Extension Perspectives Newsletter – May 2025

May 6, 2025 News

Mark your calendar! 

Click here for a list of all events, workshops and classes throughout Extension. In Person and On Demand Events here.

May 7 – Soil Testing Questions Answered at Waldoboro Public Library, 5-6:30 pm

May 8 – Pollinator and Pest Management in Hope

May 8 – Insects: Maine’s Oddballs, Tricksters & Lookalikes

May 13 – Sprayer Calibration, Pollinators, and Pest Management in Jonesboro

May 15 – Interpreting Soil Test Results

May 20 – ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Course/Exam

May 28 – Sprayer Calibration, Pollinators, and Pest Management in Orland

May 29 – Freeze Drying at Home

June 21 – 2025 Sheep Shearing School

July 8 – Pasture Walk – Searsmont

Aug 20 – Pasture Walk – Rockport

Happening in Waldo County

May 29 – Farm Tractor Safety Certification Course and Workshop 

In this issue…

Maine Families

4-H Happenings

Commercial Agriculture

Home Horticulture

Maine Families 

Celebrating Early Childhood Education

As We Welcome the Month of May
As we welcome the warmth of May, we’re excited to share some updates, helpful tips, and new opportunities with all of you. This month is all about growth, learning, and building strong connections within our homes and communities. 

🌸 May: A Time for Growth and Connection
May is a month of growth, and what better time to reflect on the progress we’ve made together and set new goals for the future? Whether you’re enjoying the outdoors or making memories inside, we’re here to support your family’s journey every step of the way.

👶 Growth Milestones & Early Learning Tips
The Maine Families team is here to help you track and celebrate your child’s development. From physical milestones like rolling over or walking to cognitive milestones like problem-solving and language development, every little achievement is worth celebrating!

Here are a few simple activities to support your child’s growth this month:

  • Language Development: Read a book together every day. Ask questions about the pictures and talk about the story to encourage communication.
  • Fine Motor Skills: Practice using playdough, finger paints, or even simple puzzles to help your child strengthen their hand-eye coordination.
  • Outdoor Exploration: Spring is the perfect time to get outside! Explore nature by going on walks and talking about what you see—leaves, flowers, animals, and more.

💡 Parenting Tip for a May
Consistency is Key: Establishing routines helps children feel safe and understand what comes next. From bedtime routines to meal times, the more consistent you can be, the more confident and secure your child will feel.

📅 Upcoming Events

  • Spring Playdate Event: Join us for a fun playdate at [Location] on [Date]. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other families, enjoy outdoor activities, and share ideas with one another!
  • Parenting Workshop – “Raising Confident Kids”: This workshop on [Date] will provide tips and tools to help nurture your child’s self-esteem and encourage positive behavior at home. RSVP by [Date] to secure your spot!

🌸 Closing Thoughts
Thank you for being a part of the Maine Families family! We’re so proud of the hard work you’re doing to create a nurturing environment for your little one(s). Remember, we’re here to support you every step of the way – whether it’s with milestone tracking, parenting advice, or just a friendly chat.

Enjoy this beautiful month of May, and as always, reach out if you need anything.

If you have questions about Maine Families Home Visiting in Waldo County or want to learn more about our upcoming Group Connections, please call us at 207.322.2879 or email melanie.l.bryan@maine.edu.

4-H Happenings

4-H Dairy Judging
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 extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/judging/.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.

Fryeburg Fair 4-H Market Lamb Intents Due 
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:

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.

4-H Sheep and Goat Clinic
Maine 4-H is hosting a sheep and goat clinic on June 8th! Join us at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds for a day of hands-on learning. Workshops will be for both new and experienced project members and you don’t need an animal to participate. Registration details will be available soon.  

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!

Maine 4-H State Dairy Show
The Maine State 4-H Dairy Show will be held on July 18-20th at the Windsor Fairgrounds. All 4-H dairy project members are invited to attend. There will be a grilled cheese cookoff, a milkshake making contest, and a fitting contest on Saturday followed by a show on Sunday. For more information visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/maine-4-h-state-dairy-show or contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971; sadee.mehuren@maine.edu.

Let’s make sure Maine meets our goal this year. Please complete the survey by June 30, 2025. 

4-H Summer Learning Series
This year, the 4-H Summer Learning Series will take place from July 7 to 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 beforehand, making participation even easier (and less expensive)!  Workshops and Registration will go live on May 23, 2025. Information will be updated in early March for volunteers interested in presenting workshops. Sign up for updates on our website.

2025 ESE Working Steer Information
The 2025 4-H ESE Working Steer Tryout information as well as updated team information can be found online at extension.umaine.edu/4h/working-steer/. New this year are ESE Working Steer Intent forms, updated tryout requirements, team apprentice guidelines, and volunteer interest forms. If you have any questions, please contact Hillary Arsenault, ESE coordinator, at maineworkingsteer@gmail.com; 207-592-3320 or Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu; 207.342.5971.

Smithsonian 4-History Project and 4-H Youth Have A Voice!
We currently have openings for the Smithsonian 4-History Project as part of the 4-H program Youth Have A Voice. In this project, 4-H’ers will conduct research and interviews to learn more about their community and share their findings through a video project with support from 4-H leaders and the Smithsonian team. The project will last from August 2025 to March 2026. See the attached flyer for more information!

Additionally, we have openings in the “traditional” 4-H Youth Have a Voice program for Maine teens (14 -19 years old or entering high school in the fall) who are interested in taking a more active role in serving their local communities, the state, or the country. Participants will learn leadership skills and ways to take part in civic action by completing a service project in a topic of their interest. Topics can range from agriculture, aquaculture, STEM education, animal care, renewable energies, disaster preparation, environmental conservation, food security, and more.

