Fostering grassroots involvement and building partnerships

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All Cook County Extension offices are open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM.
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Help to Define Our Future Plans

Your Voice Matters

To better serve you, we are thrilled to announce a countywide survey to understand the issues, interests, and educational needs of Cook County residents. Your input will help shape the future of our offerings, ensuring they are tailored to what matters most to you. Your responses are completely anonymous, and eligible participants can enter a drawing to win one of several prizes! Make your voice heard!

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A Strategic Path for Extension Impact

Throughout 2023 and early 2024, Illinois Extension engaged in a comprehensive planning process to refine and refresh its core priorities, goals, and paths to success.
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Recent News
Robotics team practices before competition.
Youth robotics competition celebrates the youth's creativity and ingenuity
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. ­– Youth from 22 teams across Illinois demonstrated their learning, celebrated their accomplishments, and interacted with others who share an interest in robotics at the 2025 4-H Robotics Competition, AiBot held at the Interstate Center on the McLean County Fairgrounds on May 3...
White fuzzy appearing specs that are mealybugs on a houseplant stem.
Keeping outside pests off indoor plants
URBANA, Ill. — Keeping houseplants is a hobby that has recently seen a huge resurgence. Now, nurseries that were all but shuttered for the winter are hosting houseplant parties and other events to help people keep their hands dirty all year.Tending to houseplants is a way to maintain our...
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Find a workshop that is right for you

4-H Community Health Family Life
Food and Nutrition Education SNAP-Ed Horticulture
Local Food Systems & Sm. Farms Nat. Resources, Envir., & Energy STEM
Popular Topics
Building a Culture of Composting
Conservation@Home
En Español
Gardening
Health
Master Gardeners
Master Naturalists
Master Urban Farmer Training Program
School Programs
Self-Care
Teacher Education
Urban Agriculture
Youth Programs

Dig Deeper

Topics we address
Agricultural Technology
Beef Cattle
Christmas Trees
Climate
Community Gardens
Community Planning
Composting
Container Gardens
Cottage Food
Crops
Diabetes
Disasters
Economic Development
Energy
Environmental Quality
Family
Farm Management
Firewood
Flowers
Food
Food Preservation
Food Safety
Forestry
Fruit Trees for Home Gardens
Health
Hemp
Herbs
Home Vegetable Gardening
Houseplants
Illinois Grasses
Insects
Invasives
Lawns
Livestock
Local Food Systems and Small Farms
Local Government Education
Mental Health
Mushrooms
Natural Resources
Nutrient Loss Reduction
Personal Finances
Plant Problems
Plants
Pumpkins
Rainfall Management
Regenerative Agriculture
Roses
Septic Systems
Small Fruits for Home Gardens
Soil
Specialty Crops
Thriving Youth
Ticks
Turkey
Vaccines
Weather
Wildlife
Youth Gardening

Check out Illinois Extension’s complete offerings

State Extension
Cook County

Willene Buffett
County Extension Director
University of Illinois Extension
8751 S. Greenwood Avenue, Suites 112-122
Chicago, IL 60619
Phone: 773-768-7779
FAX: 773-768-4818
wbuffett@illinois.edu