Program Information & Resources

4-H at Home provides critical learning resources for kids and teens while they're home. 

Check out the following links for Learning Opportunities and Service Projects that you can do from home.  There are also Volunteer Resources.Maryland 4-H Youth Development 

Explore 4-H at Home, to receive hands-on, educational activities, including our latest 4-H at Home Activity Guide and Shop 4-H curriculum to help inspire young people to do, learn, and grow.

Achievement Night is an annual event held on in March that recognizes 4-H youth and volunteers for their accomplishments and awards are presented for the previous year's work.  4-H volunteers, clubs, and supporters are also recognized for their service to the 4-H youth development program.

For more information on this year's Achievement Night, visit our Upcoming 4-H Activities and Events page.

Animal Science Project Information, Resources, and Forms

Visit our Animal Science Information webpage for detailed information on animal projects, resources and forms specific to Cecil County

Maryland 4-H Animal Science resources can be found on their website.

Hands-On Animal Science Classes

Cecil County 4-H offers fun, hands-on Animal Science classes monthly (4th Tuesday) from 6:30-8:00 PM.  All the sessions are hands-on.  You do not have to attend all the class topics.  Please register your attendance using the webform by noon the day of the scheduled class.   Supplies and materials need to be prepared in advance. These classes are open to 4-Hers. 

For current offerings of hands-on classes, visit our Upcoming 4-H Activities and Events page.

The 4-H Benefit Auction is usually held the first Saturday in December with a live and silent auction.  Check back later for details on the 2023 auction. 

All proceeds are used to help support county and club 4-H programs. Thanks to everyone that comes out to support our program!  We truly appreciate your support!

Cecil County 4-H Camp 2023

August 6-11, 2023

Application Deadline:  June 15, 2023

Camp Application

4-H Camp is a summer camp for all 4-Hers, conducted at a nearby camp facility.  Camp is open to youth ages 8-14 as of August 1st. Cecil County 4-H Camp directors plan the camp so that 4-Hers (and non 4-Hers alike) can make new friends who have similar interests.  They plan a theme for each camp and workshops to teach leadership to camp participants.

For additional information or any questions, please call Camp Director Susan Sprout-Knight at 443-553-0542 or email cecilco4hcamp@gmail.com.

4-H Camp Parent Handbook

Homesickness Tips for a Successful Summer Camp Experience FS-1088

Cecil County 4-H Creative Clovers is a fun, hands-on program for Clovers age 5 - 7 years old.  Check out Cecil County 4-H Club Information on our Join 4-H webpage, for clubs that offer the Clover Program. 

Creative Clover Classes are offered monthly, in addition to club activities.  These classes are fun and energetic as all the sessions are hands-on.  You do not have to attend all the class topics.  To attend any of the classes, you must pre-register by non the day of the scheduled class. These classes are open to 4-H Clover members.  

For current Creative Clovers class offerings, visit our Upcoming 4-H Activities and Events page.

Community Service, such as collecting food and clothing, as well as park clean-ups, is an important part of the 4-H program.  Youth and clubs are encouraged to participate in activities that benefit the community.  In addition, youth that record their hours and submit them are recognized for their service.

You can participate on behalf of a community, schol, religious, and/or youth organization. It can be an individual effort or with a group such as a school-based service learning project. This can include club projects, community events, fair activities, and 4-H Camp services. Examples of community service include:  singing at nursing homes, gathering supplies for the troops, volunteering at a local hospital, purchasing items for those in need, and anything that benefits the community for those who are not as fortunate.

Things that do not count are fundraisers, unless all the proceeds are given to an organization like the American Cancer Society or the local homeless shelter that helps others, as long as neither you nor your 4-H club are benefiting from the service.

As a reminder, teaching youth citizenship is one of the core goals of the 4-H program, so each club should be doing at least two community service activities annually. Hours must be completed during the calendar year.  Use the 4-H Volunteer Service Award Record to track your service hours. 

Do not attach the 4-H Volunteer Service Award Record in your Record Book, it might get overlooked.

Volunteer Service Award Record 2022 (Word Format)

Volunteer Service Award Record 2022 (PDF Format)

The previous year's form is due annually on January 31st.

Demonstrations & Communications Events provide opportunities for 4-H youth to talk about the 4-H projects they carry.  Members are encouraged to give a demonstration, or talk about their 4-H projects annually.  The county contest is held in March, with other opportunities throughout the year.

