December 2025 4-H Newsletter
Table of Contents
Upcoming in Cumberland County 4-H
- December 17: Fun with 4-H, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Windham Public Library
- December 22: Maker Monday #2, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 4-H Office in Falmouth
- December 31: Enrollments due for returning 4-H members
- January 4: Winterfest, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Junction Bowl, Gorham, ME
- January 6: Fryeburg Fair Market Steer Intent due
- January 15: CC 4-H Leaders & Volunteers Meeting, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Online & 80 Huston Road, Gorham, ME
- January 16: Maine 4-H ESE Beef Team Intent due
Cumberland County Extension Office Hours
We are currently open Monday through Thursday 8:00am-4:30pm and Friday by appointment only.
Eligibility For Enrollment Requirements for 2025-2026
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 including, but not limited to, state-wide market animal auctions, Eastern States Exposition competitions, National 4-H Congress, Ignite/CWF, National 4-H Conference, and to be eligible for 4-H post-secondary scholarships. In order to participate in county fairs, returningmembers are expected to meet the December 31 deadline and new members should be enrolled by April 1.
This year’s re-enrollments can be completed online at 4h.zsuite.org. New members may also make an account and enroll themselves online. If members, volunteers, or leaders need help with their re-enrollments or have any questions regarding ZSuite, please reach out to Allison, allison.pollock@maine.edu.
All volunteers must fill out two single-sided forms (enrollment and photo release) and one double-sided behavior and non-discrimination form. You can fill out these in your Zsuite account as a volunteer.
Tractor Supply Company Paper Clover Campaign
This season’s Paper Clover campaign officially launched on November 28 and will run through December 14, showcasing 4-H during the busiest retail period of the year! Funds raised through the campaign are used to support 4-H Leadership activities and camp scholarships. Limited edition, collectible 4-H holiday ornaments are also available in Tractor Supply stores nationwide. Featuring three unique designs, 100% of the funds raised from ornament sales will benefit 4-H.
4-H STEAM Club
Dates: Thursday, December 11th, January 8th
Time: 3:30-4:30 PM
Grades: K-5th
Location: Soldier Library, 85 Main St., Hiram,ME
Cost: Free
Registration is required for this free program; Register Here
FUN WITH 4-H
Dates: Wednesdays, December 17th, January 21st, February 18th, March 18th, April 15th, May 20th, June 17th
Time: 1:30-2:30 PM
Grades: K-3rd
Location: Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Rd, Windham, ME
Cost: Free
No registration necessary to participate in this program
Have questions? Contact Allison Pollock by email allison.pollock@maine.edu or phone 207.781.6099.
MAKER MONDAY 2025-2026
Dates: Monday, December 22nd, January 26th, February 23rd, March 23rd, April 27th, May 18th, June 22nd
Time: 4:30-5:30 PM
Grades: K-5th
Location: UMaine Cooperative Extension Office, 75 Clearwater Dr., Suite 104, Falmouth, ME
Cost: Free
Registration is required for this free program; Register Here
Have questions? Contact Allison Pollock by email allison.pollock@maine.edu or phone 207.781.6099.
Teen Council – December 22, 6:30PM at the 4-H Office in Falmouth
We are looking for members between the ages of 12-18 who are interested in gaining more leadership and event planning skills. This year the Teen Council will include meetings/events October-June and the opportunity to plan several county events.
This will be an initial interest meeting to discuss projects, opportunities, and more. Come learn more about Teen Council! Please reach out to Allison if you are interested in being a part of Teen Council.
Market Beef at Fryeburg Fair
The 2026 Maine 4-H Intent to Sell a Market Beef Project at Fryeburg Fair is now available for eligible youth. The animal must be owned and in the youth’s possession, and the youth must be enrolled in their county by December 31, 2025. More information and the form are available on the Maine 4-H Beef page. Online forms must be submitted and paper copies must be postmarked by January 6, 2026.
Maine 4-H ESE Beef Intent to Participate Forms are Now Available
The 2026 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to Participate form is now available online and must be submitted by January 15, 2026. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Beef Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September. Youth must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2025 and have completed one year in a beef project prior to this year. Please contact Kristen Grondin, kristen.grondin@maine.edu, 207-581-8193, or Cathy Bartlett Gray, cathy.gray@maine.edu, 207-743-6329 with any questions.
The Leaders Association is Holding Elections for 2026-2028 Board Members
The Leaders Association is holding elections at the January meeting.
The new slate of Board Members is
- Ralph Clark
- Chris Baldinelli
- Wendy Landry
- Michaela Skelton
The Leaders Association meeting to vote on these Board Members will be held January 15 at Gorham Public Works, 80 Huston Road, Gorham, 7:00 – 9:00 PM. All volunteers are welcome and encouraged to attend!
WINTERFEST
Winterfest is a fun-filled celebration and an opportunity to recognize 4-H youth who will receive county awards, as well as volunteers.
- Date: Sunday, January 4, 2026
- Time: 1:00-4:00 p.m.
- Location: Junction Bowl, 7 Railroad Avenue, Gorham, ME
The afternoon will begin with a shortprogram to recognize county and volunteer awards, followed by free time to socialize. We have completely reserved Junction Bowl for our group. Bowling and arcade games will be available (free of charge) along with select drinks & desserts.
Club Happenings
Your 4-H Club Happenings could be featured here! Just email allison.pollock@maine.edu by the 28th of each month with information about your club meetings, events, or fundraisers. Pictures are always a plus!
State 4-H News December 2025
Deadline Extended for National 4-H Trips!
Great news! The application deadline for National 4-H Conference and National 4-H Congress has been extended to December 14. Youth ages 14–18 are encouraged to apply for these incredible national leadership opportunities.
