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4-H Ag Ambassador Program: Visit Farms, Explore Careers
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry sent this bulletin at 02/10/2025 01:34 PM EST
The following University of Maine Cooperative Extension news item is being sent to DACF subscribers as a courtesy.
4-H Ag Ambassadors: Visit Farms, Explore Careers
University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H is offering its Ag Ambassador program in March and April. The program, open to all Maine teens ages 14-18, focuses on career exploration in the local food system through farm and production visits around the state and provides opportunities to build relationships with industry professionals.
The Spring 2025 cohort will meet virtually on March 4, 11, and 25 and April 2 and 15 from 3:30-5 p.m., with in-person farm visits on March 22 at Mook Sea Farm and March 29 at Stonyvale Farm. There will be an overnight Ag Symposium for all participants on April 21-22 at University of Maine in Orono. For a full schedule, visit the program website.
With the shrinking number of formal agricultural programs offered to high school youth, students are lacking opportunities to learn about local food systems and discover careers in agriculture. The 4-H Ag Ambassador program aims to help teens from all walks of life discover a future in agriculture and connect with other young people with similar goals.
Youth involved in this program will have opportunities to pursue their interest in agriculture and explore career pathways. This includes mentoring in post-secondary opportunities, as well as investigating current issues related to food systems, livestock, crop sciences, aquaculture and climate issues impacting food systems and equity. Program participants will serve year-long terms as Agriculture Ambassadors for the Maine 4-H program under the guidance of 4-H staff.
This program is open to all Maine youth; previous 4-H membership is not required to enroll. Register on the program website. All participants will be enrolled as members of the Maine 4-H program. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact Alisha Targonski at alisha.targonski@maine.edu or call (207) 622-7546.
In 2025, Maine is celebrating the Year of Youth in Agriculture, an initiative dedicated to inspiring and supporting the next generation of farmers, foresters, and agricultural leaders. This statewide effort will highlight the contributions of young people in shaping the future of Maine’s food systems, natural resource management, and rural economy. The initiative aims to ensure a strong and resilient agricultural future by fostering connections between young people, industry professionals, and communities. Read More
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