Events

Blog Posts

Read article: Immersive Ways to Experience Art this Summer
Immersive Ways to Experience Art this Summer
This summer, don’t just look at art, experience it! Whether it’s walking through bustling art fairs, repurposing summer treasures, of creating art...
fawn in a weed patch.
Read article: Tough love in the wild: Lessons from the white-tail doe
Tough love in the wild: Lessons from the white-tail doe
Tough love is hard to give and even harder to receive. But for the white-tailed doe that gives birth to twin fawns each May in Illinois, discipline...
Child holding a bow at an archery range
Read article: From humble beginnings: The growth of the Mason County 4-H Shooting Sports Club
From humble beginnings: The growth of the Mason County 4-H Shooting Sports Club
In 2013, a passionate group of volunteers laid the foundation for one of Mason County’s most respected 4-H special interest clubs: the Mason County 4...
A leader plane leading other planes.
Read article: 10 Ways to Empower Teen Leaders in 4-H
10 Ways to Empower Teen Leaders in 4-H
Retaining teens in 4-H isn’t just about keeping them busy, it’s about giving them purpose, agency, and support. When we help young people take...

News Releases

an open book with a neighborhood springing from the pages as if they are growing out of the book
University of Illinois Extension to Host Open House in Salem
University of Illinois Extension invites community members to an Open House on Monday, July 14, from 5-7 p.m. at their office at 1404 E Main, Rt 50 East, Salem, IL 62881. This event is an excellent opportunity for residents to learn more about the valuable resources and programs Illinois...
Winners pose with catches.
Competition heats up in youth fishing tournament
Champaign, Ill.– The Illinois 4-H Hooks Us Together Statewide Fishing Tournament has posted it second round of leaderboard results and continues through July 31, 2025. Youth from across the state are casting their lines and competing in this fun, summer-long challenge...
1951 photo of 5 people from 4-H Junior Leadership Conference; Beatrice Hill (now Beatrice H. Bagby) stands second from right and represented McDonough County.
How 4-H shaped a lifetime of service for Bea Bagby
URBANA, Ill. — For Beatrice H. Bagby, known to most as Bea, 4-H wasn’t just a club. It was a lifeline. A spark. A community. And ultimately, a calling.Bea found Illinois 4-H in the wake of unimaginable grief. In May 1946, her mother...

Videos

Winter Ice Safety

How can you know that ice is safe to walk on? Is old ice safer than new ice? Curt Sinclair, 4-H youth development Extension specialist, walks you through how to stay safe on the ice this winter, covering everything you need to know for winter ice safety including how to make homemade ice picks...

Preparing Vegetables for Exhibition

Extension specialist Jim Schmidt demonstrates how to properly prepare vegetables for exhibition. This overview includes how to choose and show various vegetables.