Knox and Lincoln Counties 4-H Leaders' Association, a program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, seeks volunteers to assist at the 4-H  Farm-to-Fair exhibit at the Union Fair.

This exhibit, which will operate August 22 through 29, is designed to teach the public, particularly small children, how the food they consume and the products they use on a daily basis are produced and marketed. The exhibit consists of four small barns representing areas of a working farm, including a chicken coop, cattle barn, fiber barn, and blueberry display.

Additionally, there are a farmer's market and a farm store. In each barn, children perform a mock farm chore and collect a related product, such as a bag of fiber or a toy box of blueberries, which they can sell at the farmer's market. After selling their product at the market, children can use their farmer dollars at the farm store to purchase a small item to keep.

Volunteers are given the unique opportunity to learn about local agriculture and to teach children about the importance of farming. Volunteers will lead children through the exhibit and teach them about farm life at each stop. Many volunteers are required to run the exibit - a minimum of seven volunteers work per shift, and one or two relief volunteers to allow for breaks.

4-H Farm-to-Fair will operate each day of the 2015 Union Fair, August 22 through 29, with volunteer shifts running 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact Cindy Rogers, 4-H Community Education Assistant, at 832-0343 or cynthia.rogers@maine.edu.

Donations from individuals and business sponsorships help 4-H maintain and expand their educational displays. All donations are tax-deductible, and sponsors and donors receive recognition in press releases and advertisement for the event.