Build your best life. Trust Extension to help. Illinois Extension experts are here to help families, businesses, and communities solve problems and learn new skills with research-based webinars, virtual meetings, videos, and more. Let's Get Started Connect. Learn. Grow. National Volunteer Week is April 18-24 Extension volunteers make Illinois a better place. From working with youth on 4-H projects, and from mentoring families on personal finances to identifying pests, our volunteers are essential. How you can help support your community? Hello, spring? We're ready for you! How do keep weeds out of my lawn? What kind of bug is this? Where can I get my pesticide applicator certification? When do hard-boiled eggs expire? Help, I found a baby bunny! What can I do to cut down on my grocery bill? Our spring guide has you covered! Local Government Education Local officials and community leaders can gain perspective from experts on policies and legislation at federal and state levels which may impact local Illinois communities. Webinars and Digital Training Information you trust is just a click away. Illinois Extension’s high-quality programs are available for free online as live webinars. Miss a program? Check out the recordings. Master Gardener Training Gain practical experience and horticulture knowledge straight from Extension educators so you can positively impact your community. Budget-Friendly Nutrition Tips Make healthier choices for your family on any budget. Find your healthy lifestyle with Eat. Move. Save. Advocate for the Environment Love nature? The Master Naturalist program works with adult volunteers to support natural spaces and wildlife around Illinois as environmental stewards. Put down the bottle: Handling weeds and insects at home doesn't start with pesticides Improper use can harm adults, children, and pets, kill beneficial insects, and leach chemicals into the ecosystem and drinking water supplies. During planting, stress management is more important than ever As spring planting approaches, so do the pressures and expectations placed upon farmers. Hemp research a win-win for new Midwestern crop Industrial hemp is one of the fasting growing crops across Midwestern fields and researchers are recruiting producers in the race to learn more. New resource hub connects unit staff across state Molly Foster, Elaine Kaple, and Amy Spence have a decade of combined knowledge and experience. 4-H service project brushes off invasives In 1830, a young Abraham Lincoln traveled from Indiana with his family to settle in Illinois. Almost two centuries later, new young leaders are following in his footsteps by preserving the state’s natural legacy at his namesake park. Smaller turkeys, lower prices on Thanksgiving menu With more intimate gatherings being the new norm for Thanksgiving and Christmas, small whole turkeys at lower prices are on the menu in 2020. COMMUNITY RESOURCES Response resources for COVID-19 The spread and mitigation of coronavirus (COVID-19) is an evolving concern for Illinois. This library of resources can help families, businesses, community leaders, and ag producers cope. Find Local Food Resources Find all food assistance sites closest to your Illinois zip code, including food pantries, school meal sites, and grocery stores and farmers markets that accept WIC/SNAP. Economic and Functional Value A new report finds that Extension provides more than $600 million annual benefit to Illinois, ten times its budget. Read the report. En Espanol La Extensión de la Universidad de Illinois es el principal alcance emblemático de la Universidad de Illinois en Urbana-Champaign, que ofrece programas educativos a los residentes de los 102 condados de Illinois, y mucho más. Upcoming Events April 14, 2021 - May 26, 2021 Carroll-Lee-Whiteside Spring Into Art SPIN 4-H Club | SterlingWhiteside Extension Office April 15, 2021 Project Paloozawebinar (Jefferson County) Keys for Embracing Aging - Brain ActivityOnline (Champaign County) Cookin' in an Instant: HI and LOW PressureOnline How to Save on Travel: Lessons for LivingOnline More Events Recent News April 15, 2021 100-day benchmark of new administration examined in Extension webinar April 15, 2021 Volunteers at the heart of Illinois 4-H April 14, 2021 Edible wild mushrooms are more than just your next meal April 14, 2021 Keep an eye out for jumping worms this gardening season April 14, 2021 Local redistricting process will cause political shuffling More News Releases