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.
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 to expose 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, Maine 04426.
The Joy Truck Project 4-H Collaborative
The Joy Truck Kids-Only Art Show will be at the Milo Town Hall on August 16, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Youth have been creating pieces at the Joy Truck and on their own to show at the art show and for a Joy Truck exhibit at the Piscataquis Valley Fair. Joy Truck 4-H activities are open to all kids who show up, whether it’s one time or every week.
The Joy Truck is typically open Wednesdays 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. -2 p.m., and second Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 4-H creative exploration on Wednesdays starts at 9 a.m. Free Store Fridays also start at 9 a.m. We sometimes close up early if the weather is too hot or rainy. Donations of art supplies, clothes, books, games, and what-have-you are welcome anytime the Joy Truck is open. The Joy Truck Project will be at 71 Railroad Ave. in Brownville Junction through September!
Do you have a skill to share? Stop by The Joy Truck and talk to one of us, or email joytruckproject@gmail.co
On Saturday, August 9, Joy Truck kids will have the opportunity to enroll in 4-H. Youth have expressed an interest in attending the Piscataquis Valley Fair and have been creating items to sell to earn money. Individual enrollment rewards youth who exhibit at the Fair with prize ribbons and premiums, and their 4-H Membership cards will allow them free admission!
Nightwings 4-H Archery Club
The Nightwings club roster is currently full. They are meeting at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds on Mondays, which began in May. The high temperatures and humidity have made it unsafe to practice Archery several times this summer. Club leaders Levi Rollins and Joel Vail remind youth to drink plenty of water, especially when they are outside and/or being physically active!
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 on the How Do I Become a Volunteer? page, 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: Wilderness Skills
August 26, 5:30-7 p.m. Join 4-H staff and volunteers for August’s Tri-County 4-H Sampler “Wilderness Skills” at the Palmyra Community Center, 4 Madawaska Rd., Palmyra. Piscataquis County 4-H volunteers and Somerset 4-H staff will facilitate activities that prepare youth to be safe and have fun outdoors in Maine!
Please pre-register here so we can bring plenty of snacks and supplies!
Location: Palmyra Community Center, 4 Madawaska Rd, Palmyra, 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 Big E Ruby Morris 4-H Scholarship 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.
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).