4-H in Peoria County
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.
Check out these local 4-H clubs
Brimfield
Jubilee Patriots | Meets: 3rd Sunday each month @ 6 – 7:30 p.m.
- Leader: Robin Forney | 309-231-3793 | Email
- Leader: Jennifer Slayton | 309-712-4131 | Email
- Leader: Mary Plumer | 309-678-4530 | Email
Chillicothe
Chillicothe Youth on Fire | Contact leader for meeting dates and times
- Leader: Samantha Relaford | Email
Dunlap
Dunlap Dynamite | Meets: 4th Sunday each month @ 3 pm
- Leader: Karen Carter | 243-1152 | Email
Elmwood
Elmwood All-Stars | Meets: 3rd Sunday each month @ 6:00-7:30 pm
- Leader: Missy Stevens | 565-4969 | Email
Kickapoo
Kickapoo Kickers | Meets: 2nd Tuesday each month @ 6 - 7:30 pm
- Leader: Colleen Callahan | 309-208-1209 | Email
“Neighbor Kids” Dairy Club | Meets: 4th Tuesday each month @ 7:00 - 8:30 pm
- Leader: Fred Rosenbohm | 697-4041 | Email
Midnight Riders | Meets: 1st Sunday each month @ 1:30 pm
- Leader: Peggy Kreichgauer | 309-232-6372 | Email
- Leader: Anne McNutt | 309-645-5018
Laura
Laura Winners | Meets: 3rd Sunday each month @ 5:00 pm
- Leader: Carol Cowser | 678-4495 | Email
- Leader: Karla Smith | 645-4282 | Email
- Leader: Suzanne Gill | 231-5049 | Email
- Leader: Erin Murphy | 309-922-1122
Peoria
Peoria Clovers | Meets: 2nd Sunday each month @ 1 - 3 pm
- Leader: Beth Parry | Email
Princeville
Edelstein Eager Beavers | Meets: 3rd Monday each month @ 6 pm
- Leader: Mary Hermann
- Leader: Hannah Martin | 309-657-9763 | Email
Special Interest (SPIN) Clubs
Wildlife Prairie Park 4-H Learning Garden | Facebook Group
- Meets once a month January through May and then various days during planting, growing and harvesting seasons
- Leader: May Bach, Extension Master Gardener and Master Naturalist | Email
Shooting Sports | Spring and Fall sessions
- Archery
Dog Obedience | Summer session leading up to 4-H Show
- Contact U of I Extension office, Peoria for complete details | 309-685-3140
Newsletters
County 4-H Email updates - distributed at least once a month
County 4-H Quarterly Newsletter
- Winter 2024
- Fall 2024
- Summer 2024
- Spring 2024
Unit Eblast Newsletter - emailed every 2 weeks
- December 2024 Unit 4-H Happenings eblast newsletter Dec. 6
- November 2024 Unit 4-H Happenings eblast newsletter Nov. 8 Nov. 22
- October 2024 Unit 4-H Happenings eblast newsletter Oct 25
- September 2024 Unit 4-H Happenings eblast newsletter Sept 13 Sept 27
- August 2024 Unit 4-H Happenings eblast newsletter Aug 2 Aug 16
- July 2024 Unit 4-H Happening eblast newsletter July 5 July 19
- June 2024 Unit 4-H Happenings eblast newsletter June 7 June 21
- May 2024 Unit 4-H Happenings eblast newsletter May 10 May 24
- April 2024 Unit 4-H Happenings eblast newsletter April 12 April 26
- March 2024 Unit 4-H Happenings eblast newsletter March 1 March 29
- February 2024 Unit 4-H Happenings eblast newsletter Feb. 2 Feb. 16
- January 2024 Unit 4-H Happenings eblast newsletter Jan. 5 Jan. 19
Statewide Newsletter - emailed every month
- December 2024 Statewide Newsletter
- November 2024 Statewide Newsletter
- October 2024 Statewide Newsletter
- September 2024 Statewide Newsletter
- August 2024 Statewide Newsletter
- July 2024 Statewide Newsletter
- June 2024 Statewide Newsletter
- May 2024 Statewide Newsletter
- April 2024 Statewide Newsletter
- March 2024 Statewide Newsletter
- February 2024 Statewide Newsletter
- January 2024 Statewide Newsletter
Resources
Awards - County
- Club of Year Application
- Doris Schoenbein Award Application and Scoresheet
- I Dare You Award
- James Daugherty Award Application and Scoresheet
- Jason Coulter Memorial Award Application
- Bob Forney Memorial Award Application
- Bob Forney/Jubilee Patriots Memorial Scholarship Application
- Cathy Ludolph Opportunity Scholarship
- Leadership Scholarship Application and Scoresheet
- Reporter Award Application
- S-W Kiwanis Leadership and Community Service Award Application
- Year Focus Award Application
- Tips for Preparing Your Year Focus
Awards - County Educational PowerPoints: Download the files from this online shared folder.
