News Releases

Free “Matter of Balance” Program Helps Older Adults Reduce Fall Risks and Stay Active
MACOMB, Ill. — Many older adults experience fear of falling, often limiting their daily activities and independence. To support community members in building confidence and staying active, University of Illinois Extension is offering A Matter of Balance....

Growing Skills, Confidence, and Self Sufficiency: Knox County 4 H Youth Learn to Make Refrigerator Pickles
GALESBURG, Ill. — Food costs continue to rise, and families everywhere are feeling the strain. For many, stretching a grocery budget has become a weekly challenge, and reliable access to fresh, healthy foods isn't always easy to find. More and more families are turning to home...

Turn climate concern into community action with Illinois Climate Stewards Training
URBANA, Ill. — From a spring full of tornadoes to summers with extreme heat and flooding, Illinois communities are already living through the impacts of climate change. Be part of the solution by turning...

4-H'ers and families show culinary creativity through Summer Healthy Living Challenge
URBANA, Ill.—4-H youth and their families were challenged to beat the heat this summer by creating their own healthy snacks. They could adapt an existing recipe or invent something completely new, using their creativity to prepare a cool and healthy summer treat that requires little or no baking...

Illinois 4-H Ready4Work program prepares next generation for workforce
URBANA, Ill. — Workforce readiness remains a growing concern nationwide. Many young people lack access to opportunities that help them build essential job skills, according to the...

Illinois Extension welcomes U. of I. alumna to lead budget and finance operations
URBANA, Ill. — Beginning July 27, Sarah Doherty will oversee University of Illinois Extension’s statewide business and financial operations. Her new role focuses on responsible stewardship of the resources supporting...

Extension launches Health and Community Wellness, Center to strengthen Illinois communities
URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension is launching its new Health and Community Wellness (HCW) program area to better meet the needs of Illinois residents as communities and families face challenges related to health, food and nutrition, family relationships, and financial well-being....

Field day offers in-depth look at commercial pumpkin production
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Pumpkins are big business in Illinois. In 2024, the state harvested more than twice the pumpkin acreage of the next five states combined, topping 485 million pounds. As Illinois...

Illinois Extension’s sixth cohort of Illini Science Policy Program Scholars works at the intersection of public service and policy
URBANA, Ill. — The University of Illinois Extension Illini Science Policy Program, ISPP, welcomed six graduates from University of Illinois System...

Envisioning the next 150 years of crop research with the Alma Mater Plots
URBANA, Ill. — A couple of miles south of the main quad at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a remarkable agricultural experiment is taking shape. The so-called Alma Mater Plots are unique in their setup — with 64 one-acre plots, each...

Everyday Environment series returns with nature-based solutions for home and community
URBANA, Ill. — Discover the power of working with nature. University of Illinois Extension’s natural resources series, Everyday Environment...

What would it cost farmers if Illinois banned glyphosate?
URBANA, Ill. — A new analysis from the...

Agronomy Days continues with Stairway to Yield, other events for producers
URBANA, Ill. — Agronomy Days 2026 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign continues with events scheduled into October, teaching Illinois growers the latest breakthroughs in...

Illini Summer Academies gives high schoolers hands-on college and career exploration
Youth from across the state explored future careers, built independence, and developed leadership skills during Illinois 4-H’s Illini Summer Academies. Over 180 youth from 34 counties spent five days on campus in June exploring potential college...

Help shape solutions to food waste by taking the Illinois Household Food Waste Survey
URBANA, Ill. — From farm to table to trash can, what happens to food is bigger than leftovers. Producing food uses valuable resources like water and fuel, and when uneaten food ends up in landfills, it...

Through local partnerships and programs, Extension Academy builds expertise
URBANA, Ill. — Collaboration and shared expertise strengthen every project, especially when advancing current research and best practices from the University of Illinois Urbana...

Master Gardener Hybrid Training: Registration Now Open for Fall 2026 Program
MACOMB, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension invites community members with a passion for plants, gardening, and lifelong learning to enroll in the Fall 2026 Master Gardener Hybrid Training, running from September 8 through November 24. This program provides...

Illinois 4-H shotgun team competes at record-setting National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — The 2026 National 4‑H Shooting Sports Championships, held June 21–26 in Grand Island, Nebraska, marked the largest event in its 26‑year history, bringing together 767 4‑H members from 42 states for one of the program’s premier national competitions.Illinois was...

Defining the modern ‘land-grant mission’ at ACES
The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign often cites its land-grant legacy, but the land-grant university system is not a well-known...

Celebrating Curiosity and Growth: McDonough County 4 H Cloverbuds Shine at Annual Showcase
MACOMB, IL - 4-H Fair season started off with a bang on Friday, June 26, 2026, as the youngest members, the Cloverbuds, ages 5 to 7, presented their projects during the annual Cloverbud Showcase. This hands-on activity is the culmination of their year-long learning and team-building activities...