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Announcements & Highlights

4-H U: Dream. Plan. Do. | Belvidere | 4 in-person sessions

Not sure what's next after high school? Let's figure it out together. For youth entering grades 9-12. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. REGISTER TODAY! 4-H U: DREAM. PLAN. DO. is a hands-on 4-session experience focused on exploring future options, connecting interests to real careers, building life and budgeting skills, and getting help with college applications, scholarships, interviewing, and FAFSA. Youth will meet local professionals and gain confidence as they plan their next steps after high school. Sessions are held at the Boone County Extension Office (Meeting Room, 205 Cadillac Court, Suite 5, Belvidere, IL 61008) from 9–11 am on April 18, May 16, July 25, and September 19. Cost is $5 per session or $20 for all four sessions. Registration is required. You do not need to be in 4-H to attend.

Registration is open for 4-H Camp

Sign your child up TODAY! Limited number of spots still available. 4-H Camp is from June 14-18 at Rock River Christian Camp in Polo. Camp is open to ALL youth ages 8-14 as of June 14, 2026. 4-H membership is NOT REQUIRED. Camp fees: $350 (4-H members) or $400 (non-4-H members). Must be paid in full by May 1, or the spot will not be held. Includes lodging (4 nights), meals (11 meals), Canteen (4 afternoons), snacks (4 evenings), Camp t-shirt, and 'camptivities' and supplies.

Rural Business Transitions | Webinar | April 7

Examine how ESOPs and other shared-ownership models provide a clearer, more practical framework for succession planning. This webinar provides a framework for understanding broad-based employee ownership and for applying it across three common models: ESOPs, worker cooperatives, and employee ownership trusts. Rather than focusing on technical mechanics, the session explores how governance and financial rights differ across these models and how workers benefit from ownership in practice, with special attention to their role in business succession and community stability in rural and small-town contexts. Participants will learn a more straightforward, evidence-informed, and practical way to think about employee ownership as a succession-planning option. Presenter: Michael Palmieri, associate director of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center at Kent State University. There is no cost to attend the webinars. Sign up here today!

Upcoming Events at the Natural Resource Education Center | Genoa

Explore events!

Gardening on a Budget | Ogle County locations | April 14

Join Illinois Extension for Gardening on a Budget on April 14 at 10 AM. This free program will take place at two locations in Ogle County: the Mount Morris Senior & Community Center and the Oregon Public Library. Part of the class will be a webinar where participants will learn how starting a container garden can benefit their budget and be a fruitful hobby that satisfies their taste buds. Learn about the start-up expenses for a container garden and plan your produce to supplement your budget. To reserve your spot at the Mount Morris Senior & Community Center, call 815-734-6335. To reserve your spot at the Oregon Public Library, call 815-732-2724.

Mother's Day Flower Walk | Genoa | May 9

On the day before Mother's Day, Saturday, May 9, come out to the guided wildflower walks at the Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) in Russell Woods Forest Preserve. The upland paved path allows people of all abilities to enjoy the flowers. Walks start on the hour at 10 AM. The last walk will start at 1 PM. Two local botany enthusiasts, Karen Matz and Brian Hale, will lead and talk about forest plants and what is blooming. All are welcome on the guided hikes. There is no fee for the walks, and the NREC will be open for visitors. Extension Master Naturalists will be in the Natural Resource Education Center to welcome visitors while they wait for the next walk. Come in and see our wildlife exhibits!

NatureFest 2026 | Genoa | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Get ready for the annual NatureFest on Saturday, May 16! Hosted by Illinois Extension, DeKalb County Forest Preserve, DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the DeKalb County Health Department. It occurs at the only nature center in DeKalb County, Genoa's Natural Resource Education Center. This family-friendly, free event is perfect for families with elementary-aged children and up. There will be nature-themed hands-on learning activities. The event is outdoors, so be sure to dress for the weather. Learning topics include turtles, camouflage, insects, river research, and more. Check in at the registration table and pick up a passport and a map of the area.

Explore Russell Woods Forest Preserve and the NREC from 10 AM to 1 PM. Families can take part in multiple hands-on learning activities. Come see T.J. the tortoise (the resident 75-pound African Sulcata tortoise), the other live animal displays, and hike the trails.

Title

We are hiring an Agriculture and Agribusiness Educator

This person will provide program leadership in Boone, DeKalb, and Ogle counties. A Master's Degree is required. Position will be housed in DeKalb or Ogle County. Full-time, benefit-eligible position. The Extension Educator, Agriculture and Agribusiness, is expected to concentrate programmatically in Farm Business Management and Marketing with a focus on supporting sustainable practices related to profitability, succession, and natural resources. Application deadline is April 20 at 6 p.m. The U of I is an EEO Employer/Vet/Disabled http://go.illinois.edu/EEO that participates in the federal e-Verify program, and a background check program focused on prior criminal or sexual misconduct history.

Deadline to apply: April 20 at 6 p.m.

Apply today!

Events

Succession Through Shared Ownership: Exploring ESOPs and Employee-Led Transitions

April 7, 2026

Certified Food Protection Manager Course - Jo Daviess

April 7, 2026 - April 10, 2026

County

JoDaviess

Growing a Butterfly Garden: Illinois Butterflies and Their Host Plants

April 7, 2026

The Memory of Tomorrow: Everyday Memory Slips, Why They Happen, and How to Support Them

April 8, 2026

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News Releases

April 7, 2026

Illinois 4-H teens build career-ready skills at Ignite by 4-H Summit
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Teen leaders from across Illinois recently joined hundreds of their peers from around the country March 25-29 for the 2026 Ignite by 4-H Summit, a national youth leadership experience focused on career exploration, skill-building and connection.Hosted by National 4-H...

People at a table talk to others a sign in the background says "Lake Michigan"

April 3, 2026

Illinois Extension and 4-H showcase statewide impact at inaugural Day at the Capitol
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension staff gathered in the state Capitol on March 25 to showcase how Extension and Illinois 4-H strengthen communities statewide and to call for an increased...

April 3, 2026

Illinois Extension makes gardening education more accessible with online training
OREGON, Ill. — For 50 years, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners have measured success by gardens planted, insects identified, produce harvested, and the millions of hours volunteers have logged by helping others learn to grow....

A person shows a lock and tag out bin safety system at an event table

April 1, 2026

Against the Grain: Dr. Salah Issa on Innovating Ag Safety
URBANA, Ill. — Dr. Salah Issa’s career in agricultural safety began in an unexpected way. Starting out at a graduate program in Ecological Sciences and Engineering at Purdue University as a self-described “city kid”, he was unaware that agricultural engineering was even a career option. It wasn’...

April 1, 2026

Nature Explorers Camp invites youth to explore, create, and thrive outdoors this summer
SYCAMORE, Ill.—Youth ages 7–11 are invited to spend their summer exploring forests, discovering wildlife, and building lifelong skills at Nature Explorers Camp, a hands-on day camp led by University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development professionals and Natural Resources Education Center...

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