News Releases

U of I Extension honors volunteers and members
LEWISTOWN, Ill. - University of Illinois Extension will be hosting a Fall Celebration on Saturday, October 22 from 3 to 5 p.m. at City Kids Camp, located at 14253 Epworth Springs Rd., Lewistown, IL. "We are excited to kick off the new 4-H year with a program starting at 3 p.m," stated...
digging up invasive plants
Best way to estimate costs for invasive plant removal? Get out and dig
URBANA, Ill. – Plants are designed to travel. They might not stand up and walk, but many plants produce seeds or other bits that can be carried long distances by wind or animals and start growing. While that might be great news for the plant, escapes like these can disrupt natural ecosystems and...
loufa
Find gourds absorbing? Try growing a loofah sponge
URBANA, Ill. – Gardens can grow a variety of surprising things, but one item you wouldn’t expect to find growing next to beans and tomatoes is a loofah sponge. Still, one member of the Cucurbitaceae family does just that. While most people think a loofah sponge comes from the ocean or at...
bull
Nominate bulls for 2023 IPT Bull Sale
URBANA, Ill. – Breeders must nominate bulls by Dec. 1 for consideration to the 2023 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale. The sale will be Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield and includes old and young bulls. Young bulls must have calved between Jan. 1, 2021 and...
winners of 4-H shotgun contest
Teen competitors enjoy fun, fellowship on the range
BUNKER HILL, Ill. – The best teenage 4-H shotgun shooters from Illinois gathered to shoot a full 100 rounds of trap shooting at Brittany Shooting Park near Bunker Hill on Sept. 24. Sixty-four participants competed at this year’s event. While fall is a busy season for most youth,...
4-H archery winners
Teen competitors 'aim' for fun
PEKIN, Ill. – The best teenage 4-H archery shooters from the state competed recently at the State 4-H Archery competition held Sept. 17 in Pekin. Forty-seven shooters, alongside 4-H volunteers, spent a full day on the range shooting at three different scoring events including 3-D archery, field...
shovel digging up summer bulbs
Give summer-blooming bulbs a second chance, store them over winter
URBANA, Ill – Plants, such as cannas, caladiums, dahlias, elephant ears, gladiolus, and tuberous begonia, can make a great addition to the landscape. These plants are commonly referred to as tender bulbs or summer-blooming bulbs. Not all of them actually grow from bulbs, but this is what their...
man hunting with dog
As you hunt, look out for power lines and poles
Stay safe this hunting season in more ways than one SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Now that hunting season is upon us, Safe Electricity reminds hunters to survey their surroundings before aiming at the next big prize. Take a moment to look up and out for...
4-H fosters the sense of belonging necessary for wellbeing
Everyone has a fundamental need to feel a part of a group such as a family, a group of friends, or a team. In the 4-H world, it is referred to as a “sense of belonging.” Fostering a sense of belonging is one of the main priorities of the 4-H program within the Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit,...
group of 4-H volunteers honored
Outstanding volunteers honored at State Fair ceremony
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Outstanding 4-H volunteers were celebrated as part of the 2022 class of the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame at a ceremony held as part of the 4-H General Project Show at the Illinois State Fair...
4-H logo
Illinois 4-H invites alumni to join 4-H history project
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois 4-H is proud of the rich history of 4-H and the network of 4-H alums near and far. Alums of the Illinois 4-H program share a unique bond with over 25 million Americans across the country. Illinois 4-H has launched a new initiative for the Illinois 4-H History...
Teacher Tuesdays offers STEAM Resource Fair for educators
Good educators are some of the most valuable assets in our community. For years, Teacher Tuesdays has sought to provided support, encouragement, and connection to these educators. This year, Teacher Tuesdays will kick off its series of engaging workshops and professional development...