4-H News in Washington County – May 2025
Dates to Remember
June Jamboree
Washington County Extension Association invites public to annual meeting on May 31
Washington County 4-H Photo Contest
4-H Camp and Learning Centers Scholarships Available
Congratulations Soren, Ira, and Théo!
4-H Science Friday
Conservation Career Club
Crafting Clovers
Oh Yea 4-H Grows True Leaders
News from the State
Dates to Remember
May 10: Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest
May 16-18: Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE)
May 23: 4-H Science Fridays-Gardening
May 24: Oh Yea 4-H Grows True Leaders Crisscrossing Paths at Sipp Bay Preserve
May 31: Washington County Extension Association Annual Meeting
June 5: Fryeburg Fair 4-H Market Lamb Intent Forms Due
June 8: 4-H Sheep and Goat Clinic at Cumberland County Fairgrounds
June 13: 4-H Camp and Learning Centers Scholarship Deadline
June 13-14: June Jamboree at Blue Hill Fairgrounds
June 14-15: Explore Vet Science, UMASS Farm facilities in Hadley, MA
June 20-22: 2025 UMass 4-H Cattle Academy
June 27: 4-H Science Fridays-Fish Biology
June 30: 4-H Annual Index Survey Deadline
July 6-11: Maine Summer Transportation Institute (MSTI) Residential Camp
July 7-August 8: 4-H Summer of Science Learning Series
July 18-20: Maine 4-H State Dairy Show, Windsor Fairgrounds
July 25: Washington County 4-H Photo Contest Deadline
November 28 – December 2, 2025: 4-H Congress in Atlanta, GA
June Jamboree
You’re invited to another exciting June Jamboree weekend! The 2025 June Jamboree will be held on June 13-14 at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds. Plan to camp with us on the fairgrounds on the 13th, and wake ready to participate in fun-filled workshops and activities on the 14th! Workshops will include hands-on crafts, engineering, and animal science. The “Anytime Science” and “Anytime Craft” tables will run between workshops all day on Saturday, June 14 – be sure to stop by to explore! Registration will open to enrolled 4-H members on May 7. Workshops are first come, first serve, so don’t delay! The public may begin registering on May 19. Registration closes May 30, so sign up now!
Washington County Extension Association invites public to annual meeting on May 31
Washington County Extension Association is hosting an annual meeting from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension office, 116 O’Brien Avenue on the campus of the University of Maine Machias. The rain location is the Larson Conference Room in the Reynolds Center.
The free public event includes the annual meeting of the Washington County Extension Association where the Norman W. Duzen Community Service Award will be presented to an outstanding volunteer. The program highlight will feature 4-H’er Kai B. sharing details from her experience at the National 4-H Conference in Washington D.C. and Soren D. giving his Speak Up! presentation entitled, Machias Dike and Marsh: What Should Be Done?.
The event will include lunch and showcase programs and services offered by UMaine Extension. Attendees will enjoy a goat petting zoo and a screen printing activity. Attendees can pick up free seeds, tick spoons and soil tests while supplies last.
For more information and to RSVP for the meal, visit the Washington County Extension Association Annual Meeting webpage by May 21. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Tara Wood at 207.255.3345 or tara.a.wood@maine.edu.
Washington County 4-H Photo Contest
It’s that time of year again! All 4-H youth are encouraged to snap photos and enter them into the annual photo contest. This is a great opportunity to experiment with your photography skills, hone in on specific skills you’re working on, or simply practice the art of slowing down and taking in your surroundings.
We have added a new category this year…action!
All entries are due by Friday, July 25th. Visit the webpage for more information, including categories, guidelines and rules, and judging criteria.
4-H Camp and Learning Centers Scholarships Available
We currently have four scholarships remaining to attend camp at one of the 4-H Camp and Learning Centers in Maine. Youth must currently be enrolled in the Washington County 4-H Program and registered for camp. Please complete the 4-H Camp Scholarship request form by June 13, 2025 to apply. This is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. This scholarship is in addition to ones being provided by the 4-H Camp and Learning Centers.
Congratulations Soren, Ira, and Théo!
Soren D., Ira D., and Théo M. represented Washington County 4-H at both the county and statewide public speaking showcase. Each year, they bring creative and innovative topics to life through their illustrative and demonstration talks. It’s truly inspiring to listen and see how they are navigating and becoming masters of their sparks.
Club Updates
4-H Science Friday
This group took full advantage of the beautiful, warm weather and spent the afternoon learning STEM outside! Youth got to know each other a little better by participating in an icebreaker game. Then, they spent the next hour or so modeling the greater Machias community by making their own topographic maps. Youth made play-dough with a NASA recipe, measuring ingredients, adding them in the correct order, and kneading the dough. They used the play-dough to model the topography of the landscape, then added water. The group discussed their experiences with flooding and how flooding may impact their communities. Youth were challenged to build structures and reinforcements to support houses and businesses in their model, and see how they fared with flooding scenarios.
