4-H in Tazewell 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
Delavan
Delavan Aces
- Leader: Duane Lessen | 309-369-5477 | Email
East Peoria
Shamrocks | Meets: 2nd Monday of each month @ 6:30 p.m.
Green Valley
Green Valley Purple Ribbons & Toilers | Meets: days & times vary from month to month
- Leaders: George & Vivian Gerrietts | 309-696-7272 | Email
- Leader: Darlene Curry | 309-369-4250 | Email
Hopedale
Tazewell Country Club | Meets: alternates between 2nd Tuesday and 2nd Thursday of each month @ 6:30 p.m.
- Leader: Mary Springer | 217-433-4477 | Email
Mackinaw
Mackinaw Ridge Runners | Times and Locations vary, Mackinaw
- Leader: Joy Schwarting | 309-241-8069 | Email
Morton
4-H Quest Club | Meets: one Friday per month @ 3:30 p.m.
- Contact the U of I Extension office for complete details, 309-347-6614
Morton Helping Hands | Meets: 1st Monday of every month @ 7 p.m.
Tremont
Galloping Clovers | Meets:
- Leader: Diana Vannaken | 309-264-2268
Tremont Cloverbuds | Meets: 1st Monday of each month @ 3:30 p.m.
- Leader: Meg Koch | 309-397-8951 | Email
Tremont Co-op | Meets: 1st Monday of each month @ 7 p.m.
- Leader: Kelly Baer | 309-267-3547 | Email
Tremont Co-op Senior | Times and Location vary, Tremont
- Leader: Kassie Eitenmiller | Email
Special Interest (SPIN) Clubs
Horsin’ Around | Meets weekly late January through early April. Times and locations vary based on membership.
- Leader: Vera Betzelberger | 309-231-6375 | Email
Dogs | Anticipated to launch Spring 2025
- Leader: Alisha Conrad
Shooting Sports | Contact the U of I Extension office, Tazewell for details | 309-347-6614
- Archery
Central Illinois Riding Therapy | Website
- Leader: Jenna Walker | 309-699-3710 | Email
Resources
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 - 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)
- Memeber 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
Project Resources: Livestock Projects
- 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
- Required Trainings: Child Protection (ANCRA) and Overnight Chaperone
- Recommended Volunteer Trainings: Volunteer Orientation, Public Presentations, Parliamentary Procedures, Club Program Planning and many more
- Volunteer Application
Newsletters
County 4-H Newsletter - distributed every 3 months
Unit Eblast Newsletter - emailed every 2 weeks
- 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
- 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
- December 2023 Statewide Newsletter
- November 2023 Statewide Newsletter
Fairs and Shows
4-H Show Information
Project Submission Deadline: July 1, 2024 by 11:59 p.m using the FairEntry.com system
4-H Show Schedule
- Thursday, July 18, 2024—4-7 PM Clothing & Textiles Judging, Tazewell County Farm Bureau auditorium, Pekin
- Monday, July 22 , 2024—Creative Writing exhibits due to U of I Extension office for pre-judging review
- Saturday, July 27, 2024—8 AM Show Set Up—All exhibitors and families invited to help, Mineral Springs Park
- Monday, July 29 2024
- 7-10 AM Swine, Poultry, Sheep and Rabbit check in
- 9-11 AM General exhibit check in for some departments/projects
Cultural Arts Exhibit Hall: Plants & Soils; Crops; Communication Arts; Home & Family; Mechanical Sciences; Natural Resources & Environment & Animal Science; Clothing & Textiles
- 10-12 AM : Cultural Arts Exhibit Hall: Visual Arts-(exhibitors assigned judging time at check in)
- 9 AM Horses must be on the grounds
Exhibit interviews begin for most general exhibits - Plants & Soils, Crops; Communication Arts (excludes Photography); Home & Family; Mechanical Sciences (excludes Aerospace); Natural Resources
- 10 AM Swine, Poultry, Sheep and Rabbit must be on the grounds with Health Papers turned in
- Horses must be checked in
- Chalk Art in the 4-H Shelter
- Storytime with Miss LIzzi
- Noon Horse Show begins, Livestock Review Building
- Kona Ice and Dunk Tank begins
- 12:30 PM Early Visual Arts interviews for Horse exhibitors and 4-Hers bringing 4 or more V. A. exhibits
- 1 PM Visual Arts Judging for all others
- Classic games
- 1:30 PM Aerospace judging (exhibitors assigned judging time at check in)
- 5 PM Horse Grand Entry, Livestock Review Building
- General exhibit displays open to public (or once final interviews are concluded in each building)
- 6 PM Ice Cream Social in Veterans Memorial Arena
- 7 PM Grand Opening & Junior Fair Royalty Contest in Veterans Memorial Arena
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
- 7-10:30 AM Beef & Goat check in; optional Dairy check in
- 8 AM Poultry Show, Poultry/Rabbit Barn
- 8:30 AM Photography (exhibitors assigned judging time at check in on Monday)
- 9 AM Cloverbud project check in and interviews begin in Cultural Arts Exhibit Hall
- Foods & Nutrition project check in and interviews begin in Cultural Arts Exhibit Hall
- Noon-3 PM Dairy check in
- 1:30 PM Goat Show in Livestock Review Building
- 4 PM Dog Show in Livestock Review Building
- 4 PM Rocket Launch, Baseball Field behind Livestock Review Building
- 6 PM Livestock Parade & General Awards Presentation (Trophies & State Fair), Livestock Review Building
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
- 8 AM Swine Show in Livestock Review Building
- 9:30 AM Dairy Show in Livestock Review Building
- Cat Show in Veterans Memorial Arena
- 10 AM Cloverbud Stuffed Animal Show and Tell in Veteran’s Memorial Arena
- 10:30 AM Storytime with Miss Lizzi
- 11 AM Roboteers Demonstration
- Beef Show in Livestock Review Building
- 1 PM Sheep Show in Livestock Review Building
- Master Showmanship Contest immediately following Sheep Show
- STEM Activity with 4-H Educator, Emily Schoenfelder
- 2:30 PM Rabbit Show in Poultry/Rabbit Barn
- 5 PM State Fair Orientation in Veterans Memorial Arena
- 6 PM Youth Project Auction (with livestock released immediately following) in Livestock Review Bld.
- 7 PM General Projects Dismissed/ Show Clean Up—All exhibitors and families are asked to help