News Releases

People crouched around a raised garden bed with vegetables growing in it. One woman is taking notes.
Get inspired to get growing at regional garden days
URBANA, Ill. — Imagine picking fresh fruit off a tree in your backyard. Or snipping fresh herbs from a potted plant growing on your windowsill for a family meal. Gardening is an adventure, and each spring is a new opportunity to grow. Whether your garden is a few houseplants by a window...
ladies serving cake at a bazaar
Serve It Safely: Food Handlers Course
Selling and serving food remains a popular fundraising activity for many community groups. If you belong to a service club, church group, youth group, special interest club, or any non-profit organization, chances are good that you sell food. Any time your group sells food, it is essential to...
4 photos of food prep in a certified kitchen
Become a Certified Food Protection Manager
Do you currently have a position handling food, or are you looking for a job in the food industry? If so, consider becoming a Certified Food Protection Manager. The Illinois Department of Public Health requires retail food establishment managers to obtain an American National Standards...
corn with a sunrise
Farm Forward: Turning Last Season’s Challenges Into Next Season’s Triumphs
Join University of Illinois Extension Crop Sciences Educator Kathryn Seebruck for the first year of her series “Farm Forward: Turning Last Season’s Challenges Into Next Season’s Triumphs”. This monthly series aims to address the needs of row crop producers and will be rotated between Jo Daviess...
two teens at summer camp
Northern Illinois 4-H Summer Camp – Change Your Child’s Life!
Registration for the Northern Illinois 4-H Summer Camp 2024 is now open! The camp will be held from June 9-13, 2024, at Rock River Christian Camp, Polo, IL. This five-day, four-night residential camping experience is conducted cooperatively by University of Illinois Extension staff in Boone,...
paint colors with boxes of pencils to create
4-H Pixel Pioneers unveils a vibrant canvas for creativity
Typography…CMYK…PNG…what does it all mean? Youth ages 8-18 years old will delve into the digital realm during 4-H Pixel Pioneers Virtual SPIN club. Participants will explore color theory, typography, brand recognition, logos, layout basics, and more. Sessions will take place on Zoom,...
birds in the winter at all different kinds of feeders
Uncover the Wonders of Winter Birding 101 at Savanna Library
Bird lovers of all ages are invited to delve into the enchanting world of Winter Birding 101 at the Savanna Library on Tuesday, February 20, starting at 5:00 PM. Hosted by the Carroll County Master Gardeners, this hands-on lesson promises an evening filled with insight, creativity, and a touch...
lilac bushes
Secure Your Spot for the Ready…Set…Grow… Gardening Workshop!
Garden enthusiasts, rejoice! University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners of Carroll, Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside Counties are thrilled to announce the much-anticipated return of the "Ready…Set…Grow…" gardening workshop on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Loveland Community Building in Dixon...
bee in bee hotel
Check-in your bee hotel to support pollinator research
URBANA, Ill. — Bee hotels buzz with activity, but is it the right kind? A graduate student at University of Illinois is researching bees and needs help, in the form of donated used bee hotels, from the public to understand if these man-made nests are helping or harming bee populations in...
strawberries
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grants Available
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announces $6.4 million in competitive grant funds will be available for projects designed to help strengthen the state’s food supply chain. The program, Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program (RFSI), is a cooperative...