For more information on this year's Communications Day event, visit our Upcoming 4-H Activities and Events page.

Public Speaking - Making a Great Speech

Diamond Clover Program

The Diamond Clover Award is a 6-level award to encourage members to engage in a variety of projects and activities, thus enabling them to acquire the skills that will help them lead successful lives as competent, caring and contributing citizens  A new level can be achieved annually.

You can start planning now to complete a level by completing your diamond clover plan.

To be recognized for completing Levels 1-5 (Only one level will be recognized annually) of the Diamond Clover Award, completed reports are due by January 31st.  

Diamond Clover Level 6 plans (the community service project plan) are due on September 15th to the Cecil County Extension Office for review and approved plans are due September 30th to the State 4-H Online portal for completion the following year.

Maryland 4-H Youth Development Website

Eastern Shore Spring Show

Saturday, May 13, 2023

Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park, Centreville

Eastern Shore Spring Show is a regional show for 4-Hers to exhibit their animal project (beef, cavy/guinea pig, dairy, dog, goat, sheep, rabbit and swine).

Cecil County Breeders Fair 

June 3-4, 2023

Entry Deadline:  May 1, 2023

Cecil County Breeders Fair offers an opportunity for 4-H youth to exhibit and show their animal projects.  Breeders Fair is always the Saturday and Sunday following Memorial Day.

Premium Book/Entry Forms

Cecil County Fair

Friday, July 21 through Saturday, July 29, 2023

Children’s Day - Monday, July 24th,10 AM-2 PM (craft activities will run from 10 AM-noon)

Fair Entry Deadline:  July 1, 2023

Fairbook will be available early June 2023.

Fair entry instructions and more details can be found online at: https://www.cecilcountyfair.org/fair-entry-information/classes/

There will be NO live poultry at the fair in 2023.

4-H Theme for 2023:  4-H Friendships

The Cecil County Fair is a nine-day event during the summer where 4-Hers can exhibit and enter their projects, and participate in many 4-H related activities and contests.  Only Cecil County 4-Hers can enter in 4-H classes.

Mandatory 4-H Animal Exhibitor Orientations

The Cecil County Fair in partnership with the Cecil County 4-H program will be holding MANDATORY Animal Exhibitor meetings for ALL 4-H youth exhibitors and their parent/guardian that will be keeping animal projects at the Cecil County Fair. Following the animal exhibitor meeting there will be the Livestock Sale Meeting. The Horse Herdsman exhibitor orientations will be held separately on other dates.

The meetings are scheduled for the following evenings:

• Monday, June 5th-4-H Animal Exhibitor Orientation with the Livestock Sale Meeting following, Calvert Grange, Calvert, 7 PM

• Wednesday, June 7th-4-H Animal Exhibitor Orientation with the Livestock Sale Meeting following, Cecil County Farm Museum and Regional Agriculture Center, Elkton, 7 PM

• Tuesday, June 13th-4-H Horse Herdsman Exhibitor Orientation, Cecil County Farm Museum and Regional Agriculture Center, Elkton, 7 PM

• Thursday, June 15th-4-H Horse Herdsman Exhibitor Orientation, Calvert Grange, Calvert, 7 PM

• To attend register by 3:00 pm the day of the program at: https://forms.gle/CA9NaD4URn79hXTY9.

Maryland 4-H/FFA Animal Husbandry & Quality Assurance Program (AH&QA)

The program opens in mid April. Cecil 4-H members are asked to complete the AH&QA training no later than July 1st.  Members may access the AH&QA program at: https://ahqa.umd.edu/.  Additionally, a link to access the AH&QA program and the 2023 Maryland 4-H AH&QA Information Sheet are posted on the Animal Science Program Area page of the Maryland 4-H website at https://extension.umd.edu/programs/4-h-youth-development/program-areas/animal-sciences.  All 4-H members enrolled in alpacas, beef, dairy, goats, horse and pony, llamas, poultry, sheep, swine and rabbits are required to have completed the on-line training to be eligible to exhibit their project animals in 2022 Maryland County 4-H and State 4-H Shows.  

The 2023 program must be completed using Firefox, Chrome, Edge, or Safari web browsers. The program is not supported by Internet Explorer.  The program contains two levels, a Junior-aged Level and an Intermediate/Senior-aged Level. The program automatically directs members to the correct level based on their birthdate. 4-Hers are required to complete the on-line training program when they reach each 4-H age division (juniors (8-10), intermediates (11-13), seniors (14-18) – all as of January 1 of the current year) OR when an Intermediate or Senior 4-H member chooses to show a new species since last completing the program within their age division - they must return to the program and complete it for the new species area. (The Junior program does not have species-specific sections like the Intermediate/Senior program does).

