August 2026 4-H Newsletter
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
August 3 to 31 – Drop off 4-H exhibits at the Extension Office anytime during office hours (M-F, 8 am-4 pm)
*please plan to arrive by 4 pm as staff will not be staying late to receive projects*
August 19 – 4-H Leaders Association Meeting 6:30 pm
August 26 – Lobster Landings at the Blue Hill Library at 3:30
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 1 – Woodlawn Homeschool Fair at 1:00
September 3 to September 7– Blue Hill Fair
September 7 – Office Closed for Labor Day
October 4-10 – National 4-H Week
County News
Join us for 4-H Downeast Fly Fishing Day!
Designed for all youth ages 9 – 18, this free 4-H special interest project explores the vital themes of conservation, environmental stewardship, and the art of fly fishing. In partnership with Downeast Trout Unlimited, participants will learn from local community experts through three engaging presentations and gain hands-on experience in our fly-tying and casting workshops.
- When: Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Where: Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery – 306 Hatchery Rd, Orland, ME 04472
- Registration Deadline: August 7, 2026
To register for this event, please visit our online registration platform, ZSuite. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email leah.mccluskey@maine.edu or call 207-667-8212 by August 3, 2026.
System Registration Link (must be logged into ZSuite):
https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/50741
External Registration Link (must be logged out of ZSuite):
https://4h.zsuite.org/external-event-registration/50741
Blue Hill Fair 4-H Exhibit Hall
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!
The Steer Ticket fundraiser is the premier fundraiser for the Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association. Tickets are $2 each; 30 cents goes directly to the 4-H Club that sells the tickets, and $1.70 goes 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 pickup 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, and youth under 18 should not handle money. Adults should not put youths’ 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
Lobster Landings – August 26, 2026 (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Come aboard the lobster boat! In this interactive workshop, youth will learn how folks in the lobster industry measure lobsters and band their claws. They will also have the opportunity to paint their own mini lobster buoy. Join Tess from the University of Maine 4-H on Wednesday, August 26th, from 3:30 – 4:30 pm. Keep calm and claw on!
Salted Watercolor Waves – September 16, 2026 (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Embrace a little chaos in your art! Join Leah from Maine 4-H at the Blue Hill Public Library on September 16, 2026, from 3:30 – 4:30 pm for a watercolor beach scene tutorial. The catch with this art is that we’ll be adding a special ingredient to the mix, so our watercolors will bloom beautifully, mimicking nature. Watch and be amazed as salt crystals transform your work before your eyes. Your waves will go from dull to dashing in a second!
Club News
Most of our clubs take a break for Summer; check back in September to learn the Blue Hill Fair 4-H Exhibit Hall Results.
Lock, Stock, and Barrel
There will be an informational meeting on signing up for the Lock, Stock, and Barrel 4-H club on Wednesday, September 30th at 6 pm at the Blue Hill Rifle and Pistol Club on Range Rd in Blue Hill. There will be an ice cream social first, followed by the information meeting. The Lock, Stock, and Barrel 4-H club is a youth club for children ages 9 to 18. The Club is a shooting sports program that offers a number of different disciplines: rifle, shotgun, archery, wildlife, and black powder. The club meets once a week on Wednesday at 6 pm. Rifle Course starts October 7th. If youth are interested in learning more about our program or to enroll, please contact Norwood and Becky Ames, club coordinators. Call 567-3066 and leave a message. PLEASE leave your name and phone number, clearly stated. OR call the Hancock County Extension Office, 207-667-8212.
State News
Save the Date: Maine 4-H Day at UMaine Football
Join Maine 4-H at the University of Maine on Saturday, October 17, as the Black Bears take on Bryant University! The game begins at 1:00 p.m. Come early to connect with other 4-H members and families, learn about upcoming 4-H opportunities, and enjoy time together before cheering on the UMaine football team.
Tickets will be $15 per person. You can purchase your tickets on the 4-H Football Experience page. We hope you can join us!
Power Protectors: 4-H STEM Challenge
How much energy do we use and how can we power our world with sun, wind, and other renewable energy? Step into the role of an engineer in this hands-on challenge! We will explore basic energy concepts, figure out how much energy we use, and experiment with alternative energy. We will apply problem-solving, creative thinking, and collaboration skills to design challenges.
Who: Ages 9 – 12
When: Mondays, September 19, 26 & October 5th 4:00-5:00 pm
Where: Virtual – connect from home; we will mail key materials
How: Visit the Maine 4-H Virtual Learning Hub, registration information will be posted under STEAM
Apply for the 2027 Ignite by 4-H Maine Team
Applications are now open for the 2027 Ignite by 4-H Maine Team. All Maine youth ages 14–18 are eligible to apply.
