Local 4-H clubs and their members will be improving the local community, thanks, in part, to grants from Farm Credit Illinois. Farm Credit Illinois recently awarded $10,500 to 42 4-H clubs and seven FFA chapters in the area it serves through its annual community improvement grant program. Clubs received up to $250 each for specific community projects.

For example, members of the 76 Clovers 4-H Club in White County will use the funds to install decorative birdhouses in the Rebecca Turner Memorial Garden in Norris City. In Jackson County, members of the Somerset Clovers 4-H Club will provide composting bins at the 4-H and community gardens in Murphysboro. In Marion County, the Omega Shamrocks 4-H Club will construct a memorial sidewalk for its community.

"It is a privilege for Farm Credit Illinois to share a vision for healthy rural communities with 4-H and FFA members," said Rod Stoll, vice president of public relations for Farm Credit Illinois. "We congratulate this year's grant recipients and salute them for making positive and tangible contributions in their local communities."

• Liberty 4-H Club (Bond County): Repair and Improve Bleachers at Bond County Fairgrounds
• Pocahontas Dreamcatchers 4-H Club (Bond County): Plant and Maintain a Community Produce Garden for Residents of Pocahontas
• Calhoun FFA Chapter (Calhoun County): Plant and Maintain a Vegetable Garden for Residents of Calhoun Court in Hardin
• All School 4-H Club (Champaign County): Plant and Maintain the Hunger Garden and Flower Project at Dodds Park in Champaign
• Philo 4-H Friends (Champaign County): Provide Improvements to the Butterfly Garden at the Philo Public Library
• Lads & Lassies 4-H Club (Christian County): Develop Plot Map at the Harpers Ferry Cemetery in Bear Creek Township
• Triple T 4-H Club (Clark County): Rejuvenate the Landscaping at the Clark County Extension Building in Marshall
• Aviston 4-H Aces (Clinton County): Collect Recyclable Plastic Lids to Make Outdoor Benches at Aviston Elementary School
• Clovers, Cloveretts, Cloverbuds 4-H Club (Clinton County): Plant Flowers in the St. Rose and Damiansville Community Parks
• Salt Creek Clovers 4-H Club (DeWitt County): Paint and Update Restrooms at Dewitt County Fairgrounds in Clinton
• Camargo Champs 4-H Club (Douglas County): Rebuild Ball Diamond in Community Park in Camargo
• Blue Ribbon 4-H Club (Edwards County): Plant and Maintain Landscaping Areas at Edwards County Fairgrounds in Albion
• Bone Gap Cardinals 4-H Club (Edwards County): Provide Improvements to Playground at Bone Gap Community Park
• Ellery Panthers 4-H Club (Edwards County): Plant and Maintain Landscaping at Little Prairie Christian Church in Albion
• Midnight Riders 4-H Club (Effingham County): Provide Improvements at Schmidt Park in Altamont
• Mudrunners 4-H Club (Franklin County): Plant Flowers and Shrubs at Miners Memorial Park in Sesser
• Gallatin County Clover Busters 4-H Club (Gallatin County): Plant Flowers and Shrubs between First Baptist Church and Community Building in Shawneetown
• Gallatin County Saddle 4-H Club (Gallatin County): Repair and Paint Announcer's Stand at Gallatin County Fairgrounds in Ridgway
• Show and Grow 4-H Club (Greene County): Plant Trees and Paint Sign at Berdan Baptist Church
• Barbwire Gang 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Make Gift Bags and Tags for Christmas Celebration in McLeansboro
• County Line Crew 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Repair and Refurbish Livestock Scales at Hamilton County Fairgrounds in McLeansboro
• Funny Farmers 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Plant Raised Bed Vegetable Garden at Dahlgren Elementary School
• Hamilton County 4-H Federation (Hamilton County): Construct Re-useable Game Booths for Christmas Celebration in McLeansboro
• Happy Harvesters 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Provide Landscaping Around Hamilton County Court House in McLeansboro
• Pioneer Country Kids 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Construct Outdoor Sink and Purchase Refrigerator McLeansboro GIFT Garden
• Piopolis Busy Bees 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Purchase American Flags Present at Patriotic Holiday Ceremonies in McLeansboro
• Silly Shamrocks 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Purchase and Distribute Prizes for Community Safety Day in McLeansboro.
• Hardin County FFA (Hardin County): Plant and Maintain Community Produce Garden for Residents of Elizabethtown
• Carbondale Community High School FFA (Jackson County): Compost Organic Waste at Carbondale Community High School
• Somerset Clovers 4-H Club (Jackson County): Provide Composting Bins in the 4-H and Community Gardens in Murphysboro
• Adventure & Lucky Clovers 4-H Clubs (Lawrence County): Add Safety Grade Mulch to Playground at Bridgeport Grade School
• Trailblazers 4-H Horse and Pony Club (Lawrence County): Refurbish and Plant Flowers at 4-H Horse Arena in Sumner
• Maroa-Forsyth FFA (Macon County): Reconstruct Community Welcome Sign in Maroa
• Clover Cadets 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Install Privacy Curtains at Community Pool in Virden
• Gillespie FFA Chapter (Macoupin County): Refurbish and Landscape Around Welcome Signs in Gillespie
• Omega Shamrocks 4-H Club (Marion County): Construct a Memorial Sidewalk in Omega
• Rock Creek 4-H Club (Menard County): Plant Sweet Corn to Distribute to Food Pantries in Menard and Sangamon Counties
• Pope County River Rats 4-H Club (Pope County): Plant Raised Beds in Eddyville Community Garden
• Red Bud FFA Chapter (Randolph County): Design and Construct Community Garden in Red Bud
• Lads & Lassies 4-H Club (Saline County): Repaint Playground Equipment and Construct Picnic Tables for Community Park in Galatia
• Island Grove 4-H Club (Sangamon County): Plant Flowers in Downtown New Berlin
• West Side 4-H Club (Sangamon County): Plant Trees at Sangamon County Fairgrounds; Spread Mulch at New Berlin Elementary School
• Williamsville FFA (Sangamon County): Provide Landscaping at Williamsville High School
• Hoyleton Boosters 4-H Club (Washington County): Repair Picnic Tables and Park Pavilion in Hoyleton
• Nashville Eager Beavers 4-H Club (Washington County): Collect Recyclable Plastic Lids to Make Benches for Washington County Fairgrounds in Nashville
• 76 Clovers 4-H Club (White County): Install Decorative Birdhouse in the Rebecca Turner Memorial Garden in Norris City
• Enfield Blue Ribbon 4-H Club (White County): Provide Healthy Lunches for Middle School Students in Enfield
• Grayville Go-Getters 4-H Club (White County): Provide Landscaping in Downtown Grayville and City Parks
• Mad Hatters 4-H Club (White County): Construct Landscaping Area at Guardian Center Entrance in Carmi

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Judy Mae Bingman, University of Illinois Extension Marketing and Communications Manager

Judy uses powerful words and photography to tell the Extension story. She is a skilled communication strategist and storyteller with demonstrated success in building teams and creating strong organizational brand identities that deepen Extension’s impact among key audiences, build brand loyalty, strengthen employee talent, and expand public engagement. She is a frequent conference presenter at the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference and helps Extension staff across the nation tell compelling stories.