Cooperative Extension in Washington County

4-H News in Washington County – June 2026

Washington County 4-H Photography Contest

It’s time to pull out those cameras and start snapping! The annual 4-H Photography Contest is an opportunity for youth to share their spark of photography and have their artwork displayed locally. The categories are:

• Storyboard (1)
• 4-H Activity
• Action
• Animals
• Architecture
• Nature/Landscape
• People

For more information about the contest, including age categories, guidelines, and judging visit the Washington County Photography Contest webpage. Photo submission deadline is Friday, July 24.

Greenland Point 4-H Camp Scholarships

We are currently accepting requests for scholarships 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 12, 2026 to apply.  There are four scholarships remaining and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These scholarships are in addition to ones being provided by the 4-H Camp and Learning Centers.

Club Updates

4-H Science Friday

Youth at 4-H Science Friday explored wildlife science through learning what to consider when trying to identify animal tracks. Youth gained confidence in identifying animal tracks from local species and even practicing walking like them. They finished the program by making molds of various tracks.

The next 4-H Science Friday is Friday, June 12th 3-4:30pm. Gerry Zeger, University of Maine at Machias Professor and animal DNA detective will be leading youth through a forensic activity and share about his expertise in wildlife forensics.

Crafting Clovers

It was a beautiful day to be a Crafting Clover at the last club meeting! Youth created and designed their own caterpillars using recycled egg cartons. While waiting for the paint to dry, we went outside to complete a spring bingo! We looked for signs that summer is coming–feathers, birds chirping, and evidence of gardening. While looking around we saw bees, ants, and lots of crawling insects, some were captured in magnifying glass containers so we could take a closer look. Finishing touches were put on the caterpillars and we said “goodbye” until next month.

LCOC

Gabby Brodek, 4-H Professional, reunited with the Lubec Community Outreach Center for their final parent engagement night of the school year. Gabby brought wood frog egg masses from the area and youth learned about what a vernal pool is and what critters you may find in them. We played a vernal pool board game to explore the human, climate, and ecological factors influencing pools in Maine.

Oh Yea 4-H Grows True Leaders

OH YEA 4-H Grows True Leaders closed the month of May with a fanfare. Washington Country joined Cumberland County for an amazing conference in Newark and New York City called 4-H CityScape: Exploring Urban Food Systems. With our respective community partners, Mano en Mano in Milbridge and the Khmer Maine Cambodian Community, OH YEA 4-H visited the Cooperative Extension at Rutgers University –
Newark Campus where we hosted a food justice workshop, attended a presentation of 4-H projects from New Jersey, and conversed with a panel of professionals who currently work in the urban food system. It was certainly an adventure that our members and the chaperones will never forget. We experienced firsthand the life of a New Yorker as we transferred from subway-to-subway, walked the streets and avenues of Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Time Square, the Upper West Side, and Central Park. We tasted culturally significant food from the Latin community at Los Tacos No.1, which has a Michelan star, and we ate dim-sum in China town with our Asian partners. We walked every floor of the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Illusions, but everyone’s favorite activity was, no doubt, renting electric scooters and bikes in Central Park! It was hard work, and our feet were tired and blistered, but we’ll never forget the down time spent by the hotel pool or while waiting for our flight home. It was an experience of a lifetime!

The month didn’t end there, though. The very next weekend after we got home, we had to turn around for our community service with the Maine Island Trail Association. Christina Hassett from MITA took us by boat to a privately owned island so we could assist in a beach clean-up and tour a local salmon farm. It was great to see how the fishing and aquaculture industries are growing day by day in our area.

Unfortunately, Jason Palomo, our 4-H professional has taken a position as the Director of the TRIO Student Services program at Washington County Community College and resigned at the end of May. OH YEA 4-H has not been abandoned and great care was taken to find a suitable replacement to keep the great things going with our community partner in Milbridge. Stay tuned for the new OH YEA 4-H leader and continue to feel free to contact the Washington County Cooperative Extension at (207) 255-3345.

News from the State

Register Now for the 2026 4-H Summer Learning Series
Registration is now open for this year’s 4-H Summer Learning Series, our largest offering of virtual programming, and will open to the general public on June 5, 2026. Workshops will cover a range of topics – favorites like Adulting 101 and Dissect and Detect, as well as loads of new areas: Intro to Game Lab, Mission to Mars, and all sorts of other topics. Workshops will run from July 6 to August 7, 2026.  Find out more on the 4-H Summer Learning.

Sea Dogs for 4-H
The Maine 4-H Foundation has purchased a group of Sea Dogs tickets for Cooper Flagg Bobble Head night on Wed, Aug 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM. They will be given away in pairs through a raffle.  If you are a 4-H member, or young person involved with our camp and learning centers, or online 4-H virtual learning, and want to put your name in for the drawing, please email Julie Hart at julie@themagiclantern.org. Please provide your name and contact information in the email.

