4-H loom weaving workshop offered for Cloverbud youth
Create a blanket for a llama friend during the Cloverbud Llama Loom Workshop.  On Tuesday, November 22nd from 5:00 – 6:00 pm, youth ages 5-7 will learn basic loom weaving techniques during this...

Teen competitors 'aim' for fun
PEKIN, Ill. – The best teenage 4-H archery shooters from the state competed recently at the State 4-H Archery competition held Sept. 17 in Pekin. Forty-seven shooters, alongside 4-H volunteers, spent a full day on the range shooting at three different scoring events including 3-D archery,...

Give summer-blooming bulbs a second chance, store them over winter
URBANA, Ill – Plants, such as cannas, caladiums, dahlias, elephant ears, gladiolus, and tuberous begonia, can make a great addition to the landscape. These plants are commonly referred to as tender bulbs or summer-blooming bulbs. Not all of them actually grow from bulbs, but this is what...

Hall High School Conservation Garden is Saving Species!
Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists from the Bureau, LaSalle and Marshall-Putnam University of Illinois Extension program visited Hall High School Conservation Garden on September 15th.   The day was spent engaged with students demonstrating how to save the world one seed at a time...

Extension Master Gardener Conference reaffirms value of community horticulture
JOLIET, Ill. – Illinois volunteers were welcomed to Chicagoland for the Illinois Master Gardener State Conference in Tinley Park Sept. 9 as they returned to in-person training.  “We are excited to again gather over 280 volunteers from across the state for our annual conference,”...

As you hunt, look out for power lines and poles
Stay safe this hunting season in more ways than one SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Now that hunting season is upon us, Safe Electricity reminds hunters to survey their surroundings before aiming at the next big prize. Take a moment to look up and out for...

Prepare your trees for severe weather
URBANA, Ill. – Spring showers, summer thunderstorms, a winter dusting of snow; these are familiar weather events for Midwesterners, but as climate changes so do weather events. Extreme weather is increasing in Illinois. Over the past 120 years, significant changes have occurred that are...

Outstanding volunteers honored at State Fair ceremony
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Outstanding 4-H volunteers were celebrated as part of the 2022 class of the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame at a ceremony held as part of the 4-H General Project Show at the Illinois State Fair...

Illinois 4-H invites alumni to join 4-H history project
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois 4-H is proud of the rich history of 4-H and the network of 4-H alums near and far. Alums of the Illinois 4-H program share a unique bond with over 25 million Americans across the country. Illinois 4-H has launched a new initiative for the Illinois 4-H History...

Educational contest increases knowledge of the dairy industry
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The 2022 Superior Young Dairy Producer Award program was held August 20 at the Illinois State Fair. Twenty 4-H dairy project members from across Illinois took part in the event, which is held each year to create an educational activity that promotes youth...

Learn More about Fall Bulbs: Basics, Myths, and Truths
The University of Illinois Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam Master Gardener program will be offering a workshop on Fall bulbs, entitled Bulbs: Basics, Myths and Truths at the Utica Public Library on...

Bats’ midnight snacks reveal clues for managing endangered species
URBANA, Ill. – How do we bring threatened and endangered animals back from the brink? The task is never easy or simple, but one thing is undeniably true: If we don’t understand these animals and what they need to survive, we have little chance of success. Saving bats, then, is arguably a...

Stretch out the growing season with fall planted salad greens
URBANA, Ill. – When people think of fall, harvesting salad greens rarely comes to mind; however, late summer is a terrific time for gardeners to begin planting lettuce, arugula, endive, or other leafy greens for salads says Nancy Kreith...

Bureau Bulldogs 4-H club kicks off new year
The Bureau Bulldogs 4-H Club is kicking off the new 4-H year and inviting youth ages 5-18 to join.  The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 5th at 6:30 pm at the Leepertown Township Public Library, in Bureau, IL.  Meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of every month...

Marshall-Putnam 4-H Hunting and Outdoor Skills Club to start this fall
Just in time for the hunting season, Marshall-Putnam 4-H Hunting and Outdoor Skills will be starting the club this fall. Beginner club meets Saturday, September 10 & 17. Intermediate club meets Sunday, September 11 & 18. Advance club meets September 25, January 15...

Bureau County 4-H Federation seeks members
4-H Federation is the banding together of youth, 13 years old or 8th grade and above, from different clubs into one representative group. Leadership training, decision making, county event planning, and socialization are the focus of Federation members. This is a great opportunity to gain skills...

Bureau County 4-H growth calls for additional volunteers
Bureau County 4-H is growing and looking for volunteers to positively impact area youth! If you have a passion for helping youth learn and grow into their fullest potential, becoming a 4-H leader may be the role for you....

Extend the season with fall flowers for your beds, borders, and containers
URBANA, Ill. – Fall blooming plants extend the season of our gardens after many plants have dried up or are done blooming for the year. They are also a much-needed food source for pollinators who are still foraging and getting ready for winter. Prolong the floral show in your yard with...

Build money management skills early for a solid financial future
URBANA, Ill. — Building positive money habits early in life paves the way for long-term financial stability, but navigating topics such as spending, saving, investing, and managing debt can feel overwhelming, especially for young adults who are tackling financial responsibilities for the first...

Soil forecasting project seeks survey input for app development
URBANA, Ill. – For farmers and agribusiness leaders, accessing reliable and timely soil condition data can drive important soil management decisions that affect both short- and long-term production success.   A research collaboration between University of Illinois and...