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Cecil County Fair Website

Cecil County Fair Facebook

Cecil County Fair 4-H Project List

Cecil County Fair Animal Ages and Weights

• Market Broilers-Pair of broilers, each weighing a minimum of 3 lbs. each, under 7 weeks old (Hatched on or after June 2, 2023) *Submit copy of order receipt/shipping label
• Market Ducks-Pair of ducks, each weighing over 7 pounds (Hatched on or after May 1, 2023) *Submit copy of order receipt/shipping label
• Market Rabbits-3 rabbits, 3-5 pounds each, under 70 days old (Born on or after May 14, 2023)
• Market Goat-55-135 pounds (Born after 9/1/22 and must have milk teeth)
• Market Beef-minimum 1000 pounds (Born on or after 8/1/21)
• Dairy Steer-minimum 1000 pounds (Born on or after 8/1/21)
• Market Lambs-90-160 pounds (Born on or after 1/1/23)
• Market Hogs-220-290 pounds (Born on or after 1/1/23)
• Again, No Weight Tolerances in 2023!

Youth are allowed to sell a maximum of 3 animals in the livestock sale and 2 per species.

All Maryland 4-H market and feeder projects must be tagged, weighed, and have proper papers completed and signed in order to exhibit as a 4-Her at any 4-H show in Maryland. All male market animals must be banded, crimped, or cut prior to being tagged and weighed.  In other words market animals tagged as steers can’t be bulls, etc. Market projects cannot be transferred among family members, once they are tagged for the 2023 show season. 4-H shows include the Eastern Shore Spring Show, Cecil County Fair 4-H Show, and Maryland State Fair 4-H Show.  Please contact me at adhall@umd.edu if you have only commercial breeding animals that need to be tagged.  

If you have any questions, please contact April via email at adhall@umd.edu.

Cecil County Fair 4-H Livestock Auction

A big THANK YOU to those who participated in the

2022 Cecil County 4-H Livestock Auction. 

Thank you for your participation and support!

The Livestock Sale marks the culmination of months of hard work when 4-H members offer their project animals for sale to the highest bidder. Proceeds often go to fund college educations. Buyers get the satisfaction of supporting hard working 4-H youth, recognition for buying the best, and can usually deduct the cost as a business advertising expense. Buyers of champion animals will have their pictures taken with their purchases to be published in a local newspaper. A plaque will be presented to buyers of champion animals.  A banner will be presented to buyers of reserve champion animals.

Maryland State Fair

August 24-27, August 31-September 4, and September 7-10, 2023.

4-Hers can enter and exhibit their projects, and participate in contests and 4-H activities.  This is a state-wide event for 4-H youth across Maryland.

Maryland State Fair Website

Maryland State Fair Facebook

The Cecil County 4-H In-School and Out-of-School Program provides local, formal and non-formal, educators with the opportunity to bring 4-H into their existing program or classroom. Cecil County 4-H offers the opportunities to utilize research based curriculum, focused on giving youth hands-on, experiential learning opportunities!

The 4-H Mission and Vision is to empower youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults and to see a world in which youth and adults learn, grow and work together as catalysts for positive change. The learn-by-doing method of 4-H allows for youth to become productive, contributing, leaders in their community. By bringing 4-H school enrichment into the classroom, youth begin to develop inquiry, strengthen their communication skills, become involved in real life, hands-on activities, and learn to work together cooperatively with their peers and adult mentors.

Programs are delivered through different methods including train-the-trainer, educational kits that can be signed out, and programs taught by staff or volunteers. For a description of the program delivery methods and a current listing and description of Cecil County 4-H In School and Out of School Programs view the School Enrichment and Program Handbook.

School Enrichment Program Handbook

School Enrichment Program Interest Form

Judging provides opportunities for 4-H members to participate in and learn the skills of decision-making and oral reasons (justification) of placements.  Current judging opportunities include the areas of dairy, livestock, poultry and egg, rabbit, horse, goat, horticulture and forestry.

Visit the individual animal tab on our Animal Science Information page, and/or our Upcoming 4-H Activities and Events page, for information on current and upcoming events.

