4-H Policies and Guidelines - Part C

The official age range for 4‑H Membership in Maine is 5 to 18. "4‑H Age" is defined as the age of the individual on December 31 for the current 4‑H Year. The official 4-H year runs from October 1 of one calendar year to September 30 of the next. Participation in Fryeburg Fair activities in October is considered as part of the previous 4-H year.

For example: If Johnny Smith is 8 years old on December 31st and turns 9 on January 1st, then in accordance with Maine's 4-H age policy, Johnny would be 8 years on in 4-H age for the current enrollment year.

At the discretion of the 4‑H Youth Development educator or professional, individuals who are older than 18 may be enrolled when it is mutually beneficial for the Maine 4‑H Youth Development program and the individual. For example, mentally-impaired individuals chronologically over 18 but who function at a developmental level that falls within the 5 to 18 4-H age-range could be enrolled as 4‑H members.

Every youth who joins 4‑H in Maine will be known as a "4‑H Member." Terms such as "pixie" are no longer used. 4‑H Youth Development Programs, events and activities need to be designed and conducted for specific ages within the official enrollment range. Therefore, it is acceptable, for example, to restrict a specific to 5 to 8 year-olds, the Maine 4‑H Teen Conference to 12 to 18 year-olds, or 4‑H Shows at Agricultural Fairs to 9 to 18 year-olds with special classes for 5 to 8 year-olds.

Any individual who meets the age requirements for 4-H enrollment may enroll as a 4-H member in Maine and participate fully in any and all 4-H programs appropriate to their age and capabilities conducted by the Maine 4-H Youth Development Program, including individuals who live outside the State of Maine.

Renewing members and clubs are expected to re-enroll between October 1 and December 31 each year. New members may enroll at any time. However, both new and re-enrolling members must be enrolled by December 31 to participate in events and activities such as, but not limited to, state-wide market animal auctions, Eastern States Exposition competitions, National 4-H Congress, National 4-H Conference, and to be eligible for 4-H post-secondary scholarships.

In order to participate in county fairs, re-enrolling members are expected to meet the December 31 deadline and new members should be enrolled by April 1. See the county educator for additional details.

The Maine 4-H Program recognizes independent 4-H member(s) as a form of program membership/delivery.

All Maine independent 4-H members must complete, turn-in and have approved at their county 4-H office a Maine 4-H charter letter. The Maine 4-H Charter letter will define the following parameters:

Occasionally there are extenuating circumstances in which a youth who is an independent asks to be a member in a county other than the one in which he or she resides. In these instances, the county of affiliation should be worked out between the 4-H staff in each respective county, with a written record stating which county the youth is officially enrolled in, and the reasons for the exception.

Youth may be enrolled in more than one 4-H Club in the same or different counties or states as long as they meet these conditions:

"As a participant in this program, I understand that I represent myself, my family, my county, Maine, and all Maine 4-H participants, volunteers and staff. 4-H will be judged by my actions. Therefore, by my signature below, I agree to:

I understand that if I break this agreement, I must accept the consequences of my actions, which might include a loss of privileges during this program, loss of 4-H privileges in the future, and/or immediate dismissal from this program."

A 4‑H member has completed a year's enrollment when the 4‑H educator for the county in which the member is enrolled certifies the work to be complete. This may be demonstrated when the member has completed the tasks associated with the 4‑H Project or non-traditional activity.

Some 4‑H Projects may not require twelve months worth of work. Therefore, it is up to the Extension educator or professional to determine if full credit can be given for the work completed. Examples in which members could receive credit for having completed a year's project work include:

NOTE: For the 2008 Fair season only, 8 year old members may continue to participate in competitive animal shows as they have done in the past if fairs choose to hold those classes for them.

Regulations for Market Lamb and Market Steers to be sold at fairs open to 4-H members statewide:

These regulations are for 4-H Members planning to show and sell at either Windsor and/or Fryeburg Fairs. 4-H members need to send in the Intent to Participate Form to the Extension office prior to January 3 for Market Steers. An Intent to Participate Form is not required for Market Lambs.

