Cumberland Fair 4-H Information

4-H Member Information Packet

The 2024 Cumberland Fair will take place Sunday, September 22nd to Saturday, September 28th. This is an opportunity to demonstrate what you have learned in 4-H during the year. The information in this packet/page will help you to prepare your projects, enter them, and plan for your Cumberland Fair experience.

Workday Planned: August 15, 2024

There will be a 4-H Exhibit Hall Cleanup Thursday, August 15, from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. for 4-H’ers, leaders, parents, grandparents, and friends, at the fairgrounds. Pizza will be provided from 6:30 – 7:00 PM. for all those who come and help. Please bring your own drink. The hall always needs a good cleaning before the fair.

Information for Entering the 4-H Exhibit Hall

  • Review the 2024 4-H Section of the Cumberland Fairbook pages 35-41.
  • The complete 2024 Cumberland Fairbook can be found on the Cumberland County Fair website under the Docs tab for download.
  • Review the exhibit and show rules for your project area
  • Note the day and time you need to be at the fair for drop off and pick up
  • Tell your 4-H leader what you will enter in the Exhibit Hall
  • Reminder: Only one entry per project area. You or your leader can register your projects for the 4-H Exhibit Hall. The 2024 Cumberland Fair 4-H Exhibit Hall Entry (Google Form) must be filled out by September 13, 2024. Club Exhibits must be entered by that date as well!
  • If your display is larger than a tri-fold display board (36” x 48”) or you need any audio/visual equipment, please contact the Extension Office by September 13.
  • You will need to complete a Skills Card and Exhibit/Judging Card for each entry. Please contact the office, 207.781.6099 or ask your leader for Skills and/or Judging cards.

4-H Exhibit Hall Committee Members Needed:

Being a 4-H Exhibit Hall Committee member is a great way to get involved as a 4-H volunteer with a relatively small time commitment. A job description for the Exhibit Hall Coordinator & Committee Members can be found on the Cumberland Fair 4-H Exhibit Hall Coordinator & Committee Job Description page. Please contact Mitch if you are interested in learning more about this volunteer opportunity!

Exhibit Hall Cards

Judging Card

Please fill out the entire judging card for each project. Make sure Unit Level is indicated, as well as number of years in a project. You will need to have a Skills & Judging Card for each project exhibited at the fair. If you have a newer version of these cards you will have the judging card on one side and the skills card on the other. If you need additional cards, please contact your leader, call the office, 207-781-6099 or 1.800.287.1471, or email allison.pollock@maine.edu.

Life Skills Wheel Card

Members will only need to fill out the reverse side that lists skills. This information is a great way to let us know what you learned this year while doing your project and how you completed your project. If you have questions about filling out the skills card, please give the office a call. It is fine to ask your family members/adviser/leaders for help.

Club Exhibit

Please fill out an online entry form for your club exhibit as well. Club Exhibits should illustrate some phase of 4-H Club work. A Club Exhibits provides clubs the opportunity to display as a total unit.  Clubs are responsible for all pieces of their display, including the table. Here are some tips to help you create a great club display: Cumberland Fair Club Display Tips (PDF)

Project Drop Off Days

1.In an effort to space out the number of people in the 4-H Exhibit Hall at any given time, and in order to accommodate a growing number of projects and a shrinking number of 4-H Exhibit Hall setup volunteers, we are changing project drop off. Exhibits should be brought to the 4-H Hall on either of the following days based on the projects that you have entered. If you are a club leader or member dropping off projects on Thursday for judging on Friday, you may also drop off projects that will be judged Saturday in order to save you a trip:

  • Thursday, September 19th, 4:30-6:30PM:
    • Projects that must be dropped off in order to be judged Friday morning are as follows: Art, Ceramics & Pottery, Cake Decorating, Candies & Confections, Clothing/Textiles, Commercial Crafts, Crafts, Creative Crafts, Creative Unlimited, Creative Writing, Food – Dried, Food Preservation, Food Preparation, Heritage Crafts, Hobbies & Collections, Home Improvement, Knitting & Crocheting, Leather Craft, Maker Arts, Photography, Reading
  • Saturday, September 21st, 9:00-11:00AM:
    • Projects that must be dropped off in order to be judged Saturday afternoon are as follows: Animals, Animals – Large, Animals – Small, Aquatic Life, Bicycle, Child Care, Citizenship, Computers, Earth Science, Electricity, Engineering, Entomology, Environmental Awareness, Flower Gardening, Forestry, Geology, Great Big World, Indoor Gardening, Outdoor Education, Poultry, Recreation, Safety, Science, Shooting Sports, Small Engines, Sports & Physical Fitness, Technology, Vegetable Gardening, Veterinary Science, Wildflowers, Woodworking, Wool Project, Wool Fleece, Club Displays
  • If you cannot make either of the times above, please contact Allison to schedule a drop off time at the office prior to 09/19/24.
  • No entries will be accepted for items judged based on taste – Food & Nutrition

2. If you are age 13 or older and are exhibiting in the 4-H Hall only (no livestock at the fair), please see Allison Pollock at project drop off time for your fair pass. Leaders may pick up a pass for themselves and their exhibiting members at that time as well.

Judging Day

1. The first Judges’ Orientation begins at 10:15 AM on Friday, September 20, 2024. Only judges will be allowed in the hall at that time until judging is complete.