Judging horticulture can be challenging, but it is a skill that can be learned. Cecil 4-H offers occasional workshops, classes and trainings for 4-Hers to learn how to identify plant species, note qualities of different plants, and assign a score to those plants during judging practices and judging competitions.

Visit the Project Areas and Curriculum page, and/or our Upcoming 4-H Activities and Events page, for information on current and upcoming events.

National 4‑H Week

National 4-H Week provides an opportunity to increase public awareness and understanding of the 4-H program.  It is held the first full week of October.  The National 4-H Science experiment is held one evening during National 4-H Week.

Quiz Bowl is similar to the game show "Jeopardy" except all questions are project-related.  4-H members are able to participate in and learn many facts and information about their projects.  Current quiz bowl opportunities include dairy, horse and dog projects. 

Visit the individual tab on our Animal Science Information page, Project Areas and Curriculum page, and/or our Upcoming 4-H Activities and Events page, for information on current and upcoming events.

Recordkeeping

4-H Record Books are a way 4-Hers learn to keep records, learn about project related finances, evaluate their past accomplishments, and organize their thoughts.  Youth are recognized for goal achievements, their leadership given to local club or county activities, and community service projects they have been involved in.  They are awarded for their accomplishments at the annual 4-H Achievement Night.

All Cecil 4-H recordkeeping forms and resources can be found on the Google Drive at Cecil 4-H Recordkeeping Resource Documents.  Both Word and PDF versions are available.

Forms

Helpful Tips

Samples

Clover Scrapbook

Cecil County 4-H All-Star Book Scholarships

Application Deadline:  July 1, 2023

The Cecil County 4-H All-Stars awards a select number of book scholarships to 4-Hers who are 4-H members and plan to enroll in, or are enrolled in, a 2 or 4-year college or technical school.  Application forms and information for the upcoming academic year 2023-2024 are available on the button below.  

Application

Cecil County Farm Bureau Scholarships

Cecil County Farm Bureau has scholarship opportunities available! There are four $2,500 scholarships - two Ray Mueller Scholarships and two Steve Carson Young Farmers Scholarships. Scholarships are open to any graduate or graduating high school senior that has been accepted to an accredited institution as an undergraduate or who is currently enrolled in post-graduate courses.  Applicants must be the child of a Farm Bureau member. Check back in early spring 2023 for the 2023 scholarship information or visit their website.

Cecil Soil Conservation District Office Scholarships for Cecil County Students

Cecil Soil Conservation District offers three scholarships.  These three scholarships are in honor of past District Board Members in recognition of the time they served providing the community with Information, Education, and Technical Assistance in conserving the county’s natural resources.  The Cecil Soil Conservation District is honored to contribute to three student’s secondary education goals and give back to the agricultural community across our county.  For information on eligibility and the application process, visit the CSCD website at:  https://www.cecilscd.com.  

Maryland 4-H Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship applications are due by June 15th for the Maryland 4-H Foundation Scholarships.   All applicants must have participated in Maryland 4-H for 2 years and be pursuing a post-secondary degree or certification. Visit the Maryland 4-H Foundation Website for all the details at http://www.mymaryland4hfoundation.com/how-we-give/scholarships. 

Scholarships.Com

4-H Youth in Action Awards

The primary objective of a Skillathon Contest is to provide an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H to demonstrate the breadth of their knowledge and understanding of animal science and management in a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail.

Visit the individual tab on our Animal Science Information page, and/or our Upcoming 4-H Activities and Events page, for information on current and upcoming events.

4‑H STEM programs provide youth with opportunities to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) through hands-on projects that incorporate each of these four elements into the activities our educators and volunteers lead. STEM has always been part of 4-H’s history, as it has been providing hands-on learning opportunities for youth that incorporate science, engineering, and technology for over 100 years!

Visit the Maryland 4-H Youth Development STEM webpage for more information on STEM.

The curriculum for AGsploration: The Science of Maryland Agriculture has reached more than 50,000 Maryland youth since 2010, and more than 500 teachers have been trained to utilize the curriculum. In 2020-2021 the AGsploration team is focusing on Career AGsperience-An agriculture career literacy program. 

Winterfest offers a fun opportunity for 4-H youth to select one-hour classes in which they have an interest.  Winterfest is held annually on the Sunday after the Achievement Night (March) program.

For more information on this year's Winterfest event, visit our Upcoming 4-H Activities and Events page.