January 2026 4-H Newsletter
Table of Contents
Upcoming in Cumberland County 4-H
- 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
- January 21: Fun with 4-H, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Rd, Windham
- January 21: Public Speaking Workshop, 5:00-7:00 p.m., 4-H Office in Falmouth
- January 26: Maker Monday #3, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 4-H Office in Falmouth
- February 6: Fashion Revue, Intent to Participate Form is due
- February 7: Public Speaking/ Demonstration Day, Inn at Village Square, Gorham, ME
Cumberland County Extension Office Hours
We are currently open Monday through Thursday 8:00am-4:30pm and Friday by appointment only.
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.
4-H Leaders Association Meeting – January 15,2026 7:00PM
Join us on Thursday, January 15 at 7:00p.m. in-person at the Gorham Public Works Building (80 Huston Road, Gorham) These meetings are a chance to meet volunteers, and to offer input on 4-H programming in Cumberland County! All volunteers are welcome and encouraged to attend! If you would like the Zoom link please email Allison: allison.pollock@maine.edu
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!
FUN WITH 4-H
Dates: Wednesdays, 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 207.581.8370.
Speak Up Workshop, January 21,2026 5:00PM
Do you ever feel stressed about making in-class presentations? Do you wish you were better at speaking in front of a group?
Come learn how to write a speech, work on your public speaking skills, learn how to present on a microphone and conquer your presentation fears in a safe environment. Join us on January 21st from 5pm-7pm at the 4-H Office in Falmouth. Open to all 4-H ages.
Please RSVP on this Google Form, if you have any questions, contact Allison at allison.pollock@maine.edu
MAKER MONDAY 2025-2026
Dates: Monday, 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 207.581.8370.
Fashion Revue Intent to Participate Due February 6th
The 2026 4-H Fashion Revue invites members that enjoy designing and making their own sewn, crocheted or knitted projects to showcase them in this year’s event. Our theme is Threads of Imagination, and we are encouraging all participants to get their creative juices flowing with great materials, yarns, and patterns, resulting in some great projects.
Fashion Revue is open to all ages, with categories for Cloverbuds (ages 5-8 years), beginner, intermediate, and advanced sewers, knitters, crocheters & upcyclers. Items crafted can include garments, accessories, stuffed animals, livestock blankets or any other item your creative mind can imagine and your talented hands can produce.
You must fill out an Intent to Participate form by Friday, February 6th, 2026. You will need to have your completed project dropped off at the UMaine Extension Cumberland Office by 4:00PM on Thursday, February 19 along with the necessary forms. Deadline with date and time of project drop off are non-negotiable.
Questions? Call Jenn Grant, 207.318.9166 or findviewfarm@juno.com.
Judging for Fashion Revue will take place in-person on Saturday, February 21 at The Little Falls Activity Center (40 Acorn Street, Gorham). Your creation will first be judged off-person, then you will either wear or bring your entry before the judges starting at 1:00 PM. A Fashion Show will take place at 2:30 PM following the judging. The snow date for judging is February 22nd, 2026.
4-H Public Presentation Day
This event will occur at 10:00 AM on February 7th at the Inn at the Village Square in Gorham. 4-H members will be able to do either public speaking or a demonstration alone or in groups. The Inn at Village Square is an assisted living facility in Gorham where the All-Star Dairy Club regularly meets with the seniors that live there and they are always looking for more visitors. They are excited for our program to be at their place!
Are you thinking about competing at our county event and qualifying for states? This would be a great practice for you.
To register please fill out this online form: Cumberland County 4-H Public Presentation Day Registration (Google Form) by Thursday, February 5th.
For tips on giving a 4-H presentation or demonstration please visit our Giving a 4-H Presentation and Demonstration page.
For questions or more information please reach out to Allison Pollock, allison.pollock@maine.edu.
SPEAK UP, MAINE 4-H!
Join us on February 21st for our county public speaking contest to help qualify you for the state contest. We welcome 4-Her’s of all ages, including Cloverbuds. We are trying something new this year and going to run a public speaking contest the same day as Fashion Revue.
You may use the same presentation as the day in Gorham with probably some minor adjustments to meet the criteria for the county public speaking contest.
Want to know more information about Public Speaking? Check out this link: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/public-speaking/.
This will be the only opportunity to qualify for the state public speaking contest, please let Allison know and she will be in touch about the schedule for the day.
ESE 4-H Dairy Team Intent Forms are Due March 1, 2026
The 2026 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States intent to participate form is available online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States Team next fall, 4-H members must submit their completed intent form online or to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office before March 1, 2026.
Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971 with any questions.
Club Happenings
Maine Rabbiteers December meeting 12/6
During the Maine Rabbiteers December meeting, we elected new officers who include: Jack McDevitt – president, Brenden Keenan – Vice President, Layton Seely – Secretary, Vivian Kerr – treasurer, Merck Seely – Librarian, Abigail Wheeler and Lily Krainis – Photographer/reporters, and the Flag Bearers – Sean Caram and Brooks Brainerd. Congratulations to all the newly elected officers! Our meeting activity was decorating Christmas cookies; everyone had lots of fun and made some beautifully decorated cookies, and enjoyed some hot chocolate with marshmallows. Our next meeting is January 10th, 2026, via Zoom starting at 10am with no predetermined end time. January the 24th, 2026, is the Massachusetts rabbit and cavy workshop located at the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School 80 Locust st., Northampton, MA 01060. There are over 40 different workshops, all different things pertaining to anything and everything rabbit. This is a very big workshop with tons of learning opportunities for everyone who wants to participate.
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 January 2026
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.
