March 2026 4-H Newsletter
Table of Contents
Upcoming in Cumberland County 4-H
March 1: ESE Dairy Team Intent Forms Due
March 2: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships due to County office
March 12: Agriculture 101 with 4-H, 3:30-4:30 PM, Thomas Memorial Library, Cape Elizabeth
March 18: Fun with 4-H, 1:30-2:30 PM, Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Rd, Windham
March 19: CC 4-H Leaders & Volunteers Meeting, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Online & Gorham Public Works, 80 Huston Road, Gorham
March 23: Maker Monday #5, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 4-H Office in Falmouth
March 24-29: CWF, Washington, D.C.
March 25-29: Ignite Summit Trip, Washington, D.C.
March 24-29: Maine Science Festival
FUN WITH 4-H
Dates: Wednesdays, 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 by email allison.pollock@maine.edu or phone 207.581.8370.
4-H Leaders Association Meeting – March 19,2026 7:00PM
Join us on Thursday, March 19 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
MAKER MONDAY 2025-2026
Dates: Monday, March 23rd- Egg Drop, April 27th- SunCatchers, May 18th- Gardening, June 22nd- Ice Cream
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 by email allison.pollock@maine.edu or phone 207.581.8370.
4-H Page Day in Augusta – Sign up Now!
Date: March 25, 2026
Where: Augusta, Maine – State Legislature
Time: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Registration Deadline: March 14, 2026 – First come, first serve
Registered 4-Hers age 13 or older are encouraged to serve as Honorary Pages in the Maine House or the Maine Senate on Youth Agriculture Policy Day, March 25th, 2026. The Maine 4-H program has up to 20 slots for Honorary Pages. Registration is first come, first serve with a registration deadline of Saturday, March 14.
For more information and details about what a page does, please visit the event page. If you’re interested in participating, register now! Reach out to Karen Giles with any questions.
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 has been mailed to all seniors currently enrolled in Cumberland County 4-H.
Farm Tractor Safety Course
Participants will learn how to handle tractors and equipment safely, how to identify hazards, and how to minimize the chances of accidents. The course is open to all adults and youth interested. A Federal Certificate of Training will be issued at the end of the course after successful completion of the written test and driving course and with attendance requirements met. This certificate is required for 14- and 15-year-olds who plan to operate farm equipment for hire on farms other than their own.
Date: Tuesdays, April 7th-May 5th
Time: 5:30-7:30PM
Location: Shaw Cherry Hill Farm, Gorham, ME
More information available on the website. Please sign up for the interest list to be notified when registration opens in mid-March.
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.
Equine ESE Intent Forms Due May 1, 2026
The 2026 Eastern States (ESE) Horse Intent Form is now live and online. The form is to indicate your interest in participating in the Eastern States Team Tryout event this summer, which will be on July 31- Aug 1st, 2026, at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds.
The event this year will offer an overnight opportunity for youth to qualify and to learn and grow while getting to know other youth who are also interested in trying out. Youth can participate in one of the tracks below:
- Teen Leader (4-H age 12 and up)
- Rider or Driver (4-H age 13 and up)
- Groom track (which is a learning track only)
If youth would like to come and learn about the team, help, and observe (especially if they aren’t old enough to qualify for the team yet), they can also come to tryouts as a “Groom” and will need to fill out the intent form.
Youth interested in any of the track options need to fill out the intent form. We use this info to contact and update interested families and youth.
Here is the ESE intent form to be filled out by May 1st. Approval forms must also be filled out and sent to your county office by May 1st as well.
More details will be included in the tryout application packet on the UMaine 4-H Horse Website.
The intent form does not bind you to the tryout event. Applications will be used to determine the event roster and final schedule.
If you have any questions, please reach out to: Tara Marble, tara.marble@maine.edu, or
207.778.4650.
