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4-H in Macoupin County

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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.

4-H Pastry Making Workshop

Learn the basics of baking pastries. Youth will prepare six mini pastries to take home and bake.

A person using a cell phone to take an image of a fall scenery. A white 4-H clover is on the bottom left.

4-H Fall Photo Contest

Capture the beauty of fall and put your photography skills to the test by entering the 4-H unit-wide photo contest by taking a fall-themed photo!

Get into the holiday spirit and use nature's bounty to help you build a beautiful wreath. Natural materials such as fresh evergreens, foliage, pinecones, berries, and more will be provided.

Newsletters

October 2026
September 2026
May 2026
April 2026
March 2026
January/February 2026
December 2025

Awards

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.

Otwell's Farmer Boys national roundup of corn growing contestants in 1905 in Carlinville

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)

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.