Please submit your name by June 15^th. We will hold the drawing on June 17^th, and then tickets will be mailed to the winners.

The Alfond Grant
Hey there! Do you have a child or grandchild born in Maine on or after January 1, 2013? Guess what? They’ve got something special called a $500 Alfond Grant waiting for them! (The Grant was also available on a more limited basis from 2008 to 2012).

The Alfond Grant is a jumpstart for a child’s education after high school. By the time they graduate high school, their Alfond Grant could be worth up to $2,000!

The great part is that the Alfond Grant can be used for all sorts of education, such as college, trade school, or even certificates. And it can be used in Maine as well as outside the state.

Curious to know more? Check out www.MyAlfondGrant.org to get all the details. This grant is just the beginning of exciting possibilities for your child’s future education!

Animal Science Challenge
The Maine 4-H Foundation is offering a challenge to 4-H animal science committees and programs. The Foundation will match up to $3,000 per committee to support animal science programs and educational programs. A 1 to 1 match will be made for current and past donors, and 1:2 matches for new donors. Questions can be asked by contacting Susan Jennings at 207.615.7300, or email maine4hfoundation@gmail.com.

Hancock County June Jamboree
June Jamboree is back for another exciting weekend, and you’re invited! The 2026 June Jamboree will be held on June 12-13 at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds in Hancock County. 4-Hers can plan to camp with us on the fairgrounds on the 12th, and wake ready to participate in fun-filled workshops and activities on the 13th! 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 13 – be sure to stop by to explore! Registration will open to enrolled 4-H members on May 11th. Workshops are first-come, first-served, so don’t delay! The public may begin registering on May 18th. Registration closes June 6th, so don’t forget to sign up!

Fryeburg Market Lamb Intent Forms Due June 5, 2026
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, 2026, 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 on our Fryeburg Fair information page.

For more information please contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971; mehuren@maine.eduor the State 4-H Office at 207.581.3877.

4-H Working Steer Tryout Information
The show season is fast approaching! Working steer ESE intent forms (due May 1st), volunteer interest forms, team member guidelines, and apprentice guidelines are all available one at umaine.edu/4h/working-steer/. The dates for team tryouts are listed below.

ESE Working Steer Tryouts:

June 14, 2026 at Windsor Fairgrounds

July 11, 2026, Ossipee Valley Fair

August 13, 2026, Skowhegan Fair

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

New 4-H Rabbit and Poultry Opportunity!
4-H members now have an exciting new opportunity to showcase their skills at The Big E’s first 4-H Rabbit & Poultry Show! Open to youth ages 12 and above, this event is a great way to learn new skills, compete in regional 4-H shows, and connect with others who share an interest in rabbits and poultry.

Participants can look forward to a variety of engaging activities, including breed shows, showmanship competitions, agility contests, and more. Whether you’re experienced or just getting started, this event offers something for everyone. Interested in participating or learning more? Be sure to complete the interest form.

For more information please contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971 or mehuren@maine.edu.

4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips, and tricks!

Developmental Relationships

What are Developmental Relationships?  These are positive connections between youth and caring adults that provide a foundation for growth, fostering trust, warmth, and mutual respect. The caring, consistent connections that you engage in with 4-H members help youth grow. By building a relationship of trust, such relationships can give young people the encouragement and guidance they need to succeed. In essence, developmental relationships are the nurturing connection that helps youth in 4-H programs navigate their experiences and develop into well-rounded, purposeful individuals.

When we observe a developmental relationship we see 

• active engagement and trust,
• balanced power dynamics and
• intentional connection.

Developmental relationships sound like

• words of encouragement,
• praise for effort and achievements, and
• expressions that the person feels known, valued, and enjoyed.

4-H Volunteer Summit

Saturday, November 7, 2026

We hope this is where you will plan to be! We have an amazing line up for the day with engaging workshops, a Discovery Zone, a 4-H Pop Up Shop and more! Save the date, check out the 4-H Volunteer Summit webpage and look for registration to open soon!

Resource Spotlight

Does your 4-H club have officers and run a short business meeting? If so, check out this Parliamentary Procedure resource from the University of Illinois Extension. Super simple to understand, it will provide guidance on how to run a business meeting that is orderly and efficient. The rules are designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to participate, be heard and help the group reach decisions. If you are looking for some activities to help teach parliamentary procedure to young people, try this Parliamentary Procedure Activities Resource from Michigan State University. Let us know if you try one out- we’d love to hear how it went!