Several youth and adults gathered around a table to learn about needle felting, surrounded by colorful wool and cups of water.
-Photo Credit: Staff, Andrea M

July 2026 4-H Newsletter

July 1, 2026 4-H News

4-H Happenings

A monthly newsletter for Hancock County 4-H Members

Table of Contents

Upcoming Dates| County News | Club News | State News | Volunteer News| Leaders’ Meeting Minutes

Upcoming Dates to Remember

July 1 – Fishy Belly Detectives at the Blue Hill Public Library (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
July 3 – Office Closed in honor of Independence Day
July 6 – Summer Learning Series Begins!
July 10 – 4-H Game Night at the Extension Office (4:30 pm – 6:00 pm)
July 14 – Ahoy Young Sailors at the Southwest Harbor Public Library (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
July 15 – 4-H Leaders Association Meeting (6:15 pm)
July 28 – UMaine Touch Tank at the Southwest Harbor Public Library (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
August 4 – Seaweed Lava Lamps at the Southwest Harbor Public Library (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
August 3 to 31 – Drop off 4-H exhibits at the Extension Office anytime during office hours (M-F, 8am-4pm)
*please plan to arrive by 4 pm as staff will not be staying late to receive projects*
August 31 – Last chance to drop off 4-H exhibits to the Extension Office by 4 pm
August 31 – Steer Tickets Due in Office
September 1 – Last chance to drop off exhibits to Blue Hill Fairgrounds 4-H Exhibit Hall at 12 pm
September 3 to September 7– Blue Hill Fair

County News

June Jamboree

Building on the incredible energy of last year, the 2026 4-H June Jamboree at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds was our favorite one yet! We couldn’t have asked for better weather… or better company.

This weekend, our youth and volunteers put the 4-H pledge into action:

Head, Heart, Hands, and Health were on full display through every workshop, outdoor activity, and shared meal. We planned with care, connected with intention, worked with passion, and embraced the joy of healthy, outdoor learning.

To our amazing Hancock County community: thank you. Everything ran like clockwork thanks to your incredible energy, shared enthusiasm, and unwavering support. We are so proud of what our youth accomplished this weekend.

See you next year!
Your Hancock County 4-H Team

4-H Game Night

July 10th, 2026 (4:30 pm – 6:00 pm)
The 4-H Service Squad is excited to invite you to the Extension Office for a lovely evening of games and good company to celebrate summer! Join us on July 10th from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm for a fun night filled with connection and laughter.

We’ll have all kinds of games – from big group favorites to chill two-player options – so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Bring a friend (or a few!), but don’t forget to RSVP! We’ll also have some yummy snacks and refreshment options, but feel free to bring along your own treats to enjoy! See you all there!

Blue Hill Fair 4-H Exhibit Hall

Outline of state of Maine with a forest at the top and lighthouse at the bottom, to support the forest to shore theme.2026 Theme: From Forest to Shore

Starting Monday, August 3 – Monday, August 31, you can deliver exhibit items, along with their required exhibit cards and entry form, to the Cooperative Extension office in Ellsworth. Items will not be accepted unless they are complete, so please check you have everything before making the drive. Our office hours are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm. Please plan to arrive before 4 pm, as staff will not be able to stay after hours to accept exhibits.

Monday, August 31, at 4 pm – Last chance to drop off 4-H exhibits at Extension Office in Ellsworth

Tuesday, September 1, at 12 pm – Last chance to drop off exhibits at 4-H Exhibit Hall on the Blue Hill Fairgrounds

If this is your first year participating in the fair, don’t hesitate to ask questions. You can reach our 4-H staff at 207.667.8212 for help!

Steer Tickets Have Arrived!

Black and white steer for the steer raffle.
-Photo Credit: Volunteer, Joannie J

The Steer Ticket fundraiser is the premier fundraiser for the Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association. Tickets are $2 each; 30 cents go directly to the 4-H Club that sells the tickets, and $1.70 will go to the Leaders’ Association to support 4-H programming, scholarships, county events, and more. The Steer Ticket Raffle winner will receive a cut-to-order, freezer-ready Beef Steer raised by a Hancock County 4-H’er, OR $650 cash. The drawing is at 5 pm on Labor Day at the Blue Hill Fair. The 4-H Club AND the 4-H’er who sells the most tickets will receive an award at Cloverfest. Tickets are now available for pick up by 4-H’ers at the Extension Office. Steer ticket money must be returned to the Extension Office by August 31st or the thirty-cent club money per ticket will be forfeited! Steer tickets are not to be brought to the Blue Hill Fair. Also, remember that we cannot sell raffle tickets to people under 16 years old, and youth under 18 should not be handling money. Adults should not put youth’s names on the tickets.

