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Plan for 2027 growing season with expert information from Illinois Extension at the Greater Peoria Farm Show

November 13, 2026

PEORIA, Ill. — Meet with University of Illinois Extension agriculture experts and learn about the latest research affecting farms while attending the Greater Peoria Farm Show. Show attendees can visit the Illinois Extension booth during show hours on Tuesday, Dec. 1 and Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 9…

November 5, 2026

URBANA, Ill. — Build trust and lead with experience, safety, awareness, and knowledge to help ensure safer pesticide application with training from the Pesticide Safety Education Program at University of Illinois Extension. Sign up for an in-person training and testing clinic offered across…

Policy program creates unexpected path to community and career impact

November 2, 2026

CHICAGO — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumna Elizabeth Gutierrez calls her immersive Illini Science Policy Program experience both exciting and atypical.

In 2022, the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation in Chicago had just hired its first executive director…

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May 26, 2026

From training to table: Extension programs strengthen school nutrition
URBANA, Ill. — School meal programs play an important role in helping students stay healthy and ready to learn. To make sure these meals are safe and nutritious, school nutrition staff need regular training.Federal rules by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010...

A brown with a pink stripe hummingbird moth using its proboscis to collect nectar from a pink zinnia flower.

May 22, 2026

Add sunshine and new Illinois Extension Four Seasons Gardening webinars to summer
URBANA, Ill. — Summer activities around the garden can be fun and a way to spend a little more time outside. Take a break from the sun to watch two new webinars from University of Illinois Extension’s ...

People riding on a seated trailer being pulled around a field day event by a green tractor.

May 15, 2026

ACES Agronomy Days series returns to University of Illinois
With summer just around the corner, Agronomy Days will soon return to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The season-long series teaches Illinois growers the latest...

Three of the winners pose with their certificates.

May 14, 2026

From frosting to future skills: Illinois 4-H youth showcase creativity and confidence in state cake decorating competition
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois 4-H youth put their creativity, planning, and presentation skills to the test during the 2026 State Cake Decorating Competition on May 7 at Bevier Hall on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.The high-energy, live competition brought together youth...

May 14, 2026

Hunters Feeding Illinois provides 138,900 servings of lean protein to families across 48 counties
URBANA, Ill. — At a time when grocery costs are high, Hunters Feeding Illinois distributed 46,366 pounds of lean protein to food pantries across Illinois during the 2025-26 hunting season. This provided an estimated 138,900 meals in 48 counties....

May 12, 2026

Delve into water quality research at Dudley Smith Farm Field Day
PANA, Ill. — To help area agricultural producers learn about the latest research on water quality, conservation practices, and related topics, the Dudley Smith Initiative is hosting a research plot tour this June with...

May 12, 2026

New name, same high-impact learning: Illinois 4-H Dish Dash challenges youth to think on their feet in the kitchen
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois youth put their culinary creativity and teamwork to the test during the newly renamed Illinois 4-H Dish Dash, held May 7 at Bevier Hall on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. The event had had 20 teams compete across two different sessions, with a total of...

A group of people watching an Extension educator demonstrate flying a spray drone near a farm field.

May 11, 2026

Explore key benefits, challenges of using agricultural drones at Illinois Extension field day
URBANA, Ill. — Technology continues to advance and modernize today’s farming practices. Drone use in farming has gained steady traction and interest, particularly in the application of agricultural inputs such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.Attendees can learn more at a field-...

Green leafy stemmed Asian copperleaf plant in a farm field

May 6, 2026

Novel Illinois weed species, Asian copperleaf, identified in northern Illinois
URBANA, Ill. — Corn and soybean farmers should be scouting for a new weed this upcoming growing season. According to University of Illinois crop experts, Asian copperleaf (Acalypha australis) was identified in a field in Stephenson County in...

May 5, 2026

From judging to food systems: 4-H youth build real-world skills at poultry contest
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois 4-H members demonstrated their poultry evaluation skills during the 2026 Illinois 4-H Poultry Judging Contest held April 28 on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.The annual contest provides youth with hands-on experience...

A group of people in the woods watch a man demonstrate something

May 5, 2026

Find solutions for managing plant pests with hands-on training in Introduction to Invasive Species Management course
URBANA, Ill. — When it comes to managing invasive plants, having hands-on experience can be the difference between stopping an invasion before it takes hold and watching a single species overrun a forest. This...

Youth Leadership Team members pose in front of leaf balloons.

May 4, 2026

Illinois 4-H Junior Leadership Conference builds confidence, leadership skills in young teens
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Nearly 90 seventh and eighth-grade youth learned ways to improve their leadership skills at the 2026 4-H Junior Leadership Conference (JLC) held March 7-8 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. This event is planned and hosted by the Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team....

Aerial view of the judging arena filled with youth and animals.

May 1, 2026

Livestock contest participation grows 38% as youth sharpen decision-making, communication, and leadership skills
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois 4-H members demonstrated their livestock evaluation skills during the 2026 State Livestock Judging Contest held April 27 on the University of Illinois campus. A total of 250 youth participated in the event, representing a 38% increase in participation...

Youth participants gather in front of a backdrop.

April 29, 2026

Young Illinois 4-H members showcase confident voice, speaking at statewide public speaking contest
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Youth from across the state demonstrated confidence, creativity, and communication skills during the Illinois 4-H State Public Speaking Contest held April 25 at Parkland College in Champaign.The annual event brings together top youth...

Recipient holds a sign outlining his plan to go to SIUC in ag studies.

April 27, 2026

Illinois 4-H prepares teens for college, careers, and life, new survey shows
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois 4-H is equipping young people with the skills and experiences needed for success beyond high school, according to new data from the 2026 Illinois 4-H Senior Survey.The survey of 334 graduating 4-H members found that youth who participated in the program for an...

Two people working together to prune a small shrub

April 16, 2026

Illinois Extension specialty crop expert’s legacy built on grower trust
URBANA, Ill. — When something feels off with a specialty crop like peaches, apples, or horseradish, one phone number growers may have on speed dial is Elizabeth Wahle. Since 2002, Wahle has been with University of Illinois Extension, assisting...

A greenhouse filled with flowers and hanging baskets.

April 16, 2026

Local greenhouse featured as first stop in Extension's Summer Twilight Series
RICHVIEW, Ill. – Illinois Extension is kicking off the 2026 Southern Illinois Summer Twilight Series with a trip to Richview. Whether you’re a flower gardener, bride-to-be, or interested in learning more about growing cut flowers, you’ll want to join the upcoming tour of Flower Girls Greenhouse...

April 10, 2026

Summer Twilight Series strengthens southern Illinois food systems
RICHVIEW, Ill. – Illinois Extension is excited to announce the return of the eleventh-annual Summer Twilight Series. This southern Illinois tradition brings farmers, educators, and community members together to explore the diversity and innovation of local agriculture.  Twilight...

People at a table talk to others a sign in the background says "Lake Michigan"

April 3, 2026

Illinois Extension and 4-H showcase statewide impact at inaugural Day at the Capitol
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension staff gathered in the state Capitol on March 25 to showcase how Extension and Illinois 4-H strengthen communities statewide and to call for an increased...

April 2, 2026

Prepare for food preservation season with free pressure canner testing
URBANA, Ill. — As gardeners begin planting seedlings and planning for warmer weather, it’s also time to think about what needs to be preserved. Home preservation methods like canning, freezing, dehydration, and fermentation extend the shelf life of foods compared to storing fruits and vegetables...

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