Upcoming Putnam County library program to highlight Illinois Centennial Soil Archive Project
GRANVILLE, Ill. – Ever wonder how our soil has changed over the last 100 years? Discover the incredible story behind the University of Illinois Soil Lab's Centennial Soil Archive Project. A key piece of Illinois' agricultural heritage is a world-class, one-of-a-kind soil sample...
Let it Dough, Make and Take Bread Workshop
OGLESBY, Ill. - Join Illinois Extension Food and Nutrition Educator Susan Glassman and learn the art of breadmaking. Proof the yeast, mix the dough, knead, let rise, and bake till done in our annual bread workshop. Participants will learn to make and bake a classic coffee cake and a lower-...
Start native seeds outdoors this winter with Illinois Master Gardeners
OGLESBY, Ill. – Looking for a simple, budget-friendly way to add native plants to your home garden? Join Illinois Master Gardeners for our Winter Sowing Natives Workshop on January 31, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Nell’s Woodland (2000 Alexis Ave, Ottawa, IL 61350) and learn how to start...
Ready, Set, Fly into the Future! Beyond Ready to Fly!
PRINCETON, Ill.- The new 4-H Drone Clubs in Bureau, LaSalle, and Marshall-Putnam Counties are taking flight! Thanks to a generous grant from Compeer Financial, our 4-H team was able to purchase three drone kits and launch an exciting learning adventure for more than 25 youth...
Northbrook Middle School Students Raise $850 for Local Food Pantry
MENDOTA, Ill. - Seventh and eighth-grade students at Northbrook Middle School in Mendota are stepping up to address food insecurity in their communities through the 4-H Food Action Academy. The 4-H Food Action Academy is a curriculum designed to help youth understand how food...
University of Illinois Extension announces winter conservation series for farmers and landowners
OGLESBY, Ill. – Conservation practices are essential for sustaining Illinois agriculture, protecting natural resources, and improving farm profitability. University of Illinois Extension invites farmers and landowners to a five-part educational series focused on conservation practices that...
Pesticide applicator tests to be offered in winter 2026
OGLESBY, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension – Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam counties is offering the following testing-only sessions and certification program for...
Oglesby Agronomy Summit provides knowledge for on-farm success
OGLESBY, Ill. – Discover how biologicals, pesticides, and climate are shaping the future of agriculture at the Illinois Extension Agronomy Summit, hosted at Illinois Valley Community College. This year’...
Master Naturalists provide critical data on local frog and toad populations
OTTAWA, Ill. – The Calling Frog Survey is a citizen science project that invites community members to learn how to identify frog calls and contribute valuable data to amphibian conservation efforts. Before the Calling Frog Survey began, little was known about the distribution and status of...
Extension advances mission of lifelong learning at annual conference
URBANA, Ill. — Across the state, University of Illinois Extension staff link their communities with resources they need to thrive by turning science into solutions. Demonstrating Extension’s mission of life-...
Marshall-Putnam 4-H Celebrates Achievements at Annual Awards Ceremony
HENRY, Ill. –The Marshall-Putnam University of Illinois Extension recently recognized outstanding achievements by 4-H members across Marshall and Putnam counties during an award ceremony held on Sunday, November 3, 2025, at the Henry Presbyterian Church. This event highlighted the...
Master Naturalists connect through community and conservation at annual conference
OGLESBY, Ill. — Of all the state parks in Illinois, Starved Rock has the most visitors, and this October, it also welcomed University of Illinois Extension’s Master Naturalists to explore and learn together. Against a backdrop of migrating pelicans floating in the Illinois River at the base of...
Master Gardeners Bring Tomato Workshop to LaSalle County Jail
OTTAWA, Ill. - This summer, the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program brought its ‘Tomato Troubles’ workshop to the LaSalle County Jail. With a new garden in its first year, the project has given inmates in the drug treatment program a...
Master Naturalists welcome 18 new environmental steward volunteers
OGLESBY, Ill. – The Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam County Master Naturalists welcomed 18 new volunteers to their ranks on August 1.Helen Mlynarski, Ellen Evancheck, Pete Johnston, Coleen Piggott, Jillian Pender, Hannah Safiran, Cheryl Heitz, Patricia Meagher, Faye Barakat,...
