Eat more fruits and vegetables with the help of your local farmers market
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – For Illinois residents who fall within the one in 10 American adults who don’t eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, farmers markets offer the chance for consumers to up their fruit and vegetable intake while supporting local farmers....
Families urged to jump-start a healthy summer with 4-H and Walmart
MARSHALL, ILL. –Rural communities, minorities, and other underserved communities are at a higher risk of being affected by food insecurity and nutritional deficiency. Summer is a great time for all families to set new goals to eat healthier and exercise more as part of the...
Will you save a life? Register to support farm mental health efforts
URBANA, Ill. – America's farm families are paying a heavy mental toll as they deal with unpredictable weather, variable input costs, long work hours, and unpredictable commodity prices. A gap exists between farm families and the resources they need to keep them safe....
Youth make their mark in the livestock industry
URBANA, Ill.— Illinois teens gained hands-on experience in the livestock field in this year’s Illinois 4-H Junior Livestock Conference in April.
Youth were able to practice real-world skills in one of...
Garden smarter, not harder: Free online Four Seasons Gardening series open
URBANA, Ill. – The growing season is in full swing and University of Illinois Extension’s Four Seasons Gardening summer series starting in June is here to help home gardeners be successful.
Four Seasons Gardening is one of Illinois...
As boomer populations retire, communities can foster age-friendly opportunities
URBANA, Ill. – By 2030, AARP estimates one in five people will be 65 or older, with that number growing to 77 million by 2034. Local government and community leaders hoping to attract this large population can...
Tomato Production
CARMI, Ill. - Do you have a backyard garden and want to learn more about growing tomatoes?
Join University of Illinois Extension Educator Bronwyn Aly to learn more about the basics of growing tomatoes, including variety selection, transplant production, pruning and trellising techniques...
Keep yourself, loved ones safe from invisible electrical dangers
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Every year, 1,000 people die, and 30,000 people are injured in electrical accidents. While electricity typically transmits without incident, there are times when the electrical path becomes disrupted. When this happens, the current can flow through anything or anyone in its...
Award honors outstanding youth leadership in ag industry
URBANA, Ill. – The 4-H Sustaining the Future Award was created to recognize 4-H members who have exemplified outstanding leadership in the agricultural industry. The leadership achievements of Illinois 4-H members were...
State 4-H Hippology contest fosters passion for all things equine
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 state educational contests related to the equine industry. 4-H’s educational programs enhance members’ knowledge of horse health, breed...
Darla Bradham joins Illinois Extension Master Gardener Program
For the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program, the last four decades can be measured by the millions of volunteer hours given to help bring horticultural help to communities across the state.
This year marks the 46th anniversary of the Illinois Master Gardener program...
Little Roots Gardening Program for Tag-A-Longs
Edwards County 4-H Tag-A-Longs, ages 5-7, met at the Extension office on Saturday, April 17, for a Little Roots Gardening Workshop. The attendees made “growing” bracelets and learned about the six basic elements’ plants need to grow and thrive. The next activity that was completed was a...
Volunteers at the heart of Illinois 4-H
Urbana, Ill. – Volunteers play a vital role in supporting 4-H youth clubs and programming. University of Illinois Extension’s 4-H youth development program honors its 6,000 volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 18-24.
“Our...
Edible wild mushrooms are more than just your next meal
URBANA, Ill. – Every spring, enthusiastic woodland hunters scour forests across Illinois in search of an elusive and delectable fungi, the morel.
Determined foragers delight in the thrill of harvesting wild morel mushrooms, Morchella spp, that can’t be bought at a grocery...
