Events

Blog Posts

Boy shooting a bow & arrow
Read article: 2025 Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports State Competitions - Making the best better
2025 Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports State Competitions - Making the best better
By any measure, the recent series of 4-H Shooting Sports events attended by the best 4-H shooting sports competitors in the State of Illinois brought...
Fence with signs on it that say Don't give up and You Matter.
Read article: This September: Start a conversation. Be the difference.
This September: Start a conversation. Be the difference.
Each September is national Suicide Prevention Month. In 2023, 12.8 people seriously thought about suicide and 1.5 million people attempted it. Over...
colored pencils, crayons and paper clips
Read article: Back to school tips for parents and students
Back to school tips for parents and students
The beginning of school means changes from the “free flowing” days of summer to regular daily routines. Here are some tips from West Virginia...
child flying a kite
Read article: Indoor and outdoor activities for kids and families
Indoor and outdoor activities for kids and families
Summers at home can often feel like a full-time job of having to find constant entertainment for the kiddos. The good news? You don’t need an...

News Releases

kids in barn holding cats
AJMPU 4-H animal shows highlights youth dedication and skill
AJMPU REGION − From the clatter of hooves to the rustle of feathers, the 2025 AJMPU 4-H Animal Shows brought barns to life with excitement, learning, and community spirit. Youth across Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski, and Union counties proudly exhibited their animals in...
before and after photos of Perry Harlow when he first started 4-H and now
Local youth are 'Beyond Ready' this National 4-H Week
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – This week, Oct. 5-11, local communities are celebrating National 4-H Week to bring awareness and recognition of 4-H youth across the country.  The 4-H program began as an afterschool opportunity to help young people build...
green four leaf clover
Ogle County 4-H joins national celebration of leadership, learning, and service
OREGON, Ill.— From fairgrounds to classrooms, community gardens to robotics labs, 4-H youth in Ogle County are proving they’re not just ready for the future, they’re Beyond Ready. During National 4-H Week, celebrated Oct. 5–11, 2025, local clubs will share how 4-H equips young people with...

Videos

We are 'Beyond Ready' this 4-H week

4-H members are 'Beyond Ready' for life today

Illinois 4-H empowers youth to be 'Beyond Ready' for life today. Through hands-on learning, leadership opportunities, and real-world experiences, 4-H members sit in the driver's seat to find their spark and explore their interests. Whether it...

School and Community Gardens Learning Module

Bring the garden into the schoolyard with our online School and Community Gardens Self-Paced Learning Modules. A school garden can be many things, from a pollinator garden, to a sensory garden, or a bulb garden. Our online learning modules focus on vegetable gardening while we take you on a...

Staff

Jessica Hays

Jessica Hays

Illinois 4-H Events and Communications Coordinator