GARRETT COUNTY

The Garrett County 4-H program is excited to welcome exhibitors, families, and community members to the 2026 Garrett County Agriculture Fair, taking place August 1–8. This year's fair will showcase the hard work and achievements of local 4-H youth through livestock shows, competitions, educational events, and exhibits.

The fair kicks off on Saturday, August 1, with the entry of all 4-H indoor exhibits, rabbits & poultry. On Sunday, market animals will be weighed in, followed by judging of indoor exhibits.

Throughout the week, youth will participate in a variety of livestock shows and contests, including rabbit, poultry, sheep, goat, swine, dairy, horse, and beef events. Educational opportunities such as the Livestock Skillathon, Engineering Events, and Fashion Revue will highlight the diverse skills and talents of Garrett County 4-H members.

The week concludes on Saturday, August 8, with the Youth Awards Program beginning at 8:30 a.m., celebrating the accomplishments of 4-H members, followed by the 4-H/FFA Livestock Sale starting at 10:00 a.m. Indoor exhibits will be released on Sunday, August 9, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Garrett County 4-H Agriculture Fair provides an opportunity for youth to demonstrate the knowledge, leadership, and responsibility they have developed through their 4-H projects while connecting with the community. Everyone is invited to attend, support local youth, and "Come See Us Shine!" during this year's fair.

View the entire schedule of events HERE.

Visit the University of Maryland Insect Zoo at the Garrett County Fair. Don't miss your chance to get up close with fascinating insects and other amazing arthropods at the 4-H Indoor Building!

📅 Monday, August 3
🕓 4:00–7:00 p.m.

📅 Tuesday, August 4
🕐 1:00–2:00 p.m.

Bring the whole family to explore the incredible world of bugs with hands-on learning and live insect displays. We can't wait to see you there!

We’re excited to announce a brand-new 4-H event, Horticulture Judging, taking place on Tuesday, August 4th at 3pm at the back of the Ag Hall during the Garrett County Fair! This fun and educational event is perfect for learning about fruit, vegetable, and flower identification, as well as bug identification. Participants will also have the chance to judge classes of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Since it’s the first year, the event will be all about learning and having fun—so come join us and grow your knowledge of horticulture! 🍎🌻🍅

Do you love tomatoes? Do you enjoy growing them?

If so, plan to bring a few of your best tomatoes to enter the Annual Tomato Festival on Friday, August 28, at Garrett College during the Deep Creek Farmers Market.

Compete for awards in five categories:

• Largest Tomato (size and weight)
• Ugliest Tomato
• Best Tasting Tomato
• Best Cherry/Grape Tomato
• Best Paste/Plum/Roma Tomato

In addition to the competition, attendees can enjoy a variety of tomato-themed activities, including:

• A tomato workshop to learn more about gardening
• New tomato recipes
• Taste testing different varieties

Whether you're an experienced gardener or simply love fresh tomatoes, there's something for everyone. Mark your calendar and join us for this fun and educational event!

The 2026 Nourishing Neighbors program kicked off in July with its free fresh produce distribution and resource exchange. FCS educator, Kenzi Mousch shared valuable tips on selecting and using the proper kitchen equipment, including which knives work best for cutting specific food items. Participants gained practical skills to enhance their cooking experience and had the chance to sample a delicious crunchy vegetable wrap made from vegetables included in the produce boxes!

We are excited to kick off another season of Nourishing Neighbors and look forward to seeing you there! See upcoming exchanges below.

Deep Creek Watershed Foundation is providing free rain barrels for Garrett County again this year! There are still some spaces available for this year’s distribution. The only requirements are that you complete a 45 minute training and agree to pick up your rain barrel in McHenry on the selected date. Sign up here if you are interested. https://forms.gle/g3HHyWor77iMAV2x7

Melissa Bolyard with the Garrett County Department of Business Development is creating an interactive map of roadside stands to help locals and visitors find fresh, local produce. She is looking for Garrett County residents who have a roadside stand to be included. You can contact her by calling 301-334-6960 or email her at mbolyard@garrettcountymd.gov.

The most profitable acreage on the farm may not be the best corn ground. It’s often the farm woodlot. That’s especially true if the woodlot is growing saw timber or veneer-quality red oak, black cherry, black walnut or sugar maple. Click below to view the Farmer's Guide To Woodland Management to see if your woodlot is profitable.

