February 2026 4-H Newsletter

February 2, 2026 News

Table of Contents

Upcoming in Cumberland County 4-H

Visit the Cumberland County 4-H Calendar to View All Upcoming Events

FUN WITH 4-H

Dates: Wednesdays, 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.

MAKER MONDAY 2025-2026

Dates: Monday, 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, including date and time of project drop-off, are non-negotiable.

Questions? Call Jenn Grant, 207.318.9166 or findviewfarm@juno.com.

Fashion Revue Fashion Show to be Held Saturday, February 21st in Gorham

The 2026 4-H Fashion Revue’s 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.

Participants will receive a packet with all of this information, but as a reminder you will need to have your completed project dropped off at the UMaine Extension Cumberland Office by 4:00PM on Thursday, February 19th along with the necessary forms. Deadline with date and time of project drop off are non-negotiable. Judging for Fashion Revue will take place in-person on Saturday, February 21st, 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. 

Questions? Call Jenn Grant, 207.318.9166 or findviewfarm@juno.com

SPEAK UP, MAINE 4-H!

Join us on February 21st for our county public speaking contest to help you qualify for the state contest. We welcome 4-Her’s of all ages, including Cloverbuds. We are trying something new this year by holding a public speaking contest on the same day as Fashion Revue.

Want to know more information about Public Speaking? Check out this link: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/public-speaking/.   

Please sign up for the County Public Speaking Contest, so we can have the right forms for you! Registration Deadline is February 8th.

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.

Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships

Every year, the Maine 4-H Foundation awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to participants in the Maine 4-H Program pursuing higher education. 4-H participation may include traditional club membership, as well as the many other ways youth can engage with 4-H, including at our Camp and Learning Centers. Dozens of different scholarships are available to applicants, and a single application is used for all.

To find out more about available scholarships, and access the application and templates, visit the Maine 4-H Foundation website.  Applications are due to your local UMaine Extension county office or to one of our 4-H Learning Centers by March 2, 2026. 

Campership Applications Now Available

Campership applications will be due on Friday, April 3, 2026 by 4:30PM. Camperships are scholarships for youth to attend a summer camp of their choice. Applications are now available on the 4-H Camperships page. Please email completed applications to allison.pollock@maine.edu.

The Maine 4-H Foundation has camp scholarships ranging from $100-$200 available for 4-H members to any one week of 4-H camp. Try one of our University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Centers at Blueberry Cove, Bryant Pond, Greenland Point, and Tanglewood. Scholarships are based on need and are first come, first serve. https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/camps/

4-H Scholarship Applications Now Available

Cumberland County 4-H Scholarship applications are due Friday, April 3, 2026 by 4:30PM. If you need help applying for any of these scholarships or have questions, please call or email Allison at 207-581-8370, allison.pollock@maine.edu. Please note that the application for the 4-H Leaders Association, Linda Clark/Margy Justice Memorial, and Susan P. Grover Memorial Scholarships are all the same, but the requirements for each are different. The Extension Homemaker’s Scholarship has a different application form. 

For more information and applications please visit the 4-H Scholarships page. A packet with scholarship applications and information will be mailed in late February to all seniors currently enrolled in Cumberland County 4-H.

Maine 4-H Sheep ESE Intent to Participate Form Now Available

The 2026 Maine 4-H Sheep ESE Intent to Participate Form  is now available online and must be submitted by April 17th, 2026. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Sheep Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September (including teen leads).

The Eastern States Exhibition (Big E) 4-H Sheep Program brings together 4-H members from six states in Springfield, MA for three days of events that showcase their animals, knowledge and skills. Members must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2026 and have completed at least one year in a sheep project.

Please contact Megan Cook with any questions or for more information at megan.cook@maine.edu or 207-532-6548.

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 February 2026

4-H Intro to Artificial Intelligence Club

  • The 4-H Intro to Artificial Intelligence Club will provide an introduction to what artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are. This will be a 6 session series for ages 9+ that focuses on the foundations of AI, including introduction to AI, pattern recognition, human versus machine learning, AI in daily life and ethical awareness. Participants will take a closer look at how these are currently being used, learn about what AI does well and what it does not do well and considerations for using AI.

