Lake and McHenry Counties

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Lake County Extension Foundation

The Lake County Extension Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity.

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Local Food Purchasing Assistance

Are you a grower that identifies as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, female, disabled, a veteran, or has farmed for less than 10 years? Illinois has $28M to buy food at fair market value from YOU! Products will be distributed for free to local communities in need.

Learn more

Upcoming Programs and Events

Farm Stroll 2024

Discover, Learn, and Connect at McHenry County's 2024 Farm Stroll Join us for the annual McHenry County Farm Stroll on Sunday, September 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and explore 10 family-owned farms and one student farm across the county. This free, self-guided tour offers a unique opportunity to learn about local agriculture and connect with the farming community.

Event info

Lake County Garden Learning Series

February 14, 2024 - December 11, 2024 This year we have a fantastic variety of topics being presented by The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and Educators along with Educators and Ecologists from the Lake County Forest Preserve District and the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO).

Class descriptions and registrations

Announcements & Highlights

Welcome to the McHenry County Fair!

HAPPENING: JULY 30 - AUGUST 4, 2024

McHenry County Fair Schedule 2024

Hands with dirt and food scraps on ground

Read more about building a culture of composting in greater Chicagoland

What's so important about compost? Food waste is a pressing environmental concern in Illinois. In Cook County — and in many counties around the state — it accounts for up to 37% of landfill material.

How to Compost Here

Events

Illinois State Fair 4-H General Project Show

August 9, 2024 - August 11, 2024

McHenry County Farm Stroll 2024

September 29, 2024

County

McHenry

News Releases

July 16, 2024

Illinois clean energy transition excludes key constituents in energy justice equation
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois has made transitioning to clean energy a major priority in recent years with the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016 and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in 2021. Both pieces of legislation prioritize an equitable transition, aiming to avoid and address...

Child on scale with tape measure on floor in front of scale

July 9, 2024

Head Start staff invited to learn about BMI measurement, communication best practices
URBANA, Ill. — Every year, Head Start programs collect children’s body mass index data and communicate results to families to address childhood obesity in enrolled children. In a recently published research article, Head Start staff