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Scott Irwin

Extension mindset leads ACE professor to earn LinkedIn Top Voice title

URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaignprofessor Scott Irwin recently became part of a prestigious group of social media users — earning the LinkedIn Top Voice title. The recognition draws attention to the ways Irwin takes his Extension mindset to social media.

The…

Michelle Norberto-Whipple

Illinois Extension welcomes experienced 4-H educator to Springfield office

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension introduced Michelle Norberto-Whipple as the 4-H educator serving the Springfield metro area earlier this year.

“We are very excited to welcome Norberto-Whipple to Extension. She brings with her over 20 years of classroom experience…

Road Trip attendees look at a presenter.

Illinois youth attend first 4-H post-high school success conference

URBANA, Ill. — Over 140 eighth through 12th graders from across Illinois headed to the Illini Union on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus for a 4-H College and Career Road Trip. This dynamic conference was aimed at preparing Illinois youth for the journey into higher education…

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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...
trophy with 4-H logo
Illinois 4-H’er selected as runner up for national 4-H award
LITCHFIELD, Ill. – Elaan Bader from Litchfield is a runner up for the 2023 4-H Youth in Action Award for Agriculture. Bader is recognized nationally for her dedication to pollinator education and environmental benefits. Elaan attributes the spark she has for agriculture and the global...
bean field
Explore agriculture technology to inform the future of digital ag
URBANA, Ill. – The agriculture industry is changing – driverless full-sized tractors can till fields and robots are milking cows and feeding calves. New digital farming technologies like robots and autonomous field equipment are coming out every day. But these labor-saving machines have also...
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...
trees damaged by storm
Prepare your trees for severe weather
URBANA, Ill. – Spring showers, summer thunderstorms, a winter dusting of snow; these are familiar weather events for Midwesterners, but as climate changes so do weather events. Extreme weather is increasing in Illinois. Over the past 120 years, significant changes have occurred that are...
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...
Pictured (L to R): Drew Lueking, Clinton County, Alaina Dinderman, Stephenson County, and Alaina Dinderman, Stephenson County
Educational contest increases knowledge of the dairy industry
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The 2022 Superior Young Dairy Producer Award program was held August 20 at the Illinois State Fair. Twenty 4-H dairy project members from across Illinois took part in the event, which is held each year to create an educational activity that promotes youth development, career...
man watching for bats in the woods
Bats’ midnight snacks reveal clues for managing endangered species
URBANA, Ill. – How do we bring threatened and endangered animals back from the brink? The task is never easy or simple, but one thing is undeniably true: If we don’t understand these animals and what they need to survive, we have little chance of success. Saving bats, then, is arguably a...
lettuce greens
Stretch out the growing season with fall planted salad greens
URBANA, Ill. – When people think of fall, harvesting salad greens rarely comes to mind; however, late summer is a terrific time for gardeners to begin planting lettuce, arugula, endive, or other leafy greens for salads says Nancy Kreith...
black eyed susans
Extend the season with fall flowers for your beds, borders, and containers
URBANA, Ill. – Fall blooming plants extend the season of our gardens after many plants have dried up or are done blooming for the year. They are also a much-needed food source for pollinators who are still foraging and getting ready for winter. Prolong the floral show in your yard with...
get savvy financial webinar Grow the Green Stuff
Build money management skills early for a solid financial future
URBANA, Ill. — Building positive money habits early in life paves the way for long-term financial stability, but navigating topics such as spending, saving, investing, and managing debt can feel overwhelming, especially for young adults who are tackling financial responsibilities for the first...
man in field with smart phone
Soil forecasting project seeks survey input for app development
URBANA, Ill. – For farmers and agribusiness leaders, accessing reliable and timely soil condition data can drive important soil management decisions that affect both short- and long-term production success.   A research collaboration between University of Illinois and University of...

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