4-H in Macoupin County

What's it like in 4-H?

In 4-H, you get to decide what topics and projects interest you most. You make 4-H what you want it to be. Work on many projects or focus on one or two. Choose what events sound fun to you, and do them. In 4-H, you have an important role in making your community a better place to live, but you don’t have to do it alone. As a club, you’ll figure out what’s needed most in your neighborhood and find ways to help.

In 4-H, you’re part of a family working together. At club meetings, you’ll learn how to get along with others as you build your skills and help your community. In 4-H, you’ll meet adults who care about you and want to help you succeed. 4-H matches you with mentors who will coach you in areas like problem solving, communicating, and teamwork. 4-H introduces you to potential careers and then gives you the training to get the career you want.

A walking trail with trees and greenery surrounding the path. A white 4-H clover in bottom right corner.

4-H Summer Hiking Club

Explore the great outdoors this summer. Join us as we venture out to several hiking trails in our unit. We will have a short presentation at each park, followed by walking the trails.

4-H Photography Workshop

This 4-H Youth Photography Workshop is designed to help young photographers enhance their skills by focusing on the critical elements of light and composition.

Youth Canning Class

Join us for a youth-centered hands-on workshop on how to make strawberry kiwi jam using pectin and safely preserving it through water bath canning. This class is great for kids new to canning or just looking for a refresher!

4-H Science Camp Wild Weather

Youth will investigate the science of extreme weather through interactive demonstrations and hands-on builds. This workshop will explore meteorology, practice scientific thinking, and discover how weather affects our world.

Wildflower Farm Tour and U-Pick

Join Whitney Vieths and Family at Wood Acres Farm & Flowers for the educational farm tour and then pick your very own bouquet of wildflowers to take home.

Newsletters

April 2026
March 2026
January/February 2026
December 2025
October 2025
September 2025
August 2025
June/July 2025
May 2025

Fairs and Shows

Please contact your local Extension office if you need a copy of the 2026 Showbook.

Awards

Macoupin County 4-H Program List 2023-2024
2024 Macoupin County Achievement
4-H Activity Record - This document is a good tool to keep track of everything the 4-H member has done throughout the program year. It is not required but is very useful when completing 4-H records at the end of the program year.
4-H Activity Report: EXAMPLE
4-H Experience Award Application: EXAMPLE
4-H Mapped Activity Report & Application: EXAMPLE

Scholarships

McAllister/Robinson Scholarship Application - The Macoupin County 4-H Foundation awards a scholarship to an outstanding 4-H member who is either a high school senior or freshman in college or trade school. The $500 scholarship is awarded at Achievement Night. Scholarship applications are due by September 15.

Required Trainings to Show Livestock

YQCA – Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (required for beef, dairy, goats, sheep, and swine)

QAEC – Quality Assurance and Ethics Certification (required for dog, cat, poultry, rabbit, small pet, and horse)

Due May 1 in order for you to show livestock at your local county 4-H fair.

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Do you know the history of Illinois 4-H?

Illinois 4-H has a strong history dating back to 1899 when William B. Otwell formed the first boy's corn club in Macoupin County, Illinois. Otwell is credited as a pioneer in 4-H. He was elected president of the Macoupin County Farmers Institute, which introduced farm and home topics and comparative classes for rural youth. To create more enthusiasm for the institute, he purchased the best seed corn he could buy, and approximately 500 boys in the county received one-ounce samples to plant in the spring. Otwell wrote to implement companies and breeders of livestock, asking for donations that would be used as premiums. The response was more than he expected. One implement manufacturing company sent cultivators, another sent windmills, an Angus breeder offered a cow, and other farmers donated hogs and sheep. The result was that over 500 boys and their families were at the courthouse on the opening day of the Farmers Institute.

National 4-H History Preservation Program (Earliest National Event)

More history of Macoupin County 4-H Illinois 4-H Alumni History

History of Macoupin County 4-H

In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act was passed in Congress authorizing the Cooperative Extension Service in each state land-grant college of agriculture. Due to Otwell's experience with getting youth involved in their community, Extension found one effective way to reach rural men and women was through working with their children. C. C. Coots from Palmyra organized the Union Pig Club, the first official 4-H club in Illinois. 13 members exhibited their swine projects, kept records, and received recognition certificates. The following year, 6,032 Illinois boys and girls were enrolled in 487 clubs. The club members learned about corn, pigs, calves, canning, sewing, and gardening.