September 2023 4-H Newsletter
4-H Calendar
4-H Club Happenings
State 4-H News
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News
September 6: Cumberland County Extension Association Annual Meeting
September 11: Cumberland 4-H Exhibit Hall Entry Form due
September 21: CC 4-H Leaders Association Meeting , 7:00-9:00 p.m., Online & Gorham Public Works, 80 Huston Road, Gorham
September 24 – September 30: Cumberland County Fair, a chance for our members to really shine! There are livestock shows, projects can be shown in the exhibit hall, and key fundraisers happen.
Cumberland County Extension Association Annual Meeting
4-H leaders and members are invited to the 2023 Cumberland County Extension Association Open House & Annual Meeting will be held on September 6, 2023 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm in Falmouth. For location information visit the Tidewater Farm page.
We will hold our 2023 King Arthur Flour Pie-Bake Off as part of the Open House! For more information, including rules and a prize list, please visit our pie contest page.
AGRI-CYCLE! PLANT POT REIMAGINATION
Sponsored by the Cumberland Farmer’s Club
Open to any member of a 4H Club in the State of Maine – all ages
Rules: each exhibit must:
- Utilize no less than two (2) recycled plant pots
- Observe no more than 2 square feet of space
- MUST – Represent an agricultural theme – pigs – cows – chickens – goats – plants – use your imagination!
- Include your name, 4H group, and at least one sentence about your entry
Contest Time: Entries must be delivered to the Main Office no later than Monday, September 18, 2023
Awards: Ribbons & Premiums will be awarded for each entry.
CC 4-H Leaders Association Meeting – September 21, 7:00PM
Join us on Thursday, September 21 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
Cumberland Fair, September 24 – September 30, 2023
All 2023 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. Some projects will be judged on Friday and some on Saturday in order to space out people in the Exhibit Hall and make set-up of the hall easier.
- Fair Passes: Same as 2022. 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.
2023 Pig Raffle Tickets Available Now
The Pig Raffle is one of the most interesting fundraisers that Cumberland County 4-H does each year. The Pig Raffle raises funds to support 4-H scholarships, trips, and other awards for 4-Her’s in our county. If you would like to purchase or sell these tickets to start raising money before the Cumberland Fair starts, please contact our office, 207-781-6099 to have some mailed to you, or arrange to pick some up! Tickets may also be picked up by contacting Jenn Grant, at findviewfarm@juno.com or 207-318-9166.
Volunteers Needed: 4-H Kitchen Fundraiser and Pig Raffle Ticket Sales at the Cumberland Fair, September 24- September 30, 2023
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 your family or club.
Bottle Bin Distribution and Pick Up, September 23 and September 30, 2023
Each year at the Cumberland Fair bins for returnable bottles and cans are placed out on the first Saturday and collected again on Saturday at the end of the Fair. Thank you to everyone who came out in 2022, many hands made light work, we’re hoping for that again this year! We are looking for anyone (members, friends, parents, family, etc.) to help with setting the bins out on September 23rd, and collecting the bottles and bins on Saturday, September 30th, 12:30 – 3:30PM. This is a great supplemental fundraiser to the 4-H Kitchen and Pig Raffle but we need volunteers to make it happen. If interested please email allison.pollock@maine.edu or call 207.781.6099.
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is hiring!
We are hiring a position in our office—an Administrative Specialist that supports the Food & Nutrition and 4-H Youth Development programs. Interested applicants can find job details and apply via this link: https://umaine.hiretouch.com/job-details?jobid=82439
Club Happenings
Thank you to all who helped at our 4-H Hall Cleanup at the Cumberland Fairgrounds!
A big thank you to everyone who came to the annual Cumberland County 4-H Leaders Association cleanup at the Cumberland Fairgrounds on August 17. There were many 4-Her’s and adults who made quick work of the weeding, ironing, scrubbing, sweeping, and other tasks. Thanks to the 4-H Leaders Association for providing food and supplies for all of the volunteers!
GNG 4-H Food Pantry Project
The GNG 4-H Food Pantry Project was started in 2016 and has been helping local families ever since. Our goal is to provide families in need with quality meat that has been raised by 4-Hers. Every year, we fundraise throughout the summer by having a booth at the Gray Village Farmers market every week, selling baked goods and blueberry lemonade at the Gray Blueberry Festival, applying for grants, and we have also been fortunate enough to receive the support of many local businesses. Throughout the duration of this project, we have raised over $30,000 and have purchased a total of 36 market animals from 4-Hers to be donated to the food pantries in Gray and New Gloucester. This project benefits both the 4-Hers involved in the auction and the 100-120 households that use the food pantries each month. If you are interested in supporting our project, you can reach our leaders at (207) 657-4351. Donations can be made out to GNG 4-H Food Pantry Project, and mailed to: GNG 4-H Food Pantry Project
PO Box 1012
Gray, ME 04039
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 September 2023
UMaine Extension 4-H to offer sessions for aspiring volunteers in September
University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a two-part online informational session for
adults interested in becoming Maine 4-H volunteers on Sept. 18 & 25, 2023 from 6 – 7 p.m.
“Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey” will provide participants with information about the UMaine
Extension 4-H youth development program through four short e-Learning modules. Attendees will
also participate in an experimental learning activity, learn about the key aspects of positive youth
development, and be introduced to ages and stages of youth.
A 4-H volunteer is many things – mentor, advisor, friend, teacher, referee, role model, pacesetter
and much more. As a 4-H volunteer, participants will have the opportunity to make a positive
difference in the lives of children, teach them valuable life skills, help them thrive towards a
positive self-image, accomplish positive personal goals and a sense of accomplishment.
The two one-hour virtual sessions will wrap up with an outline of next steps and an introduction to
a county staff contact to help with the application process if desired.
Registration is required. The sessions are free. To register, visit our website.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, visit our website or contact
Jennifer Lobley, jennifer.lobley@maine.edu, 207.255.3345.
Fall 2023 Maine 4-H Agricultural Ambassadors Program
Who: This program is for all Maine youth ages 14 – 18.
What: This hybrid program will provide youth with an opportunity to connect to local agriculture, build relationships with industry professionals, develop professional and advocacy skills, and explore careers in agriculture. The 2023 fall cohort will explore careers and local agriculture through in-person field trips (limited transportation available), and by attending virtual meetings to grow their professional skill set (e.g. resume writing and interviewing skills). Additionally, youth will complete a personal reflective project exploring the role of agriculture and their future. This program includes mentoring in post-secondary opportunities as well as exploring current issues around food systems, livestock, crop sciences, aquaculture, climate issues impacting food systems, food equity, and more.
Why: The goal of the Maine 4-H Ag Ambassador Program is to provide experiences for youth to explore their interest in agriculture. The program focuses on.
– connecting youth with their local food systems and industries
– exploring the richness and diversity of the Maine food system
– developing “ag-vocacy” skills
– increasing access to career and post-secondary opportunities in agri-science and food systems.
Where: Virtually and in-person throughout Maine.
When: Virtual Meeting Dates: October 18 & 25, November 1 & 15
– In-Person Meeting Dates: October 21, November 10, and December 2.
How: Interested in Joining? Register Online by October 11th.
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/upcoming-events/