4-H Livestock Auction Returns to Cumberland Fair

Cumberland, Maine — The 4-H Livestock Auction at the Cumberland County Fair will be held Wednesday, September 25 at 4:30 p.m. in the Show Arena at the Cumberland Fairgrounds, 197 Blanchard Road.

Baby beef, market lambs, and market hogs raised by local 4-H members will be auctioned off. All money goes directly to the 4-H’er who raised the animal. Some 4-H’ers use the money earned from the auction for college, while others buy animals to raise for next year’s auction. All 4-H market animals are 100% grain fed and are raised under the supervision of watchful adults. Youth who raise a market animal learn financial management, record keeping, time management, and marketing skills, in addition to learning how to care for the animal.

Potential buyers are encouraged to arrive before 4:30 p.m. to view the animals, talk to 4-H members and enjoy refreshments. After the sale, buyers must pay the cashier onsite with cash or check only. For more information about the auction, please visit the Cumberland Fair 4-H livestock auction webpage.

Those who cannot attend the auction but want to support local 4-H youth raising livestock are invited to donate to the Gray New Gloucester 4-H Food Pantry Project. The GNG 4-H Food Pantry Project is led by local 4-H members in an effort to raise funds to purchase two lambs and four hogs from the 4-H Livestock Auction. The meat is then donated to the Gray and New Gloucester Food Pantries. Donations of any amount may be sent to GNG 4-H Food Pantry Project, PO Box 1012, Gray, ME 04039 by Monday September 23, 2024. Checks can be made payable to: GNG 4-H Food Pantry Project.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, call 207.781.6099 or email allison.pollock@maine.edu. 

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and help grow the food-based economy. Extension also leads Maine’s 4-H program, the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in the state. 4-H programs are grounded in the belief that kids learn best by doing and are developed to fit a variety of backgrounds, interests, budgets and schedules. Participants complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement in a positive environment where they are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.