News releases

Local youth are 'Beyond Ready' this National 4-H Week
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – This week, Oct. 5-11, local communities are celebrating National 4-H Week to bring awareness and recognition of 4-H youth across the country.  The 4-H program began as an afterschool opportunity to help young people build...

Start selecting 2026 Illinois Performance Tested Sale bulls
URBANA, Ill. — Seedstock breeders should be identifying bulls they plan to consign to the 2026 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale. The IPT Bull Sale is the leadoff event for the annual Illinois Beef Expo in...

Illinois Extension staff spotlight: Emilia Elabed
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Each month University of Illinois Extension serving Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties sits down with an Extension staff member to discuss their work and impact in the community.  This month's spotlight follows...

Online and on the ground, new program empowers Illinois communities to tackle invasive species
URBANA, Ill. — When is the best time to remove invasive amur bush honeysuckle? Is it better to mow an invasion of teasel or treat it with an herbicide? What is the best way to get rid of tree of heaven?...

Youth sharpen their skills at 2025 Illinois 4-H shooting sports state competitions
Jacksonville, IL — The 2025 Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports State Competitions wrapped up this September, bringing together top youth marksmen from across the state in a series of events that showcased precision, skill, and sportsmanship. Held annually in late August and throughout September, the...

Study: 72% of Illinois wetlands no longer protected by federal Clean Water Act
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois once harbored more than 8 million acres of wetlands. By the 1980s, all but 1.2 million wetland acres had been lost, filled in for development or drained to make way for agriculture. Now, thanks to a 2023 Supreme Court decision, roughly 72% of the remaining 981,000...

Hunters Feeding Illinois returns
URBANA, Ill. — Hunters Feeding Illinois returns for its fourth season, in partnership with Feeding Illinois, Access Illinois Outdoors, ...

4-H youth are 'Beyond Ready': Grundy joins national celebration of leadership, learning, and service
MORRIS, Ill. — From fairgrounds to classrooms, community gardens to robotics labs, 4-H youth in Grundy County are proving they’re not just ready for the future, they’re Beyond Ready. During National 4-H Week, celebrated Oct. 5–11, local 4-H'ers will share how 4-H equips young people with the...

4-H youth are 'Beyond Ready': Will County joins national celebration of leadership, learning, and service
JOLIET, Ill. — From fairgrounds to classrooms, community gardens to robotics labs, 4-H youth in Will County are proving they’re not just ready for the future, they’re Beyond Ready. During National 4-H Week, celebrated Oct. 5–11, local 4-H'ers will share how 4-H equips young people with the...

4-H youth are 'Beyond Ready': Kankakee joins national celebration of leadership, learning, and service
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — From fairgrounds to classrooms, community gardens to robotics labs, 4-H youth in Kankakee County are proving they’re not just ready for the future, they’re Beyond Ready. During National 4-H Week, celebrated Oct. 5–11, local 4-H'ers will share how 4-H equips young people with...

Explore impact of local trees at Illinois Extension fall tree planting workshops
URBANA, Ill. — Communities with healthy, viable trees are more likely to have improved air quality, reduced stress, and added personal comfort for surrounding residents, nature, and wildlife. “As we all have recently felt, Midwest summers are hot, and trees are a crucial part of our...

Helping families cope when headlines are overwhelming, Illinois Extension offers tips
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – From dinner table discussions to bedtime worries, when the news is filled with stressful situations, it can impact the emotional and physical health of young people and families. University of Illinois Extension shares resources...

Illinois 4-H’er selected as runner up for national 4-H award
Dahinda, Ill. – National 4-H Council has named Ellis Rogers of Knox County a national runner up for the 2025 4-H Youth in Action Award. Rogers, 18, is recognized for her achievements and leadership in equine science. Ellis is a 10-year member of the Williamsfield Town and...

Asian longhorned ticks on the move, new detection found in Clay County
URBANA, Ill. — The invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) was recently detected in a new county in Illinois, representing the third county in which it has been found following its ...

Will County volunteers recognized at 50th Anniversary Master Gardener Conference
JOLIET, Ill. — Local volunteers leading impactful local projects did not go unnoticed at the 2025 University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Conference, held Sept. 4-5 in Springfield. "Local Master Gardener volunteers are helping others learn to grow and are making a...

National Science Foundation invests in U. of I. ACES-led project to reduce grassland fire risk
The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced new funding to understand and reduce grassland fire risk in the Southern Great Plains. The five-year project is being led by grassland fire expert...

Clues about vanishing whip-poor-wills uncovered at birds’ wintering grounds
URBANA, Ill. — Often heard and rarely seen, the Eastern Whip-poor-will and its namesake nighttime call is an iconic Midwestern woodland bird. But like many other insect-eating birds, its numbers are declining....

Sustaining a healthy world starts in your backyard
From your backyard to the global ecosystem, everything in nature is connected. A core University of Illinois Extension program area —...

Celebrate food safety month by exploring Extension resources
URBANA, Ill. — September marks National Food Safety Education Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of safe food handling practices across all food system sectors, from farm to table. Whether people grow, process, sell, donate, or consume food, everyone has a role in reducing...

Superior Young Dairy Producer Award marks 30 Years of scholarships
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The 2025 Superior Young Dairy Producer Award (SYDPA) program was held Aug. 16 at the Illinois State Fair. Twelve 4-H dairy project members from across Illinois competed in the event, which promotes youth development, career preparation, and personal growth through increased...