2025 Common Ground Country Fair

The Common Ground Country Fair, MOFGA’s annual celebration of rural living, is made possible by our amazing volunteers who donate thousands of hours. It is often said that volunteering is the best way to experience the Fair. Join MOFGA’s incredible community of volunteers by signing up to volunteer at the Fair!

2025 Fair Shifts Will Open in June

Thank you to all our incredible volunteers that helped make the 2024 Fair possible! We hope to see you again next year, September 19, 20, and 21, 2025, in Unity, Maine!

Interested in volunteering with MOFGA year-round? Check out our current volunteer opportunities or read about becoming a Fair Area coordinator!

Information for Fair Volunteers

Fair Volunteer Benefits

For each four-hour shift at the Fair, volunteers receive:

One Fair volunteer T-shirt.
Fair admission for the day they work.
One meal at the Common Kitchen.
Camping privileges — tent site (one night per shift, either the night before or the night after the shift). Registration required.

For any additional four-hour shift, volunteers receive:

One Fair admission for each shift (three days admission maximum).
One meal at the Common Kitchen for each shift they work.
One extra night of camping per shift. Registration required.

Fair Eligibility

Volunteers under the age of 18 must have signed consent of a parent or guardian. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old to volunteer without an accompanying guardian. Children between the ages of 10 to 12 may volunteer if accompanied by a guardian 21 years of age or older; at least one adult must be present for every two children.
For families who want to volunteer with children 10 to 12 years old, we encourage you to volunteer for set-up or clean-up. There are also limited opportunities in the Compost & Recycling area during the Fair.
Special cases:
- Children’s Area: Minimum age 13 years old.
- Auto Gates, Common Kitchen, Country Store, Entertainment, Low-Impact Forestry, Parking, Fair Gates: Minimum age 16 years old.
- Safety: Minimum age 16 years old for daytime shifts and 18 years old for nighttime shifts.

Read Our Full Volunteer Info Packet

Still have questions about volunteering at the Fair? Read our full volunteer info packet for expanded information on benefits (including camping and meals), arriving and checking in at the Fair, and our full volunteer guidelines.

Volunteer as an Area Coordinator

Area coordinators organize every aspect of the Fair, from organizing speakers to laying out parking lots to working at the gates. Coordinating is an amazing way to support the Fair and work with a group of amazing people. We have openings for coordinators, assistant coordinators and understudies. We have leadership opportunities before, during and after the Fair.

Would you like to join the Fair Planning Team? Email [email protected]!

I am a MOFGA volunteer because COMMUNITY

I am a MOFGA volunteer because it's a family tradition

I am a MOFGA volunteer because we care about earth

I am a MOFGA volunteer because it's what makes the Fair happen

I am a MOFGA volunteer because we believe in MOFGA's mission

I am a MOFGA volunteer because I believe in this community

I am a MOFGA volunteer because we love the fair

I am a MOFGA volunteer because food is the foundation for revolution

I am a MOFGA volunteer because we love Maine and organic farming

I am a MOFGA volunteer because it's so much fun to be part of the Fair

Carpool to the Fair

Interested in carpooling before or after the Fair? Use our volunteer carpool option! If you are looking for rides to the Fair September 22-24, click here.

Watch our Volunteer Sign-up Tutorial Here:

Watch our Volunteer Camping Webinar Here:

MOFGA was founded by a group of dedicated volunteers, and we continue to rely on the support of almost 2000 volunteers each year. The collective impact of MOFGA’s volunteer community is awe-inspiring.

There are many opportunities for people to get involved and we greatly appreciate all forms of volunteer support. Without the diverse expertise and unfailing dedication of its volunteers, MOFGA wouldn’t exist.

MOFGA offers opportunities to volunteer throughout the year. Projects span a wide range, from grounds work to orchard maintenance to office work and beyond. We welcome all and acknowledge the important role volunteers play in our organization. Thank you!

Volunteer with MOFGA!

Visit our volunteer site for more information and to view available volunteer opportunities.

Questions?

Email [email protected] or call 207-568-6014 with questions.

Upcoming Volunteer Events

Seed Swap & Scion Exchange
March 30, 2025 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Farm & Homestead Day
June 21, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Volunteer at the Common Ground Country Fair!

The Common Ground Country Fair is MOFGA’s annual celebration of rural living featuring 1000-plus exhibitors and speakers, and emphasizing vibrant communities, sustainable living and local economies, while highlighting organic agriculture. This event wouldn’t be possible without the amazing community of volunteers who donate thousands of volunteer hours.

The Fair offers many unique volunteer options, including year-round opportunities as a planning team member. Volunteer shifts at the Fair are posted online in June.

Volunteer Committees and Chapters

Since its inception volunteers have played a vital role in the spirit and success of MOFGA. As the organization has grown over its first 50 years, the types of roles that volunteers play has shifted as the staff, and organization, have grown. There are many ways to interact and meaningfully contribute to various programs year round. One way to participate is by serving on a committee. MOFGA invites volunteers of diverse backgrounds and views to join our committees and offer valuable perspective to our staff as we work toward our strategic impact goals.