4-H News in Washington County – December 2025
Dates to Remember
November 28-December 14: Paper Clover Campaign at Tractor Supply Co. in Calais
December 5: 4-H Volunteer Huddle
December 6: Crafting SPIN 4-H Club, Perler Beads
December 6: Oh Yea 4-H Money Island Trail: Wreath Materials Hike – Seeds of Change Outdoor Club
December 14: Oh Yea 4-H Tea Time for Bees: Ceramic Workshop at Schoodic Arts for All
December 14: Registration Deadline for National 4-H Trips
December 18: National 4-H Animal Science Career Night
December 31: 4-H Re-enrollment Due
January 2: 4-H Volunteer Huddle
January 6, 2026: Maine 4-H Intent to Sell a Market Beef Project at Fryeburg Fair
January 15: 2026 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to Participate
January 21: 4-H Volunteer Connections
January 22, 29th, February 5: Farm Animal Care FUNdamentals 4-H SPIN Club
April 10-15, 2026: 4-H Conference in Washington DC
November 27-December 1, 2026: 4-H Congress
Club Updates
Crafting SPIN Club
Eleven youth have come together to create and play at the first two sessions of the Crafting SPIN Club this November and December at Calais Elementary School, where youth are exploring different crafts that are inspired from cultures around the world. At the first session youth painted pine cones representing Kionobori, carp-shared windsocks that are flown in celebration of Children’s Day. Just like carp, youth are resilient and strong. At the second session, youth were focused and engaged as they created corn husks dolls and added their own personal flare with felt clothes and yarn for hair. Corn husks dolls have a long, rich history with the Algonquin peoples, connecting to how and why corn is planted with other crops and why these dolls are traditionally faceless.
Conservation Career
The club had its first site visit of the school year in November, learning about the mission, operations, and impact of a local land trust, Downeast Coastal Conservancy (DCC). Teens job shadowed Matt Kelley, Outreach Director at DCC and 4-H volunteer, where they gained insight into donor management and social media and website design, as well as what goes into putting up the story boards the public gets to see as they walk through Machias River Preserve’s Story Book Trail.
Oh Yea 4-H Grows True Leaders
In November, Seeds of Change Outdoor Club met for a chilly hike at Musquash Esker Trail. Our Dia de los Muertos event at Mano en Mano featured pozole (a chicken and hominy soup), screen printing of a great calavera design, and a trivia quiz that introduced the crowd of nearly 100 attendees to the history of this Latino celebration and its food. We had our first cooking class called “Bocados de Amor” where we learned how to make corn tortillas, salsa, and pico de gallo.
December is set to be just as busy for Oh Yea 4-H and the Seeds of Change Outdoor Club, starting on December 6 at 11:00 am with a wreath foraging hike at the Muddy Island Trailhead in Machias. After gathering some materials to make some simple wreaths, we will put them together at the new barn recently erected by Healthy Acadia’s Downeast Restorative Harvest.
Then on Saturday, December 13, a small group of the Princeton 4-H club will be attending a Ukrainian Egg Decorating Workshop for the holidays with stalwart 4-H volunteer, Tanya Zivkovik, at Calais Elementary. Unfortunately, this workshop filled up quickly and has no vacancies.
However, the very next day, we are inviting everyone to join us at Schoodic Arts for All at 12:00 p.m., December 14 where we will be enjoying crafts and helping our agricultural environment by making ceramic bee-sipping cups. These beautiful thimble-sized bowls are placed in a garden and make it easy for bees to drink water without drowning. If you would like to attend, please let us know beforehand by contacting the office at (207) 255-3345 or Jason Palomo at (207) 952-2969 so that we can prepare the necessary materials.
Finally, we will be off for the holidays and reconvene with a new calendar of exciting events in January!
Re-enrollment DUE DECEMBER 31
Time is running out…don’t forget to re-enroll in 4-H by December 31st.
