4-H members learns life, career skills at state poultry competition
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Judging contests help kids improve their decision-making skills while teaching them to defend those decisions by giving voice to their reasoning. Poultry judging teaches standards of poultry and egg production to ensure a safe and nutritious consumer product. Youth from...
Build privacy with plants for secret gardens
URBANA, Ill. — Plants serve a lot of purposes in the landscape. One of which is to add some privacy. Screening plants can help define and give purpose to a space. Homeowners may wish to screen a particular area or transparency in the landscape, creating interest in what lies beyond.
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Extraordinary 4-H volunteers honored
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois 4-H empower and prepare youth for success as the program relies on its more than 6,000 volunteers to fill key leadership and mentoring roles. Fifty-three volunteers were recently honored by Illinois 4-H for their selfless dedication to the University of Illinois...
Prophetstown Food Pantry Receives Gold Certificate of Achievement
The Prophetstown Food Pantry was presented the Gold Certificate of Achievement for its outstanding work with Illinois Extension staff, making sustainable changes to its food pantry environment using the Nutrition Environment Food Pantry Toolkit. The toolkit is a policy, systems, and...
Brain Health Class offered at Thomson Library This Fall
Engage in interactive activities designed to enhance cognitive function and memory in Wits Fitness Brain Exercises offered by University of Illinois Extension. The monthly classes are held on Thursdays at the York Township Public Library, 1005 W Main St, Thomson, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m....
Lee County Master Gardeners Present Series at Winfred Knox Memorial Library
Want to enjoy exploring gardening all year long? Are you interested in how vanilla beans are used in ice cream? Or ever wondered about using old milk jugs as a greenhouse? How about finding out about sundials? Join the Lee County Master Gardeners and the Winifred Knox Memorial Library as they...
Giddy Up and Go to Sterling Public Library
Have you ever wondered what 14 hands high means? Or what’s the purpose of a bridle? Explore the basics of horse behavior, breeds, and safety around horses through various activities during 4-H’s Giddy Up and Go event on Monday, September 18th, from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the Sterling Public...
Educator helps youth discover passions through 4-H experiences
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois 4-H strives to unlock the potential in every young person, helping them to dream, plan, design, build, and achieve. Around the state, University of Illinois Extension 4-H youth development staff help guide the next generation of leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs....
Money management strategies to help young adults achieve financial wellness
College can be an exciting time of self-discovery and growth, but it's also a time to face new financial challenges that produce anxiety and stress. To manage this, it's best to start early to build good financial habits that will ensure a solid future, learn how to make the most of financial...
Make flowers and memories last forever with drying for design
URBANA, Ill. — A great way to enjoy flowers with family and friends is to harvest and preserve them. The popularity of dried and pressed flowers has turned an old hobby into a renewed interior design and art trend. Who has not pressed that lucky four-leaf clover between a couple of pages of a...
How to grow tropical ginger for at-home spice
URBANA, Ill. — Growing fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs in the backyard can seem like a lot of work, but at the end of the season, the bountiful, tasty harvest is worth it. The International Herb Association named ginger (Zingiber officinale) the...
Local 4-H youth ready to exhibit their knowledge, skills at Lee County 4-H Fair
AMBOY, Ill-- Local 4-H participants “learn by doing,” and the fair is their opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have gained throughout their time in 4-H as they display their projects.
4-H judging will begin Thursday, July 27, and run through...
Monarchs on the Move flies into Henry C. Adams Memorial Library
Have you ever wondered where monarchs go in the winter? Or the challenges they face to survive? Youth ages 8 – 12 will gain answers to these questions and more on August 14th from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the Henry C. Adams Memorial Library in Prophetstown. During this free, one-hour program, each...
Want more from your garden? Plant a fall crop of cucumbers
URBANA, Ill. — It’s the middle of summer, and you are looking for a new home project. Did you know it is not too late to plant some vegetable plants? With proper care, many vegetables are easy to grow in a sunny location in your backyard or a container garden on a patio. Take the challenge and...
Elevate your expectations with raised bed gardening
URBANA, Ill. — Whether for convenience or accessibility, raised beds are a popular option for growing fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants. Raised bed structures elevate the soil, and with it comes a variety of advantages for growing plants.
Using raised beds may allow gardening in...
Care for perennial gardens with 3 proven pruning methods
URBANA, Ill. — Pruning perennial flowers takes a garden from looking fair to well-kept. Deadheading, cutting back, and pinching are all pruning techniques that can keep perennial plants looking well cared for and healthy.
Pruning perennials is a complex topic because different plants...
Youth demonstrate expert equine knowledge in hippology contest
Urbana, Ill. – In 4-H, learning about horses means much more than learning to ride. Young people with a passion for horses participated in recent statewide educational contests related to the equine industry. 4-H’s educational programs enhance members’ knowledge of horse health, breed...