Trip Dates:
– National 4-H Conference: April 10–15, 2026
– National 4-H Congress: November 27–December 1, 2026
Interviews for both trips will take place the week of December 15. Selected applicants will be contacted with their interview date and time.
We encourage all interested youth to take advantage of this extended deadline and apply today!
4-H Public Speaking Update
You asked, we’re excited! Performing Arts demonstrations will now be part of Speak Up, Maine 4-H the statewide Public Speaking Program.
From dramatic monologues to musical performances, this creative category is your time to express yourself and share your spark center stage.
Performing Arts demonstrations include:
– a spoken introduction
– your performance
– and a spoken conclusion
Specific details, including updated evaluation tools and judges’ support for all categories, will be available soon on the Speak Up, Maine 4-H website and through county staff. Stay tuned!
Farm Animal Care FUNdamentals 4-H SPIN Club
Are you interested in learning about livestock animals (such as cows, goats, or sheep)? How do we care for them? How do you know what to feed them, how do you actually do regular health checks and have proper housing? Join the 4-H Animal Science SPIN club. We will have 3 virtual sessions focused on what livestock need to live a healthy life and one field day that provides hands-on experience. Set yourself up for success in your 4-H project by learning the basics of animal care. Participants do not need any prior animal experience or currently own livestock to participate. This is a beginner/introductory level program.
This is a free opportunity for youth ages 9 – 18. Virtual sessions will be Thursdays, January 22, 29th, February 5, 2026, 4:00-5:15 pm. February 12th will be an optional session for youth who intend to participate in a 4-H livestock project. The final session will be geared towards youth who are beginning their journey into raising livestock. Learn More and Register Here before January 9, 2026.
4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips and tricks
Nurturing Sparks (Part 3 of 3)
Once you notice a spark, did you know you can actually help fuel it? 4-H volunteers support youth sparks by facilitating exploration through varied activities, fostering a supportive environment where questions are valued, encouraging exploration, and building relationships that empower youth to discover and develop their passions. Connecting youth with resources, mentors, or new opportunities is a great way to help fuel the spark. Other ideas for you as a 4-H volunteer include:
– Modeling curiosity: Showing your own excitement for learning and discovery can encourage youth to adopt a similar mindset.
– Showing genuine interest: Listening actively to the youth’s thoughts, opinions, and aspirations to build trust and encourage their self-expression can be powerful. Sometimes we all need a sounding board.
– Allowing for silence and space: Giving youth time to think, process information, and formulate their own ideas without the pressure of immediate answers can be helpful. Circling back to a topic after a few weeks, asking if they have given any more thought to something, or inquiring to see how you might help them with a next step, can help youth feel supported.
4-H Volunteer Huddle:
Join us for a short “gather and learn session” to help you up your game. We meet on the first Friday of each month from 12:00-12:30 pm via Zoom. Whether you are an experienced 4-H volunteer or just getting started, there’s something for everyone. We’d love to see you there! No registration required!
Dec. 5- Delegating/Asking parents and other adults to help
January 2, 2026- Navigating 4-H Curriculum Resources
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
maine.zoom.us/j/82015703524?pwd=QkT05bDbaaDIeYAQ8aGUd4eco5c6Rd.1
Password: volunteer
4-H Volunteer Connections
January 21, 2026 Volunteer Excellence: Recognizing Achievement, Inspiring Growth
6:30-8:00pm
Connect with 4-H volunteers from states in the North East region to hear inspiring 4-H volunteer stories including those recognized through the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Award. Come celebrate success, learn from peers, and strengthen your own impact. Free to attend, but registration is required! Register here!
4-H Volunteer Opportunities Calendar:
Find our 4-H volunteer training opportunities on our calendar of events here – scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe to the calendar and never miss upcoming events, workshops, and more!
Resource Spotlight
Do you work with Cloverbuds (youth ages 5-8)? If so, check out these resources!
- We love our friends at Ohio State University for creating an amazing collection of Click and Do 4-H Cloverbud activities! All organized by themes, there’s something for everyone!
- A welcoming environment is the cornerstone to a successful 4-H club meeting. Try these Icebreakers for Cloverbuds from Michigan State University!
- Looking for some holiday craft ideas for younger youth? Check out this Holiday Activity Guide from National 4-H Council- there is even a cookie recipe collection included!
Maine 4-H Ag Challenge Open Through 2025
As announced earlier this year, Maine 4-H is celebrating “The Year of Youth in Agriculture” with the 4-H Ag Challenge.
Many 4-H’ers from around the state have already taken on the challenge and been awarded their commemorative hat.
PHOTO OF MEMBERS IN COMPOST BIN – photo credit Michael Guerrette “Two members show off the compost bin they made as part of the ag challenge”
We encourage all our members to delve deeper into the rich and diverse world of Maine agriculture. 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 has launched 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
Download the Ag Challenge PDF at: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/2025/06/10/4-h-ag-challenge/. Some of these activities you may already be doing!
Once you’ve completed your activities, please return the form to the 4-H Ag Leadership team at mailto: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, but time is running out. Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity!
If you have any questions please contact:
Megan Cook, megan.cook@maine.edu or 207.532.6548
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News
Farm Skills Training Program
Looking for a rewarding, active, and valuable career? Eager to learn the skills needed to work on a local farm? Get paid to learn through this job training program in Spring 2026!
Merrymeeting Food Council is accepting applications for a Farm Skills Training Program, a paid, part-time program that runs from late-March to early June. Participants must live in, or be able to travel to, the Bath/Brunswick region of Maine. Participants will also receive individual support from a Career Advisor.
Learn more and apply at http://www.merrymeetingfoodcouncil.org/farm-skills. Applications due February 1st, 2026.
UMaine Extension Cumberland County offers many different workshops throughout the year. To learn more about our workshop offerings please visit https://extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/upcoming-events/