2. The second Judges’ Orientation begins at 11:15 AM on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Only judges will be allowed in the hall at that time until judging is complete.

3. 1-2 Volunteers are needed 9:00 – 11:00 AM on Saturday to help put projects in the proper location as they arrive and help put items judged on Friday in their appropriate display location. 2-3 volunteers will be needed at 2:00 PM to arrange the hall during and after judging. If you are interested in helping out please email allison.pollock@maine.edu or call Allison at 207.781.6099.

Information for Entering 4-H Livestock and Small Animals

  • Make sure you meet the age requirements for showing your animal. Large animals ( beef, dairy cattle, dairy goats, dogs, horses, sheep, swine, and steers ) can be shown only by 4-H’ers who are at least 9 years old as of January 1st. Rabbits and poultry may be exhibited by 5-8 year olds in a non-competitive activity.
  • Complete your 2024 4-H Livestock Entry (PDF) and mail it directly to: Mark Cooper, Superintendent, 81 Chute Road, Windham, ME 04062 by September 1st. No Late Livestock Entry Forms will be accepted. Swine and Market Hogs must show proof of Brucellosis and Pseudorabies test. Health forms must be submitted with entry form. Extra entry forms can be obtained online, from your 4-H Leader, or the Extension office.
  • Please remember to have your Animal Approval forms with you at the fair.
  • Submit your Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors (MALE) form and bring proof of insurance to the fair. The Farmers’ Club, who oversees the Cumberland Fair, requires all 4-H livestock members to join the Maine Association of Livestock Exhibitors (MALE). By joining this association, you will have the minimum insurance requirement ($1,000,000) that the Farmers Club requires of all livestock exhibitors at the Cumberland Fair. Members showing dogs, poultry, and/or rabbits do not need proof of insurance.
  • Complete any necessary vaccinations, including rabies. It is strongly recommended that all animals be currently vaccinated.
  • Include a copy of your Coggins test, EHV (rhinopneumonitis) and equine influenza vaccinations if you are a Horse member. All horses entering the facilities must be vaccinated for EHV (rhinopneumonitis) and equine influenza within the calendar year. Proof of vaccination should be listed on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (required for all horses entering the State of Maine) or on a certificate of vaccination signed by the owner’s practicing veterinarian.

4-H Livestock Auction: Wednesday, September 25

  • Refreshments at 4:00 PM
  • Live Auction at 4:30 PM.
  • Baby Beef, Market Hog, Market Lamb

For more information visit the Cumberland County 4-H Livestock Auction page.

4-H Rabbit Show: Sunday, September 22, 9:00 AM

Youth Poultry: Saturday, September 28, 9:00 AM

Calf Scramble: Saturday, September 28, 9:30 AM

Participant must be a Cumberland County 4-H member between the ages of 12 –18 as of January 1 of the current year. Young people planning to leave the area for post-high school education are urged not to enter the scramble. For more participant qualifications and information please review the 2024 Scramble Calf Rules & Entry Form (PDF)

Open Horse Show: Sunday, September 22, 1:00 PM – The Cumberland Fair Horse Show is an open show for youth and adults, 4-H or non-4-H.

Additional Fair Information

Information for Parade Floats on Sunday!

Review the Parade information on page 46 of the Cumberland Fairbook. Floats must be on the grounds and ready for judging at 10:00AM, Sunday, September 22nd. This year’s theme is “Meet our Farmers”.

Please fill out the online Parade Entry Form to enter. This form must be received by September 5, 2024.

Please indicate on the parade entry form that it is a 4-H float.

Important Fair Pass Information: 

Anyone 12 and under is admitted free and will not need to show a pass to get into the fair. If you are age 13 through 18 as of January 1, and are entering exhibits at the fair you will be using passes provided by the fair. 4-H members and leaders with livestock entries should visit the livestock superintendent’s office on Saturday, September 21 for gate passes. 4-H members and leaders with projects in the 4-H Exhibit Hall should see the project drop off days, or can call or email Allison in the two weeks prior to the fair to arrange for pick up in the office or mailing of passes.

Club Start-Up Packets

Club Start-Up Packets for the new 4-H year will be available for leaders to pick up at the 4-H Exhibit Hall starting Thursday, September 19th at 4:30PM. They may also be picked up at the 4-H Exhibit Hall daily until Sunday, September 29, at 11:00AM.

Update your 4-H Project Records for each project area that you enter. Your leader may ask to view them before you show.

4-H Kitchen & Pig Raffle Booth

Sign-up to help at the fair and encourage parents, grandparents, and friends to volunteer too! Senior 4-H members and adults are encouraged to help in the 4-H kitchen and raffle pig booth during fair week. Please contact Nicole Foster 207.615.7558 or 4Hkitchencentral@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer.

Camping

To register for a campsite, fill out the online Cumberland Fair Camping Form (on the Cumberland County Fair website) if you plan on staying overnight at the fairgrounds.

Premium checks

Livestock members must check with the Cumberland Fair Livestock Superintendent/office regarding picking up their premium checks. Club leaders may pick up their exhibit hall premium checks from the 4-H Exhibit Hall Chair, Sunday, September 29, from 9:00  to 11:00 AM.