Yes! You CAN: Preserving Practice – Jams and Jellies
ELIZABETH, IL. Strawberry season is upon us, and fresh-picked strawberries are great! These sweet berries are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. If you have a bumper crop and want to enjoy the delectable tastes of these summer berries year-round, try preserving them. Nothing tastes...

Lilac Care and Pruning
University of Illinois Extension is offering a workshop on basic care and pruning of lilacs, just in time for homeowners to learn what to do at this time of the summer to ensure full blooms next spring. Extension Master Gardener Michael Iacomini will be presenting this program on Thursday, June...

Zombie Apocalypse/ Natural Disaster Survival Workshop in Freeport
Learn important emergency preparedness techniques and safety rules in case there should ever be a zombie apocalypse or natural disaster! University of Illinois Extension will be offering a Zombie Apocalypse Survival workshop this summer. Interested youth may attend the clinic on June 28...

Babysitting Clinic Planned for Stephenson County Youth
Take care of the kids in your neighborhood when their parents can't be with them! University of Illinois Extension will be offering a babysitting clinic this summer. Interested youth may choose to attend the clinic on June 21 at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau Building...

Learn to dehydrate fruits and vegetables
Dehydrating food is one of the oldest food preservation methods around. However, safely dehydrating is critical to enjoying dried goods months after harvesting. Whether you want to lighten the weight of your favorite foods for camping and backpacking or preserve fruits and vegetables for later...

Youth learn public-speaking skills that last a lifetime
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. –  4-H excels in preparing youth to speak well and confidently, and it is a skill that serves members for a lifetime. Hope Brinkmeier from Stephenson County recently put her public speaking skills to the test during the Illinois 4-H State Public Speaking Contest held at Parkland...

Master Gardener Helpline open for your Gardening Questions
FREEPORT, Ill.--Spring is in the air and gardening is on our minds. It is that time of year when the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener volunteers offer the Master Gardener Helpline. Have a home gardening question? The Master Gardeners are here to help with research-based...

The Butterfly Farm is now an oak tree savanna
Orangeville, Ill. – The Butterfly Farm in Stephenson County is now home to an oak tree savanna thanks to local youth and community members. The group of 25 oak trees, called a savanna, will bring new life to oak-hickory forests currently under threat in Illinois. The 4-H Green...

Pressure Canner Dial Gauge Testing Clinic
Canning season is fast approaching! Are you ready? Have you had your pressure canner gauge tested lately? Did you know it should be tested yearly to ensure accuracy?   Pressure canners are the only safe home food preservation method to destroy the harmful microorganisms that can...

Brush up on your canning skills this spring!
It seems as though home food preservation continues to be a growing trend. Whether it is due to the increase in food costs, the desire to know what is going into your food, or because it benefits the environment by reducing one’s carbon footprint, home food preservation continues to be extremely...

Rainwater Management with Native Plants
Join University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator, Jay Solomon for “Rainwater Management with Native Plants”. This program is taking place on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 6 p.m. at the Jo Daviess County Extension Office, 204 Vine St. Elizabeth, IL 61028....

Event Offers Networking and Educational Opportunities for Young and Beginning Farmers
Have you ever wondered how Young and Beginning Farmers get their start in Agriculture? The Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties Extension offices have been involved in a Young and Beginning Farmer Research Project for the last year. The goal of the project is to assess how young and...

Stephenson County youth demonstrate specialized equine knowledge in state contest
In this contest, youth judge six classes of horses, at least two being halter classes, and youth 14 years of age and older may also choose to participate in oral reasons following the classes. Stephenson County had one youth participate from Lena, Illinois: Madalyn Schierloh. Madalyn...

Leaders of Tomorrow. –Stephenson County 4-H Ambassadors Teen Teach
Freeport, IL – Giving back to your community gives you a sense of purpose and a deeper appreciation for what you have.  The 4-H Ambassadors in Stephenson County have learned that one way of giving back is through sharing what you have learned in 4-H, with younger youth. The Stephenson...

Stephenson County 4-H - Brings STEM activities to the Pearl City Middle School
FREEPORT, IL. – Creative thinking, hands-on problem solving, critical reasoning—these are just some of the skills seventh and eighth-grade students at Pearl City Middle School used on Friday, February 17. Staff from the University of Illinois Extension and Pearl City Middle School Science...

Growing Great Grapes
Join University of Illinois Extension Educator Grant McCarty as he presents “Growing Great Grapes” as part of the Spring Break Gardening Series. This program is taking place on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 starting at 6 p.m. at the Jo Daviess County Extension Office, 204 Vine St. Elizabeth, IL...

Winnebago County 4-H kicks off summer shows with public speaking March 28, 2023
ROCKFORD, Ill- Winnebago County 4-H will be holding its first 2023 4-H show on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at the University of Illinois Extension Office at 6 pm.  Youth ages 8-18 years old will present speeches on a wide variety of topics from Formal Speeches to Oral Interpretations. For...

Building Robust Meat Supply Chains in the Driftless Region
Are you interested in rolling up your sleeves to look at opportunities and challenges in meat production, processing, and distribution in the northwest region of Illinois? Join University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator Jay Solomon along with UW...

Kids Experienced Hands-On Learning at Stephenson County 4-H Super Saturday
Freeport, IL – University of Illinois Extension hosted its annual 4-H Super Saturday on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the Stephenson Farm Bureau Office. Super Saturday is a 3-hour event designed to give area youth ages 5 to 18 a chance to explore the many project areas available through the 4-H...

2023 4-H Leadership Conference: Discovering the Leader Within You!
Hey youth (12-18 years of age), are you a leader?  Have you wanted to learn how to be a leader? On Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 9:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., University of Illinois Extension will be hosting a youth leadership conference at the District 1 Police Station located at 1045 W....