Rain and heat couldn’t dampen the excitement at 4-H Camp Algawa, where campers enjoyed a week filled with laughter, learning, and adventure. Through a variety of activities, they developed essential life skills like teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Campers rotated through classes, including waterfront, archery, marksmanship, challenge course, crafts, and daily snow cones. They also contributed to the camp’s environment by planting trees and installing bluebird houses, embarked on nature hikes where they discovered a snapping turtle, and teamed up for cardboard boat races that showcased their creativity and collaboration.

The week wasn’t just about building skills—it was about creating lasting memories. Campers bonded over homestyle meals together, stargazing, and singing campfire songs, all while eagerly awaiting the announcement of the Golden Feather award winner. Rain or shine, the spirit of camp shone through, offering time together without technology and emphasizing the importance of personal relationships, adaptability, resiliency, and working together to make the most of every moment. 4-H Camp Algawa continues to be a place where youth grow not only as individuals but also as part of a supportive and inspiring community, making every moment unforgettable.

This summer, 4-H youth gathered at the GEARS Building in Accident to participate in hands-on engineering events that challenged their creativity and problem-solving skills. Participants explored three exciting project areas: bicycles, electrical, and small engines. From learning bicycle safety and riding different course, to wiring and soldering to create their own flashlight, and disassembling and reassembling parts of a small engine, members gained valuable technical knowledge while having fun.

These events provided a fantastic opportunity for youth to develop practical skills while fostering teamwork and critical thinking. Whether it was laughing together during the tortoise and hare bicycle races, wiring a light bulb, or learning to clean an engine filter, participants were fully engaged in activities that sparked curiosity and built confidence. The 4-H engineering program continues to inspire the next generation of innovators!

University of Maryland Extension Educators helped dig into learning with fun science activities, games, and "make-and-take" projects at the Ruth Enlow Library - Oakland Branch. The program was inspired by Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and was part of the Unearth a Story Summer Reading Club.

The session included three engaging, fast-paced activity rotations:

• Digging into Seed Spirals: Participants learned about plant growth and created their own seed starter projects.

• Sam's Fossil Creations: Participants explored paleontology by making dinosaur imprints using playdough.

• Gem Rock Treasures: Participants got creative with rock and gem painting.

St. Marks Lutheran Church in Oakland recently hosted an exciting canning class led by Dr. Shauna Henley FCS educator from Baltimore County, alongside FCS educator Kenzi Mousch. Participants dove into the do's and don’ts of canning, learning the essentials of both pressure canning and the water bath canning method. The highlight of the class was a hands-on activity where attendees used the water bath canning technique to create their very own orange jelly! This interactive experience not only taught valuable food preservation skills but also inspired participants to explore new ways of enjoying seasonal produce.

UME faculty, interns, and Master Gardener Volunteers have been busy working in the community in July! Some program highlights include adult and youth summer reading programs at the Kitzmiller Library, Jr. Gardeners Camp at Yough Glades, Composting lesson at Rt. 40 elementary led by UME Educator Sarah Llewellyn from Allegany office, transplanting native plants to prepare for the homegrown habitat plant give away in September, and much more!

UME Educators Kenzi Mousch and Ashley Bodkins worked closely with Yough Glades Community Schools specialist, Megan Knepp to organize a day camp focused on gardening! Approximately 50 youth from the school spent the day learning about the importance of pollinators, DNA and genetics, healthy eating habits and a new recipe–strawberry smores, and how gardeners play an important role with creating vital habitat in our home landscapes! Extension is grateful for opportunities to partner with schools and teach the next generation vital life skills!

Our Extension Advisory Council (EAC) recently met at the Garrett County Extension Office, where the meeting focused on 4-H programming. As part of the agenda, council members had the opportunity to get hands-on experience by creating their own projects using 3-D pens.

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Email: rcvetnic@umd.edu

Website: https://extension.umd.edu/locations/garrett-county

Location: 1916 Maryland Hwy., Suite A, Mt. Lake Park, MD 21550

Phone: 301-334-6960

Office Hours: M-F 8:00 am-4:30 pm excluding holidays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4HGarrettCoMD

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact us at least two weeks prior to the event at (301) 334-6960.