York County 4-H Clover Connection July 2025

July 2, 2025 News, York County 4-H News

York County 4-H Clover Connection July 2025

 

July 4 is Independence Day (U.S.). On the fourth of July, we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Don’t forget to raise the flag! (See American Flag Rules.) See our full Independence Day page and enjoy trivia—plus, refresh your memory on the real meaning of this day.

-The Old Farmer’s Almanac, https://www.almanac.com/content/month-july-holidays-facts-folklore

County News

York County 4-H Leaders Association Meeting

July 29, 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

Acton Fair Information

You all should have received an email with all the information you need for Acton Fair, but I have also included some links here. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

Grange Exhibit: I have been asked again this year to put together a grange exhibit for the main exhibit hall. 2025 is the Maine Year of Youth in Agriculture, so I would like to go with that theme. If you have any photos or items that relate to your 4-Hers raising animals, growing food, tapping trees, or anything else agricultural related, please send them to me so I can include them in the exhibit! I am also looking for some historic York County 4-H items/photos/info to include since this is the 160th annual Acton Fair. Anything you can share would be greatly appreciated!!

4-H Trophy Sponsorships: Every year, community members sponsor the mugs and other prizes that are awarded to the 4-H livestock show winners. We are looking for a few new sponsors this year. If you are interested or would like more information, please reach out to Erin or Elizabeth at 207-324-2814.

 

Nature Journaling

Bring your curiosity and skills of observation, and join Rebecca Tay from York County 4-H to start a nature journal as we explore local Great Works Regional Land Trust preserves.  You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from nature journaling.  Learn different techniques and observe what is happening in nature at that moment. Basic nature journaling supplies will be provided for use including a simple journal, clipboard, pens, and pencils.

Date(s):

  • Tuesday, July 1, 11-12:30, Savage Wildlife Preserve
  • Friday, July 11, 10-11:30, Savage Wildlife Preserve
  • Friday, July 18, 11-12:30, Savage Wildlife Preserve
  • Monday, July 21st, 4:30-6, Rocky Hills Preserve
  • Monday, July 28, 5:30-7, Savage Wildlife Preserve

Registration: https://forms.gle/v1P5n2JHJLxZJGzX9

 

4-H Tick Project Citizen Science at York Land Trust

Become citizen scientists and help us monitor the tick population at the York Land Trust. Led by Evelyn Brown of York Land Trust and Erin McDonald from 4-H, participants will learn how to identify different types of ticks and how to prevent tick bites. As citizen scientists, we will contribute to the 4-H Tick Project by collecting and identifying ticks, recording data, and preparing specimens to be sent for analysis. This ongoing project is in association with the Maine Forest Health Survey, the UMaine Tick Lab, and Learning Ecosystems Northeast.

For youth ages 8 and up. Caregivers are encouraged to stay and participate with their child. Youth ages 13 and up have the option to be dropped off. Please wear long pants and closed toe shoes.

Two dates: July 19th 1-3pm and July 25th 10am-12pm. Come to either or both!

More information and registration links can be found here: https://www.yorklandtrust.org/events/ 

 

Club News

Beachcombers – Leader Jackie Lipsky

Blue Potato Lobsters FTC 4-H Club – Leader Chris Herrick

 Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club – Leaders Else Cook, Jennifer Azara

Frosted Yoshies Lego League 4-H Club – Leader Jeff Wells

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

Stay Wild – Leader Daisy Jette

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

July 29, 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

July 2025

  • 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 feesrequired!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.Click here to opt in. We will do the rest.
    Click here to learn more about 4-H Direct Admissions

    This is your future—made simple. #BeyondReady

  • Maine 4-H State Dairy Show
    Maine 4-H invites you to participate in the 2025 Maine 4-H State Dairy Show! This year’s event will take place from July 18th to 20th at the Windsor Fairgrounds. The contests are open to all 4-H dairy project members ages nine and above and include a grilled cheese and milkshake cookoff, a dairy cattle fitting contest, and a dairy cattle show. For a complete schedule and registration information, visit umaine.edu/4h/dairy/maine-4-h-state-dairy-show/.For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971 or Allison Pollock at 207.781.6099. 
  • Big E Ruby Morris 4-H Scholarship
    Every two years Maine has the opportunity to select an Eastern States Exposition participant to receive a $500 scholarship towards continuing his or her education beyond high school, and this is one of our years!This is a scholarship that was established by The Morris Family who are longtime concessionaires at ESE.  A total of three $500 scholarships are awarded each year.  In 2025 and future odd-numbered years, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont will each name a scholarship recipient.  In even-numbered years, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut name a scholarship recipient.Visit the website for all information about applying. Materials must be received by 4:30 pm on Friday, August 15, 2025.  If you have any questions, contact Jessy Brainerd at 207.581.3877 or brainerd@maine.edu.
  • Tri-County Sampler: Nature Art
    July 29, 5:30-7pm Join Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset County 4-H staff for July’s Tri-County 4-H Sampler “Nature Art” at the Lakeshore Park in Dexter. We’ll break the ice with parachute play, then make dirt babies and explore the park for bits and pieces to create foraged friends. Parents are welcome to participate and encouraged to learn more about how 4-H can fit into their families’ lives. We can chat at the handwash station, over the DIY trail mix bar, and as we’re guiding youth to set up their dirt babies and foraged friends for display. Our evening will conclude with young participants telling the rest of us about their creations. Enrolled Cloverbuds and 4-H’ers may go home with an exhibit or two for the Fair!Please pre-register so we can bring plenty of snacks and supplies!
    https://4h.zsuite.org/external-event-registration/38368
    Location: Lakeshore Park 16 Crockett Rd, Dexter, MEFor more information or a request for reasonable accommodations, contact Emily Pigeon, Community Education Assistant, Penobscot County 4-H, Phone: 207-942-7396, Email: pigeon@maine.edu.
  • Maine 4-H Celebrates “The Year of Youth in Agriculture” with New Ag Challenge
    The state of Maine has officially declared 2025 as “The Year of Youth in Agriculture,”an exciting initiative to highlight the vital role young people play in the future of our state’s agricultural landscape. In celebration of this significant declaration, Maine 4-H is thrilled to encourage all our members to delve deeper into the rich and diverse world of Maine agriculture.Agriculture is a cornerstone of Maine 4-H as well as the economy and heritage of our state, offering a vast array of unique and rewarding opportunities, from traditional farming and livestock management to innovative food production, sustainable practices, and agricultural technology. 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 is launching 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

4-H Ag Challenge Download (PDF)

Once you’ve completed your activities, please return the form to the 4-H Ag Leadership team at 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, giving you plenty of time to explore!
If you have any questions please contact:

Megan Cook
4-H Youth Development Professional, Aroostook County
megan.cook@maine.edu
207.532.6548