    Artificial Intelligence has incredible capabilities. This series will reveal some opportunities and challenges of this emerging technology in a safe learning environment. In this club, youth will explore this emerging powerful technology with guidance and support from 4-H staff.

4-H Maine App Challenge Series

The 4-H Maine App Challenge series will provide an introduction to Tyler Technologies’ Maine App Challenge and provide guided support for developing an app. This will be a series for ages 13+ that focuses on the foundations of developing a web-based application, including introduction to the Maine App Challenge. Participants will engage in design thinking, prototyping, and problem solving all while going through the process of developing their own app. At the end of the series, participants, if they choose, will be able to submit their application to the Maine App Challenge for the chance to earn valuable prizes, including scholarships totaling $10,000. In this series, youth will engage in hands-on learning, computer programming, and design with guidance and support from experts at Tyler Technologies and 4-H. Participants must be Maine residents.

Participants will need access to a computer and be required to create a code.org login. Devices need to be one per participant (sharing a device is not advisable for this session). Tablets and mobile devices do not work with this platform. Participants must be Maine residents.

Note – the Maine App Challenge is open to 4-Hers regardless of participation in this series. 

Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl- Save the Date!

The 2026 Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts will be held on March 7th at Maine Farm Bureau building in Augusta, ME. The contest will start at 10:00 AM with the written exam, followed by the individual questions portion and then the buzzer rounds.

This event will serve as the official tryout for the Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Team. The top four eligible 4-H members will be selected to represent Maine 4-H at The Big E in the regional dairy quizbowl contest in September.

Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts are open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members ages 9-18. Youth will be divided into two age categories, Jr. ages 9-11 and Sr. ages 12-18. If you plan on attending please notify Sadee Mehuren via email at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu so that we can prepare for the event.

More information is available online at extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/dairy-quizbowl/. For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Sadee Mehuren at 207.342.5971 or sadee.mehuren@maine.edu.

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, are now available on the Speak Up, Maine 4-H website and through county staff.

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: 

  1. Virtual Session – Unit 1: Woods Work, Monday, February 23, 2026, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
  2. Virtual Session – Unit 2: Sugarhouse, Monday, March 2, 2026, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
  3. Virtual Session – Unit 3: Kitchen and Business, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

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 Friday, February 13, 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 FREE 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.  The 4-H Maple Sugaring 101 virtual program will prepare students for the Level 1 digital badge. 

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!

Why Belonging Matters
Young people thrive when they feel safe, accepted, and valued. Belonging gives them the confidence to try new things, take healthy risks, and grow. All youth need to feel included a meaningful way. When youth feel like they belong, it can help reduce feelings of loneliness, isolation, anxiety, and depression by providing supportive relationships and a sense of community.

  • When youth feel that their ideas matter and they are an important part of a team, it builds their self-confidence and self-worth.
  • 4-H programs emphasize teamwork, cooperation, and communication, which helps members develop strong social skills and build lasting friendships.
  • Belonging to a supportive group helps youth navigate life’s challenges by encouraging them to persevere through adversity, grow from failure and demonstrate resiliency.
  • For adolescents, a sense of belonging is essential for healthy development and helps shape their identity and how they connect with others.

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!

  • 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.
  • March 6, 2026- Prepare for the Fair
    This 4-H volunteer information session will highlight how mentors can guide youth in preparing their animals and themselves for a successful fair experience. Volunteers will learn ways to support members with showmanship skills, animal care, and confidence in the show ring.

Please note: The Zoom link and password will be emailed to all enrolled 4-H volunteers or you can email Tara Wood tara.a.wood@maine.edu to request it. 

4-H Volunteer Connections

AI for 4-H: What to Know and How to Use It

February 18, 2026  6:30 – 8 p.m.

The webinar will share an introduction to artificial intelligence, ideas for 4-H volunteers, and pitfalls to avoid. No matter your current level of experience, there will be information for you. You will learn what generative AI is and what it is not through real examples of how it might support your 4-H work.  Register here!

SAVE THE DATE

Mark your calendars and save the date! We are hosting a conference for Maine 4-H Volunteers on Saturday, November 7th! You are not going to want to miss it! More details to come in the upcoming months!

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/