New summer sessions have been added to 4-H Science Fridays! Register today!
Conservation Career Club
In April teens met with a Consulting Forester where they learned how to read a forested landscape, collect regeneration data, and get hands-on practice measuring and identifying various tree species. Then, youth visited the Career Center in Machias, where they learned about the wide range of services they’re able to provide. They even took personality tests! The monthly site visits are winding down, and teens will be exploring what internships they would like to take advantage of this summer to dive deeper into one specific job or field of work. 4-H Leaders, Gabby and Cathy, are brainstorming how to improve this program next year.
Crafting Clovers
Spring weather teased us when it was raining (again!) at our club meeting on Saturday morning. That didn’t stop us from celebrating the season by reading a book about spring and making a bunny-themed craft. Youth were able to take their crafts home, as well as help decorate the Children’s Library with their colorful artwork. The club’s 4-H volunteer led the youth in making their own tasty, healthy snack – yogurt parfaits! Families had a blast trying toppings that were new to them and testing their evolving taste buds.
Oh Yea 4-H Grows True Leaders
OH YEA 4-H Grows True Leaders had an eventful April. Our beach clean-up was as successful as we had hoped. We gathered five bags of trash, and removed some hazardous and unsightly pieces of debris from the beautiful beach of Bog Brook Cove in Lubec, ME. Later in April, we screen printed t-shirts with a logo promoting the Governor’s new initiative, the Year in Youth in Agriculture. The exciting “Dia de los Nińos” event took place at the Milbridge Elementary and was hosted by Mano en Mano and the Milbridge Library. Furthermore, OH YEA 4-H Washington County lent our screen-printing acumen to our colleagues in Portland for their Khmer New Year Festival called Seafest 2025.
The month of May has started out too fast. Before the release of this newsletter, we will have already assisted Mano en Mano with their Mother’s Day event held on May 3 at the American Legion’s center in Milbridge, ME. Food, fun, and Folklórico dancing were to be had while the OH YEA 4-H teens helped serve the meal and led a craft workshop, creating stylish Mother’s Day cards.
Our next event in May is a vernal pond exploration with Gabby Brodek. She will be guiding this month’s Crisscrossing Paths excursion to Sipp Bay Preserve in Perry, ME on Saturday, May 24 at 10:00 a.m. Vernal ponds are a vital part of our natural ecosystem as they are necessary for salamanders, frogs, and other tiny creatures to propagate and thrive. The community is encouraged to join our 4-H team at the trailhead. Children under 8 years-old must be accompanied by an adult and everyone else can call (207) 255-3345 to sign up for transportation.
News from the State
Save the Date – 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.
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.
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This is your future—made simple. #BeyondReady
Save the Date! 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.
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!
Maine Summer Transportation Institute (MSTI)
MSTI is a FREE residential camp offered at the University of Maine for current 6th – 8th graders from July 6 – 11, 2025. The camp focuses on transportation-related activities and fields. MSTI is a week-long residential program to allow students from all over the state to participate.
This includes space, roads and bridges, ports, air, and environmental impacts. Activities include building rockets, cars, and bridges; field trips to the Bangor International Airport, Cole Transportation Museum, and Maine Maritime Academy; participating in shows from the Planetarium and the Physics Roadshow; 3D-printing activity (including a tour of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center to see the World’s largest 3D-Printer and the 3D-printed house); Soil/erosion and surveying activities; a Touch-a-truck event, and more. (Activities are subject to change based on weather and availability of funds.) Additionally, students will learn about the different career opportunities within the transportation field, including engineers (environmental, geotechnical, civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.), technicians, communications and media, human resources, and so much more.
Visit the MSTI website for more information about the program and registration. Applications will be accepted through May 23, 2025.
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 umaine.edu/4h/dairy/judging/.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.eduor 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 5th
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 online at extension.umaine.edu/4h/fryeburg-fair-regulations-for-market-steers-and-market-lambs/.
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.
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 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.
Save the Date: Maine 4-H State Dairy Show July 18 – 20
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 umaine.edu/4h/dairy/maine-4-h-state-dairy-showor contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971; sadee.mehuren@maine.edu.
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 free to contact Andrew Hudacs, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, (207) 581-8204, hudacs@maine.edu.
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: https://forms.gle/ToGyuHngd5vFWifr7
Questions? Please contact the planning committee at speakup4h@maine.edu or Laura Personette at (207) 581-8213.
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.