Ignite by 4-H will take place March 17–21, 2027, in Washington, D.C. Youth applying for the Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) track should plan to attend March 16–21, 2027. Applications are due September 15, 2026. 2027 Ignite by 4-H Youth Application.
Partial Solar Eclipse – Viewing at Versant Astronomy Center
On August 12th, there will be a partial solar eclipse visible here in Maine, and the last one until 2045, and the next Total Solar Eclipse here in Maine will be in 2079!
Versant Power Astronomy Center at UMaine Orono will be opening the historic Clark Telescope from 12:30-3 pm on August 12 to share the eclipse with anyone interested in joining us. This is a FREE event, but it will be weather-dependent, as clear skies will be needed to open up the telescope.
Here in Orono, the eclipse will begin at 12:54 pm, have a maximum of 23.6% of the Sun obscured by the Moon at 1:53 pm, and end at 2:49 pm.
Just a reminder: to safely view eclipses, one should use a proper solar filter or eclipse glasses. If you have ones from 2024 that you kept in good shape and have no scratches or holes, they will work for this event.
Volunteer News
August 2026 4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips, and tricks!
Developmental Relationships
You are making a difference with youth. Showing an interest, creating connections and offering encouragement are all part of a strong relationship. Over time, these relationships foster deep belonging, promote civic engagement, and help young people to become beyond ready for whatever the future holds! Try these quick conversation starters when you bring 4-H youth together this summer for a 4-H meeting, field trip, or even at the fair! Express Care through listening, warmth, and dependability.
- “What’s something you’re proud of this week?”
- If you could learn one new skill, what would it be?”
- “What’s been the best part of 4-H for you so far?”
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
Maine 4-H Project Records
Record keeping is a skill that youth need to be Beyond Ready for the future! 4-H members are encouraged to keep records as part of their leadership experience. 4-H records present a picture of your growth and development for our 4-H members. They can be helpful when it comes to county awards, fair entries, scholarship applications, and building resumes. If you meet with your club members on a regular basis, it is important to work on the records throughout the year. You can check in, answer questions, and provide support by setting aside a little time at each meeting. As the 4-H year starts to wrap up, you may wish to have a “project record party” where youth have an opportunity to finalize the project records, reflect, and share some of their learning and observations from the past year. Check out the Maine 4-H Project Records webpage for resources, samples, and more information!
Leaders’ Meeting Minutes
Via Zoom. Attendees: Lisa Carney, Leah McCluskey, Terry Swazey, Dawn Roberto, and Lee Sargent
The Treasurer’s reports for May and June were mostly the same; review next time.
The May and June Leaders Association Meeting minutes were accepted as written in the newsletter.
Club Reports:
- 4-H Fishing Club- Dawn reports: kids went fishing at camp and learned about some species-specific fishing rules. They will be hosting an event at the fish hatchery on August 15 with Downeast Trout Unlimited.
- Service squad- meeting last week. Played board games and MarioKart, ate pizza. They are excited to make dog bandanas.
- Pine Tree Pioneers- don’t meet over the summer, but they will meet before the BHF to organize projects.
New Business:
- Food Booth- Dawn has signed up for some breakfast shifts.
- Need an inventory to see what we have left in the booth.
- Lisa contact Matt at F&F to order food.
- Post of list of abbreviations for orders
- Cleaning- Fair starts September 3rd. Leah will be onsite on Tuesday the 1st.
- We need some new popups. Leah found the Crown Shades (their website is cheaper) brand opens very easily. She’ll email Terry.
- Dawn’s new SPIN club- would the Leaders be willing to pay for lunch for Downeast Trout Unlimited? They are donating supplies and time. One BJ’s sandwich costs $40. Motion to give them $100. Seconded and passed.
- BHF workshops- Leah has some ideas for this Year of Poultry; if you have ideas let her know!
- Needle felted chicks or eggs
- Microscope station.
- Egg candling and dissections.
Old Business:
- Steer- we will have a substitute steer. People raising the steer will get day passes.
- June Jamboree- went very well!
- Insurance- Terry sent us the policy. The new policy is with Rousseau Insurance. Both buildings are insured for $1000000 each, the liability is better. Scottsdale carries the policy. $1569.45 per year.
Motion to adjourn at 7:23pm
Respectfully submitted by Lisa Carney, Secretary