- Click through these PowerPoint slides to gain insights and helpful tips to completing your Peoria 4-H award applications.
Awards - State: Visit the Illinois 4-H website for 4-H member and club awards available at the state level
- 4-H Club Recognition
- Illinois 4-H Experience Award for Individuals
- Holstein-Friesian Association Award
- Illinois 4-H Electricity Achievement Award
- Illinois 4-H Sustaining the Future Award
- Scholarships
Club Resources - County
Club Resources - State: Visit the Illinois 4-H website for Club Meeting Resources
- Checklist for Club Officers
- Club Meeting Agenda Template
- Club Treasurer Book
- Club Secretary Book
- Tips for Good Meetings
- Club Fundraising Request Form (click on Fiscal tab)
- and more
Enrollment Resources - County
Enrollment Resources - State: Visit the Illinois 4-H Member Resources page
- Agreement to Assume Risk form (also in Spanish)
- Annual Code of Conduct Form (also in Spanish)
- Member Emergency Medical Form (also in Spanish)
- Member & Volunteer Photo, Audio, & Video Permission Form (also in Spanish)
Project Resources: Visit the Illinois 4-H Member Resources page, scroll down to record forms
- Livestock Records
- Crops Records
- Activities Planning Record
- Project Plans for various age groups
- and more
- Cloverbud Record form used in Peoria County
Project Resources: Livestock and Other Animal Projects
- Livestock Lease Form
- Cat Vaccination Form
- Quality Assurance & Ethics training - to be completed, online, one time for 4-H members exhibiting dogs, cats, rabbits, poultry and horse projects
web.extension.illinois.edu/qaec/
- Youth for Quality Care for Animals training - to be completed, online or in-person, annually for 4-H members exhibiting beef, sheep, swine, goats and dairy projects.
***in-person trainings are available during the late spring and early summer months and include a $3 fee
***online training is available year-round and includes a $12 fee | yqcaprogram.org/
Volunteer Resources
- Volunteer Application
- Shooting Sports Volunteer Application
- Required Trainings: Child Protection (ANCRA) and Overnight Chaperone
- Recommended Volunteer Trainings: Volunteer Orientation, Public Presentations, Parliamentary Procedures, Club Program Planning and many more
Fairs and Shows
Project Submission Deadline: June 15, 2023 by 11:59 p.m.
2024 Judging Dates:
- Saturday, June 22, Grayhorse Farm
- Horse Show, 9 a.m. (4-Hers check in 8 a.m.)
- Wednesday, July 10 – Exposition Gardens, Peoria
- 9:30 a.m. General projects – 9:30 a.m.
- 10 a.m. Cat Show
- 1:00 p.m. Dog Show
- Thursday, July 11
- 9:00 a.m. Rabbit Show, (Sheep Barn)
- 10:00 a.m. Poultry Show (Sheep Barn)
- 6:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies
- Friday, July 12
- 8:00 a.m. Sheep Show-Ladies & Gents Class Lead (Junior Livestock Building)
- Fleece Show (at the conclusion of the Sheep Show)
- 8:00 a.m. Barrow and Cross Gilt Weigh-In (Sheep Barn)
- Goat Show Follows Sheep Show
- Swine Show Follows Goat Show
- Beef Show Follows Swine Show
- Master Showmanship WILL BE DURING THE CHALLENGE SHOWMANSHIP FOR EACH SPECIES
- 1:30 p.m. Dairy Show
- 5 p.m. Pork Chop Dinner
- 5:30 p.m. Fashion Review
- 7:00 p.m. Livestock Auction