SPRING FEST at Pineland Farms
Cumberland County 4-H has been invited to collaborate with Pineland Farms for a new community event, a Spring Festival! The event will focus on fiber, flowers, and animals (especially baby animals). This form is to help gather interest in participating in the event. The goal is to share your knowledge with people visiting the farm and raise awareness about agriculture, nature, and the 4-H program.
Date: May 31st ( severe weather rain date June 7th)
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: Pineland Farms Valley Farm, New Gloucester, ME
If you are interested in participating in the event, please fill out the form by March 8th. I will be following up with families that are interested in participating as we get closer to the event.
Club Happenings
Rabbiteers 4-H Club
The Maine Rabbiteers hosted their February meeting at the Falmouth extension office in Maine. In this meeting we learned about herbal remedies for rabbits, when and what to give. The kids planted two different kinds of parsley and decorated repurposed egg carton starter pots with paint. This was very educational and the kids had lots of fun. Along with the meeting we had a valentines day celebration. Everyone brought in cards and goodies and had a Valentines box decorating contest. Our winners were Emma, Brendan and Abigail. Overall it was a very fun meeting with snacks, valentines and learning about the benefits of natural resources.
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
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.
Maine 4-H Ag Ambassadors – Spring 2026
Maine 4-H is now accepting registrations for the spring 2026 Agriculture Ambassadors cohort! The program is designed for youth ages 13-18 who are interested in any aspect of agriculture. Youth spend time getting to know each other and learn both online and in-person in sessions facilitated by UMaine 4-H Staff and community partners. Sessions will focus on career exploration, exploring the Maine Food System with farm and production visits around the state, and building relationships with industry professionals.
This season we will visit local Maine Ag businesses like Libby Maple, Yeti Ridge Farm and more. Transportation assistance for these events may be available upon request.
In addition to the multi-week session, youth will serve in their ambassador role with Maine 4-H for at least 1 year. Youth will pick an agricultural area to focus on (ex. livestock, ag literacy/food systems, environmental stewardship, ag and health) during their term and explore leadership opportunities locally, statewide, and even nationally. Register today!
Spring 2026 Dates:
Online: March 11, March 18, April 1, April 8, and April 15
In-Person: March 21
Ag Policy Day at the State House: March 25 (optional)
Maine Agriculture Symposium at the University of Maine: April 19-21 (two nights), we try to offer transportation as best we can.
To register visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/youth/ag-leadership. For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Alisha Targonski at alisha.targonski@maine.edu or 207.622.7546.
Maine Science Festival
The Maine Science Festival will be held March 25-29 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. This FREE event includes a Field Trip Day for 7th- 8th graders, a Teen Tech Night, and Exploration Stations that include demonstrations and hands-on activities involving the sciences. Be sure to put it on your calendar because it really is a fun event! For more information on the Maine Science Festival please go to the website: https://www.mainesciencefestival.org/2026program
Dive Into the UMaine Touch Tank (Virtually!)
Join our touch tank staff for a virtual journey through Maine’s sea creatures. From the infamous lobster to the invasive green crab, youth will have the opportunity to learn about common species that grace our shores from the comfort of home!
Cost: Free
Ages: 8-13
Dates/Time: This workshop will meet Monday April 13th, Wednesday April 15th, and Friday April 17th from 4:00-5:00 pm
Registration Deadline: March 30, 2026
Capacity: Limited to 8 youth
You can register here or contact leah.mccluskey@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, are now available on the Speak Up, Maine 4-H website and through county staff.
It’s Time to Think About Summer Camp!
Looking to take your Maine 4-H Experience to a new level? Check out the summer programs at your UMaine 4-H Camps! Opportunities for living in community, making new friends, building a sense of belonging, and honing your skills in a whole variety of program options such as, outdoor skills, shooting sports, STEM, creative arts, ecology, gardening, team work, and teen leadership. Each camp has scholarship opportunities to off-set tuition costs AND your County 4-H Programs have scholarships to attend camp too. One to three-week sessions available in both day and overnight settings. We hope to see you there!
