From the depths of the Shawnee National Forest to backyards in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois’ biggest trees are branching out. For the first time, the state’s champion trees are now available as an interactive digital map.

Farm life is stressful. Rural communities face unique mental health risks, but it can be hard to talk about it. A new online course, Rural Resilience: Farm Stress Training, is now available at go.illinois.edu/ruralresilience.

From 3D printing medical face shields to packing food boxes for students, Illinois 4-H members are honoring their pledges to larger service by stepping up to safely meet the unique needs of their communities.

Headlines about dairy farms dumping milk and livestock being euthanized are a sharp contrast to empty meat cases. The novel coronavirus outbreak has disrupted the nation’s food supply chain, resulting in increased prices for panicked shoppers and major losses for Illinois farmers.

“Measure twice, cut once,” is a rule Clinton County 4-H member Evie Ribbing knows by heart along with the 4-H pledge. What started as a woodworking project, has grown into a business new venture – Sawdust and Sparkles by E - for this entrepreneurial 12-year-old.

Every community should have plans that guide how they communicate with residents and businesses, how they encourage adoption of preventative protection measures, and how they provide access to post-event recovery resources.