KL 4-H Newsletter–July 2023
Send articles to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu
Upcoming Events & Important Dates
July 11 4-H Union Fair Prep Party, 2-6:30pm, Union Fairgrounds
July 11 KLLA Meeting, 7:00pm, Union Fairgrounds & online *SPECIAL TIME*
July 12 Union Fair 4-H Horse Show entries due
July 15 Last day to sign up with Extension office for 4-H Cloverbud Demonstration at Union Fair
July 15 Last day to sign up for Club Exhibit space at Union Fair
July 15 Last day to declare your club’s Gift Basket theme for the Union Fair raffle
July 21-22 Maine 4-H Days, Windsor Fairgrounds
July 24 Individual and Club Exhibits accepted at 4-H Exhibition Yurt, 5-7pm, Union Fairgrounds
July 25 Individual and Club Exhibits accepted at 4-H Exhibition Yurt, 5-7pm, Union Fairgrounds
July 26-30 UNION FAIR
August 8 KLLA Meeting, 6:00pm, Union Fairgrounds & online
4-H Schedule at Union Fair:
EVERY DAY
10:00am-12 noon, 1:00pm-3:00pm 4-H Farm-to-Fair Exhibit open (4-H Barn Area)
10:00am-6:00pm 4-H Exhibition Yurt open
Wednesday, July 26
8:00am-12 noon Judging of Individual 4-H Exhibits (Yurt closed for judging)
9:00am 4-H Horse Show (Riding Ring)
12 noon 4-H Exhibition Yurt opens
Thursday, July 27
9:00am 4-H Rabbit Show (4-H Barn Area)
4:00pm 4-H Small Domestic Pet Show (Sherman Park)
Saturday, July 29
8:30am 4-H Working Steer Show (Pulling Ring)
Sunday, July 30
12:00 noon 4-H Cloverbud Demonstrations (Livestock Show Ring)
2:00pm-6:00pm Exhibits must be removed from Yurt
July Birthday
Happy Birthday to Sabrinnah D.!
Get Ready for Union Fair!
Don’t miss any deadlines for participating in Union Fair July 26-30, 2023. Download the 2023 4-H Union Fair Information Booklet from the Extension website, or request it be emailed to you. Paper copies are available at the Extension office upon request.
- July 12 4-H Horse Show entries are due. All forms are found in the 4-H Union Fair Information Booklet.
- July 15 Members 4-H age 5-8: sign up for 4-H Cloverbud Demonstrations.
- July 15 Clubs: Sign up for 4-H Club Exhibit space; tell us what your Gift Basket theme will be.
Help Wanted: Union Fair Volunteer Opportunities
As always, there will be many opportunities at Union Fair 2023 to help your 4-H program. In addition to livestock show days that you may already be participating in, entry passes will be provided for days that you sign up to help. 2-hour shifts are available during the fair, and adults and youth can help out. (Read about the 4-H Union Fair Prep Party below for one way to help!)
Two places where we need the most people to take shifts during the fair are at 4-H Farm-to-Fair and at the 4-H Exhibition Yurt. Sign up as an individual, a family or a club! You DO NOT need leader certification to volunteer in these positions and youth can sign up as well. Invite your friends and family! Contact 
cynthia.rogers@maine.edu, 207.832.0343.
Come to the 4-H Union Fair Prep Party
Help get the 4-H areas of Union Fairgrounds ready for Union Fair 2023! Join the 4-H Union Fair Prep Party at the fairgrounds on Tuesday, July 11, 2-6:30pm. Come for part of it or all of it. If you can, bring rakes, shovels, and cleaning supplies, although some will be available. Dinner and water will be provided. Sign up to help by contacting cynthia.rogers@maine.edu, 207.832.0343.
Sign Up for Cloverbud Demonstrations by July 15
Cloverbud 4-H members (4-H age 5-8 years) may participate in a non-competitive animal or non-animal “demonstration show” in the Livestock Show Ring at Union Fair on Sunday, July 30 at 12 noon.
Animal Demonstrations: Cloverbud animal demonstrations may be done with a rabbit, dog, poultry, kid goat, non-market lamb, piglet, or small calf. One-on-one supervision by an adult or older teen with at least 3 years of experience maintaining primary control of the animal is required. Older 4-H members or adults will interview the younger children while they are demonstrating.