- Blueberry Cove, Tenants Harbor in Knox County. Dates: June 21-August 14, 2026.
- Bryant Pond, Bryant Pond in Oxford County. Dates: June 21-August 14, 2026.
- Greenland Point, Princeton in Washington County. Dates: June 28-July 31, 2026.
- Tanglewood, Lincolnville in Waldo County. Dates: June 21-August 21, 2026.
Bryant Pond and Greenland Point contact, Bethany: 207.665.2068
Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove contact, Emma: 207.789.5868
Early College Outdoor Intensives
The UMaine 4-H Camps and Learning Centers at Tanglewood and Greenland Point are each offering Early College programs in conjunction with the University of Maine Division of Lifelong Learning. KPE 265 is a 3-credit course focused on skills in outdoor recreation. This is an introductory course in outdoor and adventure activities, forming the foundation of an outdoor leadership education. The course focuses primarily on participation in four different activity categories: canoeing; bouldering and climbing; hiking and orienteering; and challenge course. KPE 207 is a 1-credit course where participants become certified in wilderness first aid (WFA) and CPR.
Registration: Participants must complete enrollment with the University of Maine Early College Program. Once that is completed we will send you an invitation to enroll for the Tanglewood portion of the program.
UMaine tuition for this course is free for Maine high school students (public school & homeschoolers). Tuition for out-of-state students and Maine private school students is $149 for 2026 per credit for a total fee of $596 for 2026. (Please note there is an overnight fee for this course for all participants).
Overnight fees: $900, including all housing, meals, and certification fees, scholarships available.
Tanglewood:
Dates: July 19 – 31, 2026
Ages: 15 – 18
Visit the website for more information and registration links.
Email Tanglewood directly with any questions.
Greenland Point
Dates: August 2 – 12, 2026
Ages: 16 – 18
Visit the website for more information and registration links.
Email Greenland Point directly with any questions.
March 2026 4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips, and tricks!
As a 4-H volunteer, you can incorporate simple actions to build belonging. Try out some of these ideas the next time you are working with club members or a group of youth:
- Know each young person’s name and call them by it.
“Hi, Maria! Glad you’re here today!”
- Use icebreakers and team-building activities.
These short activities spark fun, help youth learn about each other, and build early connections.
- Create safe spaces, including a shared set of ground rules.
At the beginning of the year, ask the group: “What do we need to agree on so everyone feels respected and comfortable here?” Write down their ideas (like listening when others speak, no put-downs, etc.) and post the “Club Agreements” on the wall each meeting.
- Encourage engagement.
Rotate leadership roles each meeting—timekeeper, snack helper, or discussion leader—so every youth has a chance to contribute and feel ownership.
- Utilize discussions to help youth learn from one another.
After a project activity, ask open-ended questions like, “What worked well in your group? What was challenging? What would you try differently next time?” Then have youth share with a partner or small group before bringing answers back to the whole club. - Cultivate shared experiences.
Plan a simple community service project, like making thank-you cards for local first responders, where all members contribute to a common goal. Celebrate afterward with group photos and a reflection about what they accomplished together.
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!
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.
April 3, 2026- Doing to Understanding: Applying Experiential Learning in 4-H Clubs
Learn how to guide youth through hands-on experiences followed by purposeful reflection, helping them build confidence, critical thinking, and leadership skills.
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- Moving into a New Era of Leadership with Teens
March 18, 2026 6:30 – 8:00p.m.
In this session, you will learn how to partner with teen leaders to support the 4-H agenda. We’ll explore strategies for collaboration and share real-world examples from Maryland and D.C. 4-H programs. Register here!
Mark your calendars and save the date! Saturday, November 7th! The Maine 4-H Volunteer Summit- More details to come in the upcoming months, but we promise food, fun, connection, and learning! You won’t want to miss it!
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/