Volunteers are needed for the 4-H Food Booth and Steer Ticket Table: We are calling all 4-H families!

The 4-H Food Booth and Steer Ticket Raffle are the two largest fundraisers for the Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association. The funds raised are used to support the 4-H programs you love all year long – Cloverfest, June Jamboree, Public Speaking, Style Revue, Leaders Banquet, and so much more! We rely on our strong 4-H community to deliver quality youth programs in Hancock County, and we are asking 4-H Clubs, Groups, Independents, and Parents/Guardians to volunteer their time during the Blue Hill Fair (September 3 – September 7).

We need:

  • Youth (16 and up with an adult) AND Adult Volunteers for the 4-H Food Booth: “Front” of the booth (taking orders, distributing food), and “Back” of the booth (cooking burgers, hot dogs, etc)
  • Youth AND Adult Volunteers for the Steer Ticket Table: selling Steer Tickets to fair-goers. Adults needed to handle the money.
  • Volunteering here is a requirement to win the Razor Crosman Award.

If you haven’t volunteered at the fair before, please consider contributing to this important cause this year! Contact the Extension Office or fill out the form on the webpage to sign up for a shift at the Food Booth and/or the Steer Ticket Table.

Local 4-H Workshops and Events

Blue Hill Public Library

Fishy Belly Detectives – July 1, 2026 (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Let’s get scientific this summer! Join Leah from Maine 4-H at the Blue Hill Public Library on July 1, 2026, from 3:30 – 4:30 pm for a fish stomach dissection simulation. Youth will learn what it’s like to prepare for a dissection and explore the contents of a fish stomach. Youth will have to identify which fish species they may be investigating based on the food they find during their search.

Southwest Harbor Public Library
Ahoy Young Sailors – July 14, 2026 (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
Join Leah at the Southwest Harbor Public Library for a chance to design and engineer your very own mini vessels. Youth will put their boats to the test and learn what makes a sailboat sturdy. We can’t wait to see how these deck hands combine creativity and a splash of science!
UMaine Touch Tank – July 28, 2026 (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
Join Leah at the Southwest Harbor Public Library for a special visit with some very salty local Mainers. The UMaine Touch Tank is a hands-on way to engage with and learn about the native and invasive marine species living along our coasts.
Seaweed Lava Lamps – August 4, 2026 (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
You know them, and you love them! Our hit seaweed chemistry experiment is back to share the science of seaweed with more Hancock County youth. Join Leah at the Southwest Harbor Public Library to create your very own seaweed lava lamp craft!

Club News

4-H Fishing Club 

The 4-H Fishing Club met up twice this month. We discussed safety while fishing in a group and how to observe your surroundings by looking to either side, behind, and in front of you, and even looking up to make sure it is safe to cast where you are and that you do not get hooked up on a bush, tree branch, or person. This led to a discussion of different techniques to use while casting. The club decided to purchase practice weights to improve casting precision. The Club met up at Craig Pond Wilderness Lodge with Mr. Keniston, who helped us inspect the gear, learn how to take care of it, and prepare it for fishing. Youth learned and practiced how to check the monofilament line to see if it needs to be replaced, spool on the line, and tie a Palomar knot to attach the swivel to the line. Youth did get to do some fishing from the dock and from the canoe – a few small sunfish were caught and released.

Horse of Course

At our June meeting, some of the members told us about all the fun things they did at the June Jamboree.  Those who went had a great time. The art project for the night was painting wooden flowers, chickens, bee hives, or a dog paw.  While painting, we enjoyed a snack of brownies and juice.  Everyone went home with a picture of horses from the Bagaduce River Equine Rescue.

State News

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 1:1 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 by emailing maine4hfoundation@gmail.com.

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:

    • June 14, 2026, at Windsor Fairgrounds
    • 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 sadee.mehuren@maine.edu; 207.342.5971

Volunteer News

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, and by connecting 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 the 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!  

Leaders’ Meeting Minutes

Leaders met at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds to clean and prepare for the Hancock County 4-H June Jamboree.