July 2026 4-H Newsletter
Table of Contents
Upcoming in Cumberland County 4-H
July 9-12: Ossipee Valley Fair
July 16: Agriculture 101 with 4-H, 3:30-4:30 PM, Thomas Memorial Library, Cape Elizabeth
July 16 – August 13: Summer SPIN Programs
July 17-19: State 4-H Dairy Show
Agriculture 101 with 4-H
Dates: Thursday, July 16th
Time: 3:30-4:30 PM
Ages: 5-10
Location: Community Room at Thomas Memorial Library, 6 Scott Dyer Rd., Cape Elizabeth, ME
Cost: Free
Registration is required for this free program.
To register, use the 4-H Ice Cream 101 Registration.
Kids Can Can 2026
Garden programming at UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm/UMaine Regional Learning Center
4 Wednesdays: July 15, July 22, July 29 and August 5, 2026
9:00-11:00 AM
Minimum Age: 9 years old by July 15, 2026
Cost: $10 per youth for all 4 weeks
To register, use the Kids Can Can 2026 registration form.
Blueberry jam, pickles, and tomato sauce—all of these foods can be made from scratch with fruits and vegetables grown in your own garden. Join UMaine Extension staff and volunteers in this hands-on, interactive program that will teach kids ages 9 and up how to grow and preserve the garden’s harvest. Each session will begin in the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Gardens at Tidewater Farm as we harvest the fruits and vegetables needed to make jam, pickles, tomato sauce and more. Then we’ll move to the UMaine Regional Learning Center Demo Kitchen and prepare a batch of delicious, preserved foods. Each participant will take home samples of what we make.
Maine Fair Season Insurance
Maine fair season is upon us! Most Maine fairs now require proof of insurance in order to exhibit livestock. Proof of insurance usually is requested for individuals including the exhibitor (4-H member), owner of the animal, and anyone who may be responsible for maintaining the animal at the event (ex. parents or volunteers).
Some fairs no longer allow homeowner insurance policies. Please check your specific fair to see what they accept. Most fairs do accept the Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors (MALE) insurance.
The MALE annual membership renewal is in June. The year’s membership ended on June 30. A benefit of being a member of this association includes liability insurance at specific events, including Maine fairs. Please refer to the events that it does cover for the state. More information is available on the Memberships page of Maine Association Livestock Exhibitors website.
Fairgrounds 5k & Mile, August 30th
Fairgrounds 5K August 30th, 9:00 am at Cumberland Fairgrounds: Proceeds will be donated to CCLA and two other non-profits. They’re encouraging 4-H families to participate in either the one-mile or 5K walk/run events, and are seeking a 4-H Event Ambassador and kids who are willing to attend with their animals for a portion of the day https://www.runlikearacehorse.com/. Please let Allison know if you want to help out during this event or be an event ambassador.
Cumberland Fair, September 27 – October 3, 2026
All 2026 Cumberland Fair 4-H information is available on the Cumberland Fair 4-H Information page. Please be sure to look over the page carefully for important information. Livestock entry forms will be due to Mark Cooper by September 1st. Here are some helpful suggestions for you while you are getting ready for the fair:
- Club Exhibits: Be sure to bring everything for your display, including a table no larger than 4 ft. by 4 ft., if it will be needed!
- Projects: Pay close attention to the details on your projects and allow time to complete them and not leave things to the last minute.
- Exhibit Forms: Be sure to get your Cumberland Fair Exhibit Hall Entry form (Google Form) filled out early so we can make sure we have room in the hall for your exhibits and enough judges. Please also make sure each project you enter has an Exhibit Form AND Skills Card OR the new double-sided Exhibit Form/Skills Card filled out completely and attached. The Life Skills Wheel side of the skills form DOES NOT need to be filled out.
- Project Drop Off: Make sure to note the drop-off times for all projects.
- Fair Passes: Same as 2025. Your 4-H member cards will NOT work as gate passes. Livestock members and families showing at the fair will receive fair passes from Mark Cooper, Livestock Superintendent. Those exhibiting in the 4-H Exhibit Hall who are 13 and older must see Allison Pollock during project drop off in the 4-H Exhibit Hall if you need passes, or arrange a time to pick them up from the 4-H office prior to the start of the fair.
