News Releases

Road Trip attendees look at a presenter.
Illinois youth attend first 4-H post-high school success conference
URBANA, Ill. — Over 140 eighth through 12th graders from across Illinois headed to the Illini Union on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus for a 4-H College and Career Road Trip. This dynamic conference was aimed at preparing Illinois youth for the journey into higher education...
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Spice-Healthcare: Dietary assessments for culturally diverse older adults
URBANA, Ill. — A cross-campus team of researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, led by Kinesiology and Community Health Assistant Professor Mina Raj, has received two grants to test an online platform designed to help dietitians, clinicians and food service personnel make...
ladies serving cake at a bazaar
Serve It Safely: Food Handlers Course to be held in Rockford on May 9
Selling and serving food remains a popular fundraising activity for many community groups. If you belong to a service club, church group, youth group, special interest club, or any non-profit organization, chances are good that you sell food. Any time your group sells food, it is essential to...
pressure canning supplies along with canned items sitting on a stovetop.
Master the art of water bath and pressure canning
Home food preservation continues to be extremely popular, whether due to increased food costs, the desire to know what is going into your food, or because it benefits the environment by reducing one’s carbon footprint. There are many ways to preserve food at home, including freezing, drying,...
Cicada hanging on a pine branch
Cicadas 2024 - a once in a lifetime experience
ROCKFORD, Ill. — Join Illinois Extension and Nicholas Conservatory on Wednesday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Nicholas Conservatory for a lively program: Cicadas 2024 — A Once in a Lifetime Experience. Learn more about the upcoming May and June appearances of Broods XIII and XIX,...
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Local Extension office to host upcoming events
OREGON, Ill. - The local University of Illinois Extension office in Ogle County released upcoming free April events. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in these programs, call 815-632-3611 by April 1.    Don't Go It Alone: Improving Your Social Connections...
Youth standing in front of game swimming pool
4-H Carnival winners announced
OREGON, Ill. - The Ogle County 4-H Federation hosted its annual 4-H Penny Carnival at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon on March 2.   Penny Carnival is much like a fun fair but features games dreamed up and designed by the 4-H clubs in the county.  All twelve of the county's clubs participated,...
Maria Kalaitzandonakes
Consumers across political spectrum share food pricing frustrations
URBANA, Ill. — In his State of the Union address last week, President Biden touched on a topic close to the hearts of U.S. consumers: food prices. In this election year, we can expect high food costs to come up repeatedly, with candidates from both parties invoking price gouging, shrinkflation,...
Overhead view of compost filled bin during winter.
Spring into composting by reviving a compost pile after winter
URBANA, Ill. — If you haven’t touched your compost bin or pile all winter, don’t worry, you are not alone. It could be filled with kitchen scraps to the top or left untouched since the fall. Getting a compost pile going again after the long, cold winter can be intimidating, but it is possible...
Darci Webber
New Extension environmental educator takes root in central Illinois
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — When it comes to coexisting with nature, the solutions aren’t always straightforward. What do you do if your native plant landscaping attracts a family of groundhogs? How do you work with your neighbors to remove encroaching invasive species? Where can you go in town to find...
Youth making breat at a table
4-H Day of Dabbling was a hit
OREGON, Ill. - Over 40 youth participated in the 2024 4-H Day of Dabbling held in Oregon on February 24. This event allowed youth to explore numerous areas of 4-H project work hands-on. Twelve workshops were offered, and participants could choose three that interest them. Project areas...
tall trees with green leaves
NatureFest 2024
GENOA, Ill. - Join us again for a day in the woods. University of Illinois Extension, DeKalb County Forest Preserve, and the DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District are having their third annual, free, outdoor NatureFest, on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. at Russell Woods...
Youth standing on bowling lane with medals
4-H bowling champions named
OREGON, Ill. - The 2024 Ogle County 4-H Bowling Tournament championship round was held on February 25th at T-Byrd Lanes in Rochelle.  Seven qualifying teams bowled to determine the first-place winners in the junior division (ages 6-13) and senior division (ages 14 and up). The clubs set...
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Empower caregivers with research-based strategies to improve elder care
URBANA, Ill. — The number of older adults in the U.S. continues to rise, and the need for more caregivers comes with that. This demographic shift underscores the importance of initiatives to support caregivers and provide them with the necessary resources and assistance. ...
laptop with photo of canned goods in center of yellow background and blue splotches
Food Preservation Classes Offered
Join University of Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator Diane Reinhold for these food preservation classes being offered virtually via Zoom. There is no fee to register for these classes, but pre-registration is required to receive the Zoom link to attend. If you would like to...