News Releases

Livestock Showmanship Clinic held at Fulton County Fairgrounds
LEWISTOWN, Ill. - Earlybird Nutrition, in partnership with Fulton County Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee and Fulton County 4-H, hosted a free Livestock Showmanship Clinic for all interested youth on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Lewistown. Robyn Hendel, Grant...

Against the Grain: Dr. Salah Issa on Innovating Ag Safety
URBANA, Ill. — Dr. Salah Issa’s career in agricultural safety began in an unexpected way. Starting out at a graduate program in Ecological Sciences and Engineering at Purdue University as a self-described “city kid”, he was unaware that agricultural engineering was even a career option. It wasn’...

Fulton County 4-H Public Speaking Contest and Performing Arts Show held 
LEWISTOWN, Ill. - The Fulton County 4-H Public Speaking Contest and Performing Arts Show were held on Saturday, March 28 at the Checkrow Community Church in rural Avon. 4-H members Josie Featherlin, Julia Jarvis, and Briley Mercer presented formal speeches, Max Mercer and Aaliyah Naff presented...

Extension assists farmers to navigate the challenging farm economy
HAVANA, Ill. - For the past decade, farm profits have been highly volatile making farm business planning difficult. Grain prices have been all over the board — down, up, and back down. Input costs have also been unstable. These and many other factors can create a lot of stress for producers....

Frequent prescribed burns help young oaks thrive despite invasive grasses, Illinois study finds
URBANA, Ill. — As winter comes to a close, many people look forward to warmer temperatures and spring blooms, but for land managers working to preserve or restore oak-dominated forests, it is prescribed burn...

Farm Drainage Series part 6: Repairing and maintaining farm tile systems
This article is not to be construed as legal advice. Consult with your legal advisor before entering tile agreements.HAVANA, Ill. - Contractors design modern farm drainage-tile installations to last for many decades. Some older systems are approaching and...

Teens step up to lead: Illinois 4-H ready to expand Teen Teachers Program to prepare youth for the future
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois 4-H is expanding its nationally recognized Teen Teachers program through a competitive grant opportunity from National 4-H Council and Lilly Endowment Inc., positioning young people across the state to be beyond ready for college, careers and community leadership....

Celebrate spring’s arrival with new Illinois Extension Four Seasons Gardening webinars
URBANA, Ill. — Springtime brings visions of beautiful butterfly gardens and dreams of delicious vegetable varieties growing in a garden or porch pots outside the window.Garden planning and the countdown to a new growing season continue with two new webinars...

After the storm: Illinois Extension shares resources for storm recovery, rebuilding, disaster preparedness
URBANA, Ill. — After strong storms swept across much of Illinois, many communities are facing damaged property and stressful situations. The hours and days following a major storm are often filled with urgent questions. Residents can navigate those decisions using research-based resources from...

Farm Drainage Series Part 5:  Challenges installing drainage tile mains – railroads, highways, and others
This article is not to be construed as legal advice. Consult with your legal advisor before entering tile agreements.HAVANA, Ill. - Installing the necessary drainage tile on your farm often requires a tile main to direct water through an underground drain tile system and then...

4-H food decorating workshop sweetens skills for local youth
LEWISTOWN, Ill. - This winter, Fulton County 4-H offered an appetizing adventure for young creators—a food decorating workshop designed to help youth express their artistic flair through frosting and fun. Part of the 4-H Visual...

Livestock Showmanship Clinic to be held
LEWISTOWN, Ill. - EarlyBird Nutrition, in partnership with Fulton County Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee, and Fulton County 4-H, will host a free Livestock Showmanship Clinic for all interested youth on Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 1 – 3 p.m. at the Fulton County Fairgrounds, located at 1325...

See safety in action at Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week Kickoff event in Urbana
URBANA, Ill. — What began as an idea from agricultural industry groups to help ensure safety in the workplace has now become a nationwide movement. Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week takes place March 30 through April 6, and the 2026 Illinois kickoff...

2026 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale returns record-high results
URBANA, Ill. — Strong results continue at the 2026 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale held on Feb. 19 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The sale averaged $7,284 on 37 lots, setting an all-time record high average for the sale."The...

ACES marks 150 years of the Morrow Plots, our nation's oldest research field
URBANA, Ill. — A lot has changed on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus since its founding in 1867, but a storied plot of land near the south quad has been preserved nearly intact for a century and a half....

Illinois Extension supports rural communities with a business transition plans series
URBANA, Ill. — Across the United States, many small-business owners are approaching retirement without a clear plan for what comes next. Although these entrepreneurs have spent decades building companies that support local jobs and services, many are unaware of succession options beyond...

4-H officer and leader training strives to grow stronger 4-H clubs through shared leadership
Positive youth development starts with providing a safe, welcoming environment. 4-H clubs led by caring volunteers are a key component of a successful 4-H program. The 4-H staff serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell...

Fulton 4-H Shooting Sports to hold spring session
University of Illinois Extension announces that the Fulton County 4-H Shooting Sports Program will begin its spring session on April 8, 2026. Registration materials are available online at go.illinois.edu/ssfultonenrollment , or...

Small Business Growth series offered locally
Many small business owners start their business believing their hard work will make it successful. Then over time, they realize the need for other pieces of information to help them make better and more profitable decisions.  That other information is the basis of the upcoming “Small...

Illini Summer Academies connect youth with University of Illinois faculty, facilities, and futures
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois youth will step into college life, cutting-edge research, and career exploration this summer through Illini Summer Academies (ISA), hosted June 21–25, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.Led by Illinois 4-H, ISA offers high school...