Winter STEM Virtual Workshop Series
When: February 17, 18, 19, 20 from 10am to 11:15am
Where: This virtual series will meet on zoom
Cost: Free
This February, ignite a new appreciation for winter! Join our hands-on, curiosity-driven virtual science series designed for youth ages 10 and up. Through guided inquiry, investigation, and observation, we will explore all the wonders of the cold season. Get ready to transform your view of winter! Register here by February 3, 2026 or contact emily.booth@maine.edu for more information.
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!
2026 Maple Sugaring 101: From Sap, to Syrup, to Sales
Maple Sugaring 101 is a virtual program open to Maine youth ages 10+ who are interested in learning about the entire maple sugaring process and how to create a commercial grade syrup. Participants will learn about forest management, tapping trees, transporting sap, using an evaporator, grading and storing syrup, and operating a maple sugaring business. The program will be three one-hour sessions on Zoom, one session per week, during the afternoon. Exact dates will be released in January 2026.
Each week, participants will learn about the process and connect with other young maple sugar makers through online meetings led by University of Maine Cooperative Extension experts. This program will also prepare youth for a new Level 1 digital badge called 4-H Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise. Youth who complete the program will get free access to the learning modules to earn the digital badge.
Independent club members or youth who are interested in the program but are not a member of a participating club are welcome to register!
If you are interested in this program, please complete the interest form at this link so we can follow up with you about registration: https://forms.gle/JwNiYnPtU1ihXN2G9
Club leaders who would like to have their club participate in this program, please contact your 4-H County Professional or Andrew Hudacs by Monday, January 26, 2026: andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, (207) 581-8204. For more information, please visit the Maple Sugaring 101 webpage: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/annual-events/maple-sugaring-101/
4-H Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise Micro-Credential
The University of Maine System (UMS) 4-H Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise Micro-credential is a learning pathway for teenage youth to learn the essential aspects of the maple industry. Students completing the program demonstrate the foundational knowledge and skills to work in a maple forest, sugarhouse, and produce commercial-grade maple syrup and value-added food products. Additionally, participants understand how skills and traits gained during work in the maple industry are transferable to other workplace situations.
Students ages 14+ may enroll in the micro-credential pathway and learn the material through an instructor-led class or by self-study.
Link to 4-H Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise Micro-credential webpage: https://extension.umaine.edu/micro-credentials/4h-foundations-maple-sugaring-enterprise/
Students progressing along the micro-credential pathway will earn and receive a digital badge at each milestone they achieve. There are three digital badge levels of knowledge and skills on the pathway that must be completed before proceeding to the next level. All three levels cover learning topics for working in the woods, the sugarhouse, the kitchen, and operating a business. The three units for each digital badge and learning level are called “Woods Work”, “The Sugarhouse”, and “Kitchen and Business”.
The 4-H Maple Sugaring 101 virtual program will prepare students for the Level 1 digital badge.
The Level 1 knowledge exam is the first of three parts required to earn the full micro-credential. There is no cost to enroll and take the Level 1 assessment. After passing this test, students can then demonstrate their skills with an approved instructor to complete Levels 2 and 3.
To learn more or to sign up for the pathway, please email andrew.hudacs@maine.edu or by phone, 207.581.8204.
4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips, and tricks!
Fuel the Spark!
Okay, Maine 4-H volunteers- we have shared information about “youth sparks” in our past three editions of the 4-H Volunteer Corner. Now it’s YOUR TURN- tell us how YOU are helping to support or fuel a youth spark! Fill out this short form to highlight one example of youth spark and the role you played, and your name will be entered into a drawing for some cool 4-H swag! YOU MAKE a difference! Tell us how you do it! https://forms.gle/NwK6oqSqzu6Ryfeh8
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!
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
maine.zoom.us/j/82015703524?pwd=QkT05bDbaaDIeYAQ8aGUd4eco5c6Rd.1
Password: volunteer
January 2, 2026- Navigating 4-H Curriculum Resources– Explore the wide range of 4-H curriculum materials and learn how to access and utilize guides, activity books, and resource toolkits tailored for youth programming.
February 6, 2026- Igniting Youth Sparks: Hands-On Strategies for 4-H Volunteers Discover how to identify and nurture the unique passions, interests, and talents—“sparks”—that inspire young people to thrive. Get hands-on activities and strategies for igniting and sustaining youth sparks in their 4-H clubs.
4-H Volunteer Connections
January 21, 2026 Volunteer Excellence: Recognizing Achievement, Inspiring Growth
6:30-8:00pm. Free to attend, but registration is required! Register here!
Your Voice is Needed! Passionate about 4-H Poultry & Rabbit Projects?
Help shape the new 4-H poultry and rabbit tracks that will debut at Eastern States in 2026! We are forming planning committees for each species and are looking for knowledgeable, enthusiastic 4-H volunteers and interested youth to join us in developing high-quality, engaging opportunities for 4-H members across the region. Join one of our upcoming drop-in virtual information sessions to learn more. We’d love to have your experience, creativity, and passion at the table! Contact Sadee Mehuren, sadee.mehuren@maine.edu 207.342.5971
Info Session Dates: Jan 6, 2026 06:00 PM, Jan 22, 2026 06:00 PM
Zoom Link: https://maine.zoom.us/j/84571900345?pwd=r3r8fH1VVWNHu7AtR6h2MIam8b9oPw.1 Password: 058775
Resource Spotlight
4-H Club Leader Handbook is a resource designed to help new club leaders get off to a strong start, containing specific information for facilitating the 4-H club model. Check out this amazing resource online https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteers/club-leader-handbook/ or contact your county office for a printed copy.
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News
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/events/list/