What began as a simple phone call from Jerald Schier, Manito village trustee, in Spring 2024 grew into a community effort to revitalize the town. Manito Revive and Thrive community meetings were a catalyst for the village’s new strategic plan. Local...
This winter, Fulton County 4-H offered an appetizing adventure for young creators—a food decorating workshop designed to help youth express their artistic flair through frosting and fun. Part of the 4-H Visual Arts project...
For the past decade, farm profits have been highly volatile making farm business planning difficult. Grain prices have been all over the board — down, up, and back down. Input costs have also been unstable. These and many other factors can create a lot of stress for producers. University of...
Positive youth development starts with providing a safe, welcoming environment. 4-H clubs led by caring volunteers are a key component of a successful 4-H program. The 4-H staff serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell...
Joli Pierson, Mason 4-H coordinator, retires from Extension In preparing for retirement from Illinois Extension after nearly 26 years at the Mason County branch office, Joli Pierson finds herself filled with gratitude and reflection. “What began as a job became a calling, and over the...
An outreach initiative helped children across the Tri-County area better understand hunger and how they can contribute during Hunger Action Month. Through the Lulu & the Hunger Monster reading program, University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed staff trained community readers to...
Healthy soils, cleaner water, and stronger farms, one field at a time —University of Illinois Extension and STAR (Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources) are working together to make it happen.STAR was born out of a grassroots, farmer-driven...
University of Illinois Extension deepened its commitment to local conservation through a year of engaging, community-rooted Conservation@Home programming across Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties. The initiative...
People and nature are some of Brittany Chamber’s favorite things and now she has a job that embodies both. Brittany recently became the new University of Illinois Extension ag and natural resources program coordinator for Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties. She will be coordinating the...
This spring, Tazewell County 4-H welcomed two new Special Interest (SPIN) Clubs. The Junior Master Gardener SPIN Club was led by Master Gardeners, Trudy Yazujian, Janine Donahue, and Ellen Denler while the Junior Master Naturalist SPIN club was led by Master Naturalist Brittany Chambers. Both clubs...