Interested teens should be ready to work both independently and with groups of peers and adults. High school teens can register for the program by completing a non-competitive application found on the program webpage. A three credit Early College course at UMaine in leadership development may also be available for interested students.

If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Hudacs, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, (207) 581-8204, andrew.hudacs@maine.edu.

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: https://4hcouncil.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_envLlXgHZyRJGXs

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!


Waldo County 4-H Calendar extension.umaine.edu/waldo/4h/4-h-calendar/

State 4-H Calendar extension.umaine.edu/4h/events/category/calendar/month/

For more information on how to get involved in Waldo County  4-H, please contact your local UMaine Cooperative Extension 4-H professional, Karen Giles at karen.giles@maine.edu or call 207.342.5971.

Commercial Agriculture

Soil Testing Questions Answered at Waldoboro Public Library 

Brett Johnson, sustainable agriculture educator at University of Maine Cooperative Extension, will present at the Waldoboro Public Library, 958 Main Street, about the benefits of soil testing before planting begins. The program will take place on Wednesday, May 7 from 5–6:30 p.m. 

Soil testing is a cost-effective practice to optimize fertilizer use and steward the environment. Soil fertility changes over the course of the growing season and requires active management. Annual soil testing helps to produce your food or forage crop in an efficient, economical and environmentally sustainable manner. Participants can have their questions answered and receive a soil test kit. For more information or to request reasonable accommodation, contact Pamela Doherty at pamela.doherty@maine.edu, 207-832-0343.

As a sustainable agriculture educator with UMaine Extension, Brett Johnson serves commercial producers in Waldo, Knox and Lincoln counties through educational programming and direct technical assistance. Johnson also serves as the statewide farm business management educator with Extension and coordinates Extension’s statewide business planning course, Business Planning for Producers. His research and educational programming are broadly concerned with the economic and environmental sustainability of farm businesses in Maine. He can be reached at brett.w.johnson@maine.edu or by phone at 207.342.5971.

Tractor Safety Workshops

Thursday, May 29 from 12:00 – 3:00 PM

Waldo County Gardens
685 Swan Lake Ave., Swanville, ME 04915

Join UMaine Extension’s Farm and Tractor Safety Team for an on-farm workshop demonstrating the fundamentals of tractor safety. This 3-hour workshop will include a review of safety risks when operating a tractor and steps for avoiding accidents. Instructors will demonstrate safe and efficient implement attachment and use. Participants will also learn about tractor parts and basic maintenance for the safety and longevity of the equipment.

This program is designed for youth, farm workers, and new tractor owners to increase their awareness of the risks associated with operating equipment and the basics of safe operation.

REGISTER HERE

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Billiejo Pendleton; billiejo.pendleton@maine.edu.

Pollinator and Pest Management in Hope
Thursday, May 8, 2025 4:00 PM
Time: 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Location: Brodis Blueberries, 87 Jones Hill Road, Hope, Maine 04847
Directions: Off of Route 235; cannot come from the town of Appleton
Cost: Free Register here

Sprayer Calibration, Pollinators, and Pest Management in Jonesboro
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 4:00 PM
When: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Time: 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Location: UMaine’s Blueberry Hill Farm, 1643 US-1, Jonesboro, Maine 04648
Cost: Free, For more information, click here.

Home Horticulture

Insects: Maine’s Oddballs, Tricksters & Lookalikes
Thursday, May 8, 2025 5:00 PM Register here

Get answers to questions such as: can you tell the difference between a sawfly larva and a caterpillar? If you saw an eastern cicada killer would you fear you had seen a “Murder” hornet instead and think that they had arrived in Maine? Can you tell a weevil from a tick? Or a booklouse from a bed bug nymph? Fool you once … shame on them! Fool you twice, shame on you for not attending this workshop!

Charles (Charlie) Armstrong hails from western NY State with a bachelor’s in biology and a master’s in entomology, the latter of which came from UMaine-Orono in 1996. He has been UMaine Extension’s cranberry guru since 1997, helping Maine’s cranberry industry with all-things pest-related, and beyond! For the past three years, Charlie has also been serving as our Extension Insect Diagnostician out of the Diagnostic & Research Laboratory in Orono, identifying not only insects, but other critters such as mites, spiders, and jumping worms. He loves gardening but has never been home enough during the day to do it justice or to even attempt it as much as he would like, so he is very much looking forward to retirement when he can finally give that a go!

 

Interpreting Soil Test Results
Date: May 15, 2025
Time: 5:30 -7:00 PM
Location: UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm, 200 Presumpscot Point Road, Falmouth, ME 04105 

Registration: Sliding Scale $10, $15, $20, Register here.

You tested your soil, and got a comprehensive report back in the mail…now what? This workshop will prepare participants to interpret their soil test results and make necessary adjustments for the growing season. We will break out the pencil and calculator to do some soil test math, review soil amendments, and discuss best practices for building soil fertility at your home, community, or market garden.

Remember, Cooperative Extension has a variety of publications available that may interest both you and your clients; everything from agriculture, small business, home, family and youth, gardening, and lots more! So pull up a chair and browse the publications catalog. You’ll be amazed at what you find!

UMaine Extension Garden and Yard 

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Garden and Yard publications are available to download.  You can find these publications at www.extension.umaine.edu/programs/. 

To Sign up for the Extension Perspectives Newsletter, click here, call 207342.5971 or email billiejo.pendleton@maine.edu.

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