
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: 1st Saturday of every month
- Leader: Jennifer Miller | 309-349-0742 | Email
Morton Helping Hands | Meets: 1st Monday of every month @ 7 p.m.
- Leader: Peter Rummel | 574-253-3272 | Email
Tremont
Galloping Clovers | Meets: 3rd Monday of every month
- Leader: Diana Vannaken | 309-264-2268
- Ashley Hellemann | Email
Tremont Cloverbuds | Meets: 1st Monday of each month @ 3:30 p.m.
- Leader: Meg Koch | 309-397-8951 | Email
Tremont Co-op Junior | Meets: 1st Monday of each month @ 7 p.m.
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: Alycia Marek-Conrad
Shooting Sports | Contact the U of I Extension office, Tazewell for details | 309-347-6614
- Archery Leader: Daniel Wuthrich | 309-360-9881 | Email | Meets at Mineral Springs Park, Pekin
Central Illinois Riding Therapy | Website
- Leader: Jenna Walker | 309-699-3710 | Email
Junior Master Gardeners
- Leaders: Extension Master Gardeners Trudy Yazujiian, Janine Donahue and Ellen Denler
Junior Master Naturalists | 1st and 3rd Saturdays, March through September @ 1 p.m.
- Leader: Extension Master Naturalist Brittany Chambers
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
Fairs and Shows
4-H Show Information
Project Submission Deadline: July 1, 2025 by 11:59 p.m using the FairEntry.com system
4-H Show Schedule
- Thursday, July 17, 2025 —4:30 PM Clothing & Textiles Judging, Tazewell County Farm Bureau auditorium, Pekin
- Monday, July 21 , 2025—Creative Writing exhibits due to U of I Extension office for pre-judging review
- Saturday, July 26, 2025—8 AM Show Set Up—All exhibitors and families invited to help, Mineral Springs Park
- Monday, July 28, 2025
- 7-10 AM Swine, Poultry, Sheep and Rabbit check in
- 9 AM Horses check in
- 9 AM Exhibit interviews begin for ALL general exhibits (exhibitors assigned judging time at check-in for all depts.)
- 11 AM All General exhibits must be checked in
- Noon Horse Show begins, Livestock Review Building
- 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 29, 2025
- 7-10:30 AM Beef & Goat check in; optional Dairy check in
- 8 AM Poultry Show, Poultry/Rabbit Barn
- 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 30, 2025
- 8 AM Swine Show in Livestock Review Building
- 9:30 AM Dairy Show in Livestock Review Building
- Cat Show in Veterans Memorial Arena
- 11 AM Beef Show in Livestock Review Building
- 1 PM Sheep Show in Livestock Review Building
- Master Showmanship Contest immediately following Sheep Show
- 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

