Androscoggin-Sagadahoc 4-H announces March events, youth contests, volunteer opportunities

University of Maine Cooperative Extension published the Androscoggin‑Sagadahoc 4‑H March 2026 newsletter on March 6, 2026, announcing a slate of March programming that includes family STEM sessions at the Extension Office, 24 Main Street, Lisbon, meeting from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm for youth ages 5 to 11 who are residents of Androscoggin or Sagadahoc County.

The newsletter frames the Lisbon sessions as hands‑on family learning: “Together, youth and their caregivers will explore various STEM activities while experiencing how 4‑H can help youth thrive!” It also positions the sessions as entry points for adult volunteers: “This is a great opportunity for adults interested in seeing how 4‑H clubs run and for kids interested in joining 4‑H.” The text adds that “Families will engage in hands‑on activities together, with opportunities for adults to explore leading 4‑H activities with support from 4‑H staff,” underscoring the Extension’s dual aim of youth education and volunteer recruitment.

Alongside local programming, the newsletter highlights a statewide Maine 4‑H Ag Challenge, with a downloadable “4‑H Ag Challenge” PDF available for participants. The Challenge asks members to complete activities from each section, with required activity counts varying by age group, and promises tangible rewards: “As a special reward for completing the challenge, you will receive a specially designed Maine 4‑H Ag Challenge hat!” The newsletter further notes that “Prizes will be mailed to those who complete the challenge,” and instructs participants to return completed forms to the 4‑H Ag Leadership team at extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu or to their local UMaine Extension office.

The March newsletter and an attached February 2026 excerpt describe agriculture as central to Maine 4‑H: “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.” That February text frames the Ag Challenge as a guided exploration of those opportunities for 4‑H members.

A notable inconsistency appears in the materials: the newsletter is dated March 6, 2026, while the Ag Challenge text states, “This challenge will run through the entirety of 2025, giving you plenty of time to explore!” The presence of both the March 6, 2026 publication date and the 2025 timeframe creates ambiguity about whether the Ag Challenge remains active in 2026 and whether prizes and the specially designed hat are still available without an updated timeline.

The March newsletter also announces volunteer huddles and a broader slate of March activities and educational opportunities for Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties, but the excerpts provided do not include specific dates, locations beyond 24 Main Street, Lisbon, or registration details for those huddles. For contact and questions related to the Challenge and regional 4‑H programming the newsletter lists Megan Cook, 4‑H Youth Development Professional, Aroostook County, at megan.cook@maine.edu and 207.532.6548, and directs Challenge submissions to extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu.

Until the University of Maine Cooperative Extension provides the 4‑H Ag Challenge PDF or an updated calendar of March events, organizers and families in Sagadahoc County and Androscoggin County will need confirmation of exact session dates, registration requirements, and the Challenge timeframe to determine eligibility and prize availability.