Illinois 4-H horse judging contest crowns top youth competitors
GALVA, Ill. — Youth from 29 counties across Illinois participated in the 2026 Illinois State 4-H Horse Judging Contest on Feb. 1, at Black Hawk College East Campus in Galva.Shelby Krutke of McLean County earned the Larry Carls Memorial Award as the contest’s overall high point individual...
Know before you throw, new law expands free battery recycling options
URBANA, Ill. — After years of powering remotes, children’s toys, and other household devices, the final destination for used batteries is usually the junk drawer. Or worse, it is tossed in the trash can. Now,...
Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference returns to support Midwest landowners
URBANA, Ill. — The Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference, one of the largest gatherings for forest landowners in the Midwest, returns this spring. For more than 25 years, the conference has provided resources to forest landowners in the Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin area to better manage their...
Catlin Winter Wellness Miniseries Success
SAVOY, Ill – This winter, Vermilion County residents gathered for one or both sessions at the Catlin Public Library for the Winter Wellness Miniseries. Led by Family Life Educator Emily Harmon, this miniseries aimed to bring some positivity and education to the holiday season and the new year....
Share Your Story with Free Writing Workshop Series in Urbana
URBANA, Ill – Do you have a story waiting to be told? This workshop is your chance to share your story, even if you’ve never written before.Join Family Life Educator Emily Harmon for Life’s Moments: From Memory to Legacy at Salt & Light. Classes will be located at the storefront...
Illinois 4-H youth among nation’s top teen leaders at National 4-H Congress
ATLANTA, Ga. — Ten Illinois teens represented the state at National 4-H Congress, a five-day national conference held Nov. 28–Dec. 2, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. The event brought together outstanding 4-H members from across the country for leadership development, educational...
Illinois Extension offers Certified Food Protection Management Training to youth and adults
CHAMPAIGN, Ill — Level up your kitchen safety skills with a certified food safety training course from University of Illinois Extension. The University of Illinois Extension will offer the Certified Food Protection Manager Course at the Champaign County Farm Bureau auditorium (801 N Country Fair...
Illinois Extension Academy cohort poised to cultivate collaboration and impact
URBANA, Ill. — Collaboration and shared expertise strengthen any project, especially when they help deliver the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s latest research and best practices to communities across Illinois and beyond.With the start of the...
Illinois Extension’s strategic plan shows significant progress in year one
URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension is driving statewide impact through its comprehensive 10-year strategic plan, focused on the key priorities of environment, food and agriculture, health, community, economy, technology and discovery,...
Champaign-Urbana Named Dementia Friendly Community
CHAMPAIGN, Ill – On December 5, Champaign-Urbana was officially recognized as a Dementia Friendly community. The Dementia Friendly Community recognition comes from Dementia Friendly America®. Dementia Friendly America is a national collaborative group whose mission is to encourage communities...
Families build winter wonderlands together in Illinois 4-H Building Bricks Challenge
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois 4-H families came together over winter break to create imaginative, story-filled scenes for the Illinois 4-H Family Winter Break Building Bricks Challenge, the final event in this year’s Building Brick Challenge Series. The special challenge invited families to work...
Illinois 4-H team earns strong finish at national poultry and egg conference
URBANA, Ill. — An Illinois 4-H team earned top honors while competing in the Poultry Judging Contest at the 2025 National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference, held Nov. 20 in Louisville, Kentucky. The four-member team placed 11th overall among 24 states competing in the contest....
Strengthen livestock facility management through 2026 Certified Livestock Manager Training
URBANA, Ill. — Livestock operations are strengthened by having certified individuals on staff. Certification helps minimize environmental impacts through increased awareness of regulations and proper manure nutrient management. Anyone responsible for managing a facility can benefit from...
Illinois and Purdue Extension team up for a bi-state gardening conference
COVINGTON, Ind. — Gardeners, landscapers, and homeowners from across the region will gather for a collaborative gardening conference hosted by Illinois and Purdue Extension at the Beef House in Covington, Indiana, on Friday, January 16th. The event will feature expert-led sessions on home turf...
Tree care expertise grows through Illinois Extension webinar series
URBANA, Ill. — Tree care isn't always led just by certified arborists, so University of Illinois Extension is ensuring that everyone has access to research-backed information on practicing proper tree care. “Trees are more than scenery,...
