News Releases

4-H symbol on a black background
Winnebago County youth completed at the Illinois State Fair
Over fifty youth from Winnebago County recently competed at the state level at the 4-H General Project Show held August 9 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The best of the best were on display August 9 at the 4-H General Project Show of the Illinois State Fair. Award-...
an illustration of a group of young teens from diverse backgrounds
Youth Leadership Conference: Youth in Action
Are you ready to step out into leadership but are not sure how to get started? Join University of Illinois Extension at Youth Leadership Conference: Youth in Action to hear from youth who have stepped out into leadership and been successful.  Participants will...
4-H symbol on a black background with a rainbow ring
Winnebago County youth turn projects into valuable learning experiences
4-H youth put their passion and hard work on display on 4-H Day at the Winnebago County Fair 4-H on August 14, 2024. In 4-H, projects are a way for members to learn about what interests them. Projects spark members to follow their passions, interests, and talents on a new path to...
photo of colored leaves from a woods
Trees and Fall Leaves Workshop at Schurmeier Teaching Forest
As the leaves change colors, the University of Illinois Extension and the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation invite youth aged 6-12 and their families to join a free outdoor adventure at the Trees and Fall Leaves Workshop at Schurmeier Teaching Forest, 147 E. Reusch Rd., Elizabeth, IL, on...
lady in purple dress using an air fryer in her kitchen with food prepped in front of it
Air Frying 101 program set for Oct. 3 in Rockford
Air frying can be a creative way to stretch your food dollars, help you save money on energy costs, and it can be a healthy alternative to other cooking methods. However, when it comes to selecting an air fryer, there are a few things you will want to consider before investing in this popular...
group of kids laying on grass with blue sky above them
Jo Daviess County 4-H will host "Information Night"
Illinois 4-H, the flagship youth program of the University of Illinois Extension, is the largest out-of-school youth organization in Illinois. In Jo Daviess County, 4-H youth development programs encourage kids to “learn by doing” through engaging, hands-on activities. Participants can learn,...
man in safety vest with ipad looking at a tree trunk in a forest
Learn how to properly manage your forest
Join Chris Evans, University of Illinois Extension Forestry Specialist for a Forest Management Plan Workshop on Saturday, October 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Elizabeth Community Building, HWY 20 West, Elizabeth, IL. There will be a $40 fee to attend this workshop. Pre-registration is...
field on a sunny day with a blurred center
Extension offers Webinar about Farm Business Structure
Choosing the right business structure for a farm or ranch business shouldn’t be hard. In the Business Structure Basics Webinar, led by staff from Farm Commons in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension, producers will learn how to apply straightforward...
apple in hand on white background
Learn how to grow your own apples
Come celebrate the fall apple season by learning more about this exceptional local fruit. Join University of Illinois Extension's Local Foods and Small Farms Educator, Grant McCarty, for the Growing Great Apples program. In this presentation, you'll learn about general...
apples on a branch with a sun flare in the background
Apple orchards opening in Northern Illinois
The end of August in Northern Illinois marks the opening of many of the apple orchards in our region. These orchards grow a wide-range of unique and common apple varieties, with new varieties ripening each week from now until the end of October. At many of these family-owned and operated...
there's a tear strip separating the overall image; on the left side is a beige background with a photo of a variety of squashes. On the right side is a photo of a variety of fresh vegetables in a basket
Selecting, storing, and using winter squash
Winter squash is one of the fall's most popular and tasty vegetables. Winter squash encompasses a variety of squash, such as Acorn, Buttercup, Butternut, Hubbard, Sweet Dumpling, and Spaghetti squash. If you want to learn how to make your everyday squash go from ordinary to extraordinary, Join...
Winners of the Master Showmanship Contest
Stephenson County 4-H Youth compete in the Master Showmanship Contest
On July 27, 2024, Stephenson County 4-H members participated in the Master Showmanship Contest, at the Stephenson County Fairgrounds, which the Stephenson County Farm Bureau and Stephenson County 4-H coordinated. We had (9) 4-H members between the ages of 14-18 (based on their 4-H age) compete...
4-H logo in white with a circle of rainbow colors on a black background
Stephenson County 4-H Announces Top Award Winners
Youth in Stephenson County exhibited 4-H projects this past month at various shows held at the Stephenson County Fairgrounds and the Extension Office on Highland Community College’s campus. Enrollment in the local 4-H program increased this past...
ladies serving cake at a bazaar
Are you part of a non-profit org that serves food? This class is for you!
Selling and serving food remains a popular fundraising activity for many community groups. If you belong to a service club, church group, youth group, special interest club, or any non-profit organization, chances are good that you sell food. Any time your group sells food, it is essential to...
Master Gardeners Jean Geller and Ann Somers sit at a Plant a Row drop off location and chat with University of Illinois Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator, Grant McCarty.
Plant a row for the hungry campaign in full swing
Zillions of zucchinis, tons of tomatoes, and cartloads of carrots are just examples of the produce that can be donated to Plant a Row (PAR) for the Hungry. Plant a Row provides a much-needed outlet for vegetable gardeners to donate their over-abundance of produce, which helps to meet the...
round bales in a field
Stored Forages to be discussed at Workshop
Livestock managers and owners are invited to join U of I Extension for a Storing Forages: Balancing Cost and Performance workshop on Thursday, September 19.   U of I Extension Livestock Specialist Dr Teresa Steckler will be the featured speaker.  The workshop...
children running in field
Youth Naturalist Program offered in Freeport
FREEPORT, Ill.--Learn about nature at Wee Nats (Wee Naturalists), a fun interactive program for youth ages 4-7. Youth will learn about different environmental education topics through a story, activity, craft, and hike. University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Educator Kelly Lafferty will...
4-H logo in white with a circle of rainbow colors on a black background
4-H Members Showcase Their Exhibits During the Fair
The Jo Daviess County 4-H Fair was the place to be from July 15-17, 2024. 4-H members came out in full force to showcase their projects. From horses to hens, bunnies to calves, and everything in between, our members brought it all. Not to mention, 4-H Cloverbuds participated in our 4-H...
sheep and goats
Sheep and Goat Workshop Offered
Small ruminant feeding, nutrition, and managementFREEPORT, Ill.---Sheep and goats are a popular choice for youth and adults.  Small ruminants are a good place for anyone to enter the livestock business on small...