Re-enrollment by the deadline ensures that youth can:
- Qualify for scholarships (4-H camp, National Trips)
- Submit projects to the Washington County Fair 4-H Exhibit
- Participate in county events like Speak Up, our Public Speaking event, the annual Photography Contest and more!
- Receive 4-H membership pins
- Continue to receive all the benefits of being a part of Maine 4-H! 🍀
Re-enroll by logging into your ZSuite account. Update any information if needed and sign and date the forms for this year. Please reach out to Tara Wood or Gabby Brodek at tara.a.wood@maine.edu or gabrielle.brodek@maine.edu if you need help, or call the office at 207.255.3345.
Tractor Supply Paper Clover Campaign
Whether you are buying 4-H ornaments for club leaders, material to put your beds to rest, or stocking up on feed, please consider donating to 4-H when you stop by your local Tractor Supply store this season!
National 4-H Animal Science Career Night, sponsored by the NAE4-HYDP Animal Science Working Group
- December 18, 2025
- 7–8pm EST / 6–7pm CST
- FREE for youth in grades 7–13 (ages 12–19)
Join us for an exciting evening with two incredible guest speakers from the animal science industry! Hear real-world career insights, ask questions, and explore future pathways in animal science.
Featured Speakers:
Mr. Jack Ward – Executive Vice President, American Hereford Association
Mr. Sam Cohen – Zoological Supervisor, Busch Gardens (Tampa, FL)
Register by December 17, 2025 at 11:59pm EST by visiting https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/…/SV_6Jt5H9mJnKy8En4
Questions? Contact: mb2173@njaes.rutgers.edu.
State News
Deadline Extended for National 4-H Trips!
Great news! The application deadline for National 4-H Conference and National 4-H Congress has been extended to December 14. Youth ages 14–18 are encouraged to apply for these incredible national leadership opportunities.
Trip Dates:
– National 4-H Conference: April 10–15, 2026
– National 4-H Congress: November 27–December 1, 2026
Interviews for both trips will take place the week of December 15. Selected applicants will be contacted with their interview date and time. We encourage all interested youth to take advantage of this extended deadline and apply today!
Farm Animal Care FUNdamentals 4-H SPIN Club
Are you interested in learning about livestock animals (such as cows, goats, or sheep)? How do we care for them? How do you know what to feed them, how do you actually do regular health checks and have proper housing? Join the 4-H Animal Science SPIN club. We will have 3 virtual sessions focused on what livestock need to live a healthy life and one field day that provides hands-on experience. Set yourself up for success in your 4-H project by learning the basics of animal care. Participants do not need any prior animal experience or currently own livestock to participate. This is a beginner/introductory level program.This is a free opportunity for youth ages 9 – 18. Virtual sessions will be Thursdays, January 22, 29th, February 5, 2026, 4:00-5:15 pm. February 12th will be an optional session for youth who intend to participate in a 4-H livestock project. The final session will be geared towards youth who are beginning their journey into raising livestock. Learn More and Register Here before January 9, 2026.
4-H Public Speaking Update
You asked, we’re excited! Performing Arts demonstrations will now be part of Speak Up, Maine 4-H the statewide Public Speaking Program.From dramatic monologues to musical performances, this creative category is your time to express yourself and share your spark center stage. Performing Arts demonstrations include:
– a spoken introduction
– your performance
– and a spoken conclusionSpecific details, including updated evaluation tools and judges’ support for all categories, will be available soon on the Speak Up, Maine 4-H website and through county staff. Stay tuned!
Maine 4-H ESE Beef Intent to Participate Forms are Now Available
The 2026 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to Participate form is now available online and must be submitted by January 15, 2025. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Beef Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September. Youth must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2025 and have completed one year in a beef project prior to this year. Please contact Kristen Grondin, grondin@maine.edu, 207-581-8193, or Cathy Bartlett Gray, cathy.gray@maine.edu, 207-743-6329 with any questions.
