York County 4-H Clover Connection April 2025
York County 4-H Clover Connection April 2025
“I consider the work of the 4-H Club in building character one of the finest undertakings in all America.”
– Albert S. Goss, Master, National Grange. April 1948. (https://4-hhistorypreservation.com/History/4-H_Quotes/)
County News
York County 4-H Leaders Association Meeting
April 22, 2025 6:30pm in the Extension Office
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://maine.zoom.us/j/85214893115
Or Telephone: US: +1 305 224 1968 Meeting ID: 852 1489 3115
UPDATES to Acton Fair 4-H Exhibit Hall Guidelines (attached to email)
Please read the guidelines thoroughly before starting a project. The exhibit hall judges use the guidelines to help in their judgements, so if your entries do not follow the guidelines, you are going to be penalized. It is important for you to look through the guidelines as I have made some changes. A few highlights are:
- Members are LIMITED TO 1 ENTRY PER CLASS, unless otherwise stated. See Project Category Descriptions. Members wanting to submit multiple entries to one class should consider the Individual Year-Long Exhibit.
- Some categories that allow more than one entry per class include Arts & Crafts (Section G), Crocheting, Knitting, & Needlework (Section H), Gardening & Berries (Section L). Please note that some Classes allow for multiple items to be submitted as one entry (ie, Photography).
- A few new Classes were added (ie, Section A Class 4)
- Questions about categories and appropriate entries should be addressed prior to the week of the fair. Please contact me with any questions or concerns well in advance of the fair.
4-H Exhibit Hall Novelty Item 2025
This year, the novelty item will be DIY birdfeeders!
Help feed our feathered friends by providing them with a healthy treat in a feeder made by you!
You can use upcycled materials, items from nature, craft supplies, and even a tea cup! Check out this website for more ideas: https://www.bakerross.co.uk/craft-ideas/search?s=bird+feeder
Betty Syvinski Scholarship Application
Due in the office by May 15th
Fashion Revue May 18, 2025
For more information and to register, visit: https://extension.umaine.edu/york/4-h/york-county-4-h-fashion-revue/
Camp Scholarships available to enrolled 4-H members!
These scholarships can be used for non-4H camps too! Complete the application attached to this email by April 2nd. Please contact Erin if you have any questions. erin.mcdonald1@maine.edu
Club News
Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club – Leaders Else Cook, Jennifer Azara
Kidding Around – Leaders Debbi Cole, Nathan Cole
Little Falls 4-H Club – Leaders Barbara Peterson, Nancy Van Tassell, Cheryl L’Heureux
Nature Kids – Leader Jackie Lipsky
Pollinator Protectors – Leader Carolyn Reece
S.T.A.M.P.S – Leader Alicia Paley
York County Beef Club – Leaders Ann Boucher, Diane Qualey
York County Shepherds – Leaders Donna Flint, Kristi Maling
Volunteer and Leader News
If you (or someone you know) would be interested in volunteering to help setup, breakdown, judge, etc for upcoming events please fill out this event volunteer form. Older youth are welcome to volunteer to help as well.
York County 4-H Leaders Association Meeting
April 22, 2025 6:30pm in the Extension Office
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://maine.zoom.us/j/85214893115
Or Telephone: US: +1 305 224 1968 Meeting ID: 852 1489 3115
State 4-H News
April 2025
Save the Date – 4-H Summer Learning Series
This year, the 4-H Summer Learning Series will take place from July 7 – 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 ahead of time, making it even easier (and less expensive) to participate! Workshops and Registration will go live on May 23, 2025. For volunteers interested in presenting workshops, information will be updated in early March. Sign up for updates on our website.
Ignite Your Passion, Inspire the Future: Become a Summer Learning 4-H Volunteer!
Are you ready to make a lasting impact on young minds while sharing your expertise? Join our Summer Learning 4-H program as a volunteer and experience the joy of nurturing the next generation!
Topics could include: science, engineering, art, photography, coding, baking, and more. Volunteers will work with a partner to design and deliver virtual programs sometime between July 7th – August 8th. Scheduling is flexible to meet your needs and availability. Learn more by visiting our presenter websiteor contact 4-hvirtual@maine.edu or call Sarah Sparks at 207.581.8206.
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.
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.
Maine 4-H Eastern States Exhibition Sheep Team Intent to Participate Form Now Available
The 2025 Maine 4-H Sheep ESE Intent to Participate Formis now available online and must be submitted by April 15th, 2025. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Sheep Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September.
The Eastern States Exhibition (Big E) 4-H Sheep Program brings together 4-H members from six states in Springfield, MA for three days of events that showcase their animals, knowledge & skills. Members must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2024 and have completed at least one year in a sheep project.
Please contact Megan Cook with any questions or for more information at cook@maine.edu or 207-532-6548.
Public Speaking Showcase
The state Public Speaking event has a new name! Speak Up, Maine 4-H! A Public Speaking Showcase will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the University of Maine
in Orono. The snow date is Sunday, April 6. Stay tuned for events and details on our website.
Summer Camp at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove
Registration for Summer Programs at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove 4-H Camps is now open! We would love to see you at one of our 4-H Camps this summer! 1 and 2-week overnight camps, day camps, outdoor trips, and teen leadership camps are open for anyone to attend. This is a great opportunity to diversify your 4-H experience and continue building awesome skills. Scholarships are available from the Camps and the 4-H Foundation to help with tuition costs.
Some sessions fill up fast! To start planning your summer experience, please check out the program pages on our website which have more information and dates. We are excited to welcome you to the Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove Family! For questions, please email or call Emma at the contact information below.
Website: umaine.edu/tanglewood
Email: extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu
Phone: 207.789.5868
Open House at the Lafayette and Rawcliffe 4-H Science and Engineering Learning Center
4-Hers and families of all ages are invited to learn about the opportunities 4-H has to offer right here in Orono, Maine!
There will be fun activities – making seed paper you can plant at home, engineering and testing out straw rockets, and using chemistry to create groovy seaweed lava lamps!
This is your chance to meet the Center’s fabulous red-ear slider turtle, Frances, and rumor has it Coral the Seahorse will be making an appearance!
Learn all about our space, our touch tank, 4-H programs, 4-H STEM toolkits, and aquaponics.
No registration is required – just show up on Saturday, April 19 between 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at 491 College Ave in Orono, Maine.
If you have any questions, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jessy Brainerd at brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.
Maine 4-H Agriculture Symposium!
Dates: April 21 – 22, 2025
Location: University of Maine, Orono
Ages: 14 – 18
The 4th annual 4-H Agriculture Symposium is an overnight experience for Maine youth ages 14-18. Participants will take part in hands-on learning opportunities, engage with industry professionals on the University of Maine Orono campus, develop leadership skills, and make friendships with teens from around the state.
Youth will participate in hands-on learning experiences like laboratory examinations of parasites related to animal health, exploring cellulose nano materials from tree pulp at the Process Development Center, a fun activity with Maine Bound Adventure, and much more!
Current 4-H membership is not required. Assistance with transportation may be available upon request.
Registration:
Current 4-H members can REGISTER HERE. When you are logged into Z Suites, an adult member of the household can find the Ag Symposium under events and complete the required forms.
Youth who are new to 4-H can REGISTER HERE.
For questions regarding the registration process please contact 4hagleadership@maine.edu.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Alisha Targonski, 207.622.7546; extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu.
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 the Straw Rocket STEM Kit. 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 membersand non-4-H members.
Location: TBD
Date: April 29, 5:30 – 7:00 pm
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Emily Pigeon at pigeon@maine.edu or 207.942.7396.