The 4-H club leader, project leader, or independent advisor will verify that this is an active project by signing the animal approval form. One method of verification the leader can use is to review the project record to date.

The Danish system is a method of evaluation where a product or process is evaluated against a set of standards, and recognition is awarded on the degree to which the standard has been met by each competitor. In Danish system judging, the exhibitors are not judged against each other. In a “true” Danish system the standard of excellence is the same for everyone regardless of age or experience. In 4-H, a “modified” Danish system is used that uses standards adjusted according to member's age and years of experience in the project. The Danish system is used in 4-H for 9 through 18 year olds because it is a way to provide recognition to greater numbers of youth who may all be making significant progress in their projects. The Danish system is considered by National 4-H Policy to be a competitive form of judging and is therefore not to be used for 4-H members under the age of 9.

In Maine 4-H, ribbons traditionally awarded by the Danish system are:

Blue - for excellence, exceeding the standards
Red - for good work that meets the expected standard
White - for work that falls below the expected standard

In Maine we have not created written standards. Therefore the standards used in livestock shows are the generally accepted standards for good fitting and showmanship and for animal quality.

Cloverbuds, 4-H members ages 5 through 8, are not ranked or judged competitively. Cloverbud members will receive identical forms of recognition of participation for work exhibited in Exhibition halls or for participation in non-competitive animal demonstrations, skill-a-thons, clinics, or other educational events. Although Cloverbud exhibits or demonstrations are not ranked or scored, it is important for the children to receive feedback on their work. They may participate in a “show and tell” activity about their exhibit or receive written or oral feedback that includes positive encouragement and constructive suggestions for growth for their exhibits or animal activities.

Maine 4‑H members may attend Eastern States Exposition (ESE) in up to, but no more than, two commodities for which they qualify, in any given year. Participation in two commodities may not prevent the participation of another 4‑H member who would be attending in only one commodity. The programs of the two commodities at ESE must not conflict or overlap during the Exposition.

The Maine 4-H Teen Council of appointed 4-H members, has a mission statement based on the acronym L.E.A.D.S.:

Teen Council meets as often as the Council members feel they need to meet. Typically they meet monthly except in July and August. The Council is guided by the Maine 4-H Teen Council By-Laws.

National 4-H Conference - National 4-H Conference is called by the United States Secretary of Agriculture and held in the spring at the National 4-H Center, Chevy Chase, Maryland. This event brings together teens from across the United States to assist in the creation of a national direction for youth programming for the following year. Teens who attend this program are asked to identify issues impacting their lives and suggest recommendations of how 4-H might address these issues. In the process, the teens learn a great deal about themselves.

Teens from Maine selected to attend this event are given the title "Maine 4-H Ambassador."

Citizenship Washington Focus - Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) is a week-long summertime adventure that teaches teens about their citizenship responsibilities. The delegates live at the National 4-H Center while attending field trips into Washington, D.C. and learning sessions at the Center. During the week the delegates role-play being Senators, city-council members, and participate in other decision-making roles to learn how issues become bills and how bills become laws. By the end of the week, the delegates are ready to be agents of change in their local communities.

To attend CWF youth must follow county Extension guidelines. Youth do not have to be 4-H members to attend CWF.

National 4-H Congress - National 4-H Congress is a five-day educational event keyed to the recognition and continuing development of the nation's most outstanding 4-H youth. During Congress, approximately 1,200 4-H members and 270 adults participate in a variety of activities: Special donor-sponsored events afford opportunity for delegates to receive training of special interest to them and exchange ideas with representatives from the private sector and Extension Service. Workshops offer 4-H members and adults opportunity to discuss current concerns of youth preparing to enter the adult world and become future leaders.

Participants are selected to attend National 4-H Conference and National 4-H Congress through the State 4-H Awards interview process. The committee that interviews and selects youth for these programs may include a member of the State 4-H Staff, the Executive Director of the Pine Tree State 4‑H Foundation, a Maine 4-H Ambassador, a county 4-H educator or professional, and a 4-H volunteer. At the close of the interviews, the State 4-H Awards committee makes the final decision. In each annual interview process, an applicant will be selected to participate in only one of these programs.