Market Beef at Fryeburg Fair
The 2026 Maine 4-H Intent to Sell a Market Beef Project at Fryeburg Fair is now available for eligible youth. The animal must be owned and in the youth’s possession, and the youth must be enrolled in their county by December 31, 2025. More information and the form are available on the Maine 4-H Beef page. Online forms must be submitted, and paper copies must be postmarked by January 6, 2026.
Maine 4-H Ag Challenge Open Through 2025
As announced earlier this year, Maine 4-H is celebrating “The Year of Youth in Agriculture” with the 4-H Ag Challenge.Many 4-H’ers from around the state have already taken on the challenge and been awarded their commemorative hat.PHOTO OF MEMBERS IN COMPOST BIN – photo credit Michael Guerrette “Two members show off the compost bin they made as part of the ag challenge”PHOTO OF MEMBERS WITH HATS ON – Photo Credit Megan Cook “Many members completed and turned in challenge forms at local fairs”We encourage all our members to delve deeper into the rich and diverse world of Maine agriculture. 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 has launched 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
Download the Ag Challenge PDF at: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/2025/06/10/4-h-ag-challenge/. Some of these activities you may already be doing!
Once you’ve completed your activities, please return the form to the 4-H Ag Leadership team at mailto: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, but time is running out. Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity!
If you have any questions please contact:
Megan Cook
4-H Youth Development Professional, Aroostook County
megan.cook@maine.edu
207.532.6548
4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips and tricks
Nurturing Sparks (Part 3 of 3)
Once you notice a spark, did you know you can actually help fuel it? 4-H volunteers support youth sparks by facilitating exploration through varied activities, fostering a supportive environment where questions are valued, encouraging exploration, and building relationships that empower youth to discover and develop their passions. Connecting youth with resources, mentors, or new opportunities is a great way to help fuel the spark. Other ideas for you as a 4-H volunteer include:
- Modeling curiosity: Showing your own excitement for learning and discovery can encourage youth to adopt a similar mindset.
- Showing genuine interest: Listening actively to the youth’s thoughts, opinions, and aspirations to build trust and encourage their self-expression can be powerful. Sometimes we all need a sounding board.
- Allowing for silence and space: Giving youth time to think, process information, and formulate their own ideas without the pressure of immediate answers can be helpful. Circling back to a topic after a few weeks, asking if they have given any more thought to something, or inquiring to see how you might help them with a next step, can help youth feel supported.
4-H Volunteer Huddle:
Join us for a short “gather and learn session” to help you up your game. We meet on the first Friday of each month from 12:00-12:30 pm via Zoom. Whether you are an experienced 4-H volunteer or just getting started, there’s something for everyone. We’d love to see you there! No registration required!
December 5- Delegating/Asking parents and other adults to help
January 2, 2026- Navigating 4-H Curriculum Resources
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
maine.zoom.us/j/82015703524?pwd=QkT05bDbaaDIeYAQ8aGUd4eco5c6Rd.1
Password: volunteer
4-H Volunteer Connections
January 21, 2026 Volunteer Excellence: Recognizing Achievement, Inspiring Growth
6:30-8:00pm
Connect with 4-H volunteers from states in the North East region to hear inspiring 4-H volunteer stories including those recognized through the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Award. Come celebrate success, learn from peers, and strengthen your own impact. Free to attend, but registration is required! Register here!
4-H Volunteer Opportunities Calendar:
Find our 4-H volunteer training opportunities on our calendar of events here – scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe to the calendar and never miss upcoming events, workshops, and more!
Resource Spotlight
Do you work with Cloverbuds (youth ages 5-8)? If so, check out these resources!
We love our friends at Ohio State University for creating an amazing collection of Click and Do 4-H Cloverbud activities! All organized by themes, there’s something for everyone!
A welcoming environment is the cornerstone to a successful 4-H club meeting. Try these Icebreakers for Cloverbuds from Michigan State University!
Looking for some holiday craft ideas for younger youth? Check out this Holiday Activity Guide from National 4-H Council- there is even a cookie recipe collection included!