Volunteers Needed: 4-H Kitchen Fundraiser and Pig Raffle Ticket Sales at the Cumberland Fair, September 27- October 3, 2026
The 4-H Kitchen and Pig Raffle Booth is looking for volunteers for the week of the Cumberland Fair to prepare and serve foods as well as sell pig raffle tickets. This is the primary fundraiser held by the Cumberland County 4-H Leaders Association to support all of the scholarships, camperships, County events, and programs.
Shift times:
- 6:30 a.m. – 8:30-9 a.m.
- 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- 4:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Please email Nicole Foster at 4Hkitchencentral@gmail.com or call 207-615-7558 for more details or to sign up – individuals, families, or clubs are welcome!
Club Happenings
New Gloucester Library Club
The New Gloucester Library 4-H Club has had a busy and successful first year focused on hands-on learning, community service, leadership, and creativity. Members have participated in a variety of STEM, agriculture, arts, and service projects, including building catapults, planting seedlings, creating bird feeders and birdhouses, making holiday cards, and learning about gardening and environmental stewardship.
Club members have also contributed to the community through library beautification projects, donations to the library game collection, and participation in local events. This spring, members created handmade garden markers and nature-inspired fairy wands for the Pineland Farms Spring Fest. We are proud of the growth and accomplishments of our members and look forward to continuing our projects and community partnerships in the coming year!
Your 4-H Club Happenings could be featured here! Just email Allison at 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
4-H Working Steer Tryout Information
The show season is fast approaching! Working steer ESE intent forms (due May 1st), volunteer interest forms, team member guidelines, and apprentice guidelines are all available one at extension.umaine.edu/4h/working-steer/. The dates for team tryouts are listed below.
ESE Working Steer Tryouts:
- July 11, 2026, Ossipee Valley Fair
- August 13, 2026, Skowhegan Fair
If you have any questions, please contact Hillary Arsenault, ESE coordinator, at maineworkingsteer@gmail.com; 207-592-3320 or Sadee Mehuren at email sadee.mehuren@maine.edu; 207-342-5971
Maine State 4-H Dairy Show
Maine 4-H invites you to participate in the 2026 Maine 4-H State Dairy Show! This year’s event will take place on July 18th and 19th at the Windsor Fairgrounds. The contests are open to all 4-H dairy project members ages nine and above and include a grilled cheese and milkshake cookoff, a dairy cattle fitting contest, and a dairy cattle show. For a complete schedule and registration information, visit the Maine State 4-H Dairy Show Website.
Animal Science Challenge
The Maine 4-H Foundation is offering a challenge to 4-H animal science committees and programs. The Foundation will match up to $3,000 per committee to support animal science programs and educational programs. A 1 to 1 match will be made for current and past donors, and 1:2 matches for new donors. Questions can be asked by contacting Susan Jennings at 207-615-7300, or email maine4hfoundation@gmail.com.
July 2026 4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips, and tricks!
Developmental Relationships
Developmental relationships are foundational connections between young people and adults or peers. By offering emotional and tangible support, these bonds empower youth to uncover their identities, build resilience, and acquire the necessary social and emotional skills to succeed in life.
As a 4-H volunteer you can focus on these five key elements:
- Express Care through listening, warmth, and dependability.
- Challenge Growth, expect their best and help them reflect on failures.
- Provide Support, empower and advocate, help youth navigate systems and set appropriate boundaries.
- Share Power through inclusion, respect and collaboration.
- Expand Possibilities by exposing youth to new ideas and opportunities; connect them with others who can help them reach their goals.
4-H Volunteer Summit
Saturday, November 7, 2026
THIS event is going to be SO MUCH FUN! Along with interactive workshops, and a 4-H Discovery Zone, there will be a delicious lunch and door prizes! Save the date, check out the 4-H Volunteer Summit webpage and look for registration to open soon!
Resource Corner
We have a great national 4-H website! If you haven’t taken time to peruse the site, there is lots of good information and resources to be found. One interesting resource is the Ready for Fair Series. It consists of short videos from 4-H members in Virginia as they share what it is like to participate in animal projects with their eyes on the fair shows- three great young people!
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 extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/events/list/