All animal and non-animal demonstrations must be approved by 4-H staff prior to the fair. Please email cynthia.rogers@maine.edu or pamela.doherty@maine.edu or call 207.832.0343 to sign up for demonstrations by July 15.
Gift Basket Fundraiser for KLLA at Union Fair
We are bringing back the gift basket raffle at Union Fair! The raffle, which benefits Knox-Lincoln 4-H, will once again feature themed gift baskets filled with quality items donated or made by KL 4-H clubs. Each club is asked to come up with a theme for the club basket and notify Cindy Rogers (207.832.0343, cynthia.rogers@maine.edu) of the theme by July 15. Then the club should fill a large basket or other container with items relating to the theme as a prize for the raffle. We ask that these items be new and high-quality or handmade by 4-H club members, with a total basket value of at least $50.
Ideas for a basket might be a pet care basket, a jams and jellies basket, a scrapbooking basket, a family games basket, a Made in Maine basket…etc. Remember that the basket should appeal to a broad public audience, not necessarily matching your club’s focus. Think about what will sell lots of tickets!
Independent members and volunteers: please contribute items that would coordinate with of 4 prizes located at the Knox-Lincoln UMaine Extension office:
- Calphalon 12”all-purpose pan & pottery grease pot—Ideas for items to add: spatulas, seasonings, recipes, or a Hannaford gift card ($10-$20).
- Swig 12-pack cooler bag and drink holder—Ideas for items to add: Hannaford gift card ($10-$20).
- Oester 6-cup blender & measuring cups—Ideas for items to add: Hannaford gift card ($10-$20).
- Magnavox Bluetooth speaker & Volkano Bluetooth headphones—Ideas for items to add: Amazon, Best Buy or other gift card ($10-$20).
Plan to Enter the 2023 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Photo Contest
Start taking photos for the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Photography Contest 2023! The top photos per age category will be exhibited in the 4-H Gallery at the Knox-Lincoln Extension office.
This contest is open to any Knox-Lincoln 4-H member age 9 and up. Entries will be accepted through September 30, 2023. Members can enter up to four photos taken between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023. Keep snapping those great photos! Contact Cindy Rogers at 207.832.0343 or cynthia.rogers@maine.edu if you have questions.
Maine 4-H Days is Back!
Maine 4-H Days is back in 2023! You are invited to join Maine 4-H for a fun filled day of workshops on Saturday July 22! We will kick off the weekend with evening activities on Friday July 21 and have camping available for those who wish to stay overnight! Workshop space is limited, so register soon to secure your spot. To request a reasonable accommodation please contact the Kennebec County Cooperative Extension office at 207.622.7546 or email alisha.r.targonski@maine.edu.
Register for New 4-H Teen Leadership Program: YOUth Have a Voice!
YOUth Have a Voice!: Youth in Governance and Civic Engagement is a nine-month program open to teens and recent high school graduates who are interested in taking a more active role in serving their local communities, the state, or the country. Youth will learn leadership skills and ways to participate in civic action by completing a service project in a topic of their interest. Youth projects will be in one of three categories:
- Youth Board Member: Join a board or advisory council as a youth representative.
- Policy Leader: Provide input to a policy or rule being developed.
- Public Service Leader: Carry out a community service project.
Teens will be mentored by adults to assist their learning of civic processes and ways to meet their project goals. The program will be from late August 2023 to May 2024 and the total time commitment may vary from 30 to 80 hours depending on the type of project. The program will be open for teens ages 14+ years old or entering high school in the fall of 2023. Interested teens will need the following items to register for the program:
- Fill out the online application form (after June 21).
- Two letters of recommendation from adults who are not related to the applicant
- Briefly describe (100 to 500 words) why you are interested in this program.
- A signed Program Requirement Summary Form
Registration will be open from June 21 through July 31, 2023, limited to 16 youth.
Learn more at one of these 45-minute information sessions:
June 7, 3:30pm – 4:15pm, Zoom link
June 7, 5:30pm – 6:15pm: Zoom link
For questions, please contact Andrew Hudacs, andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, 207.581.8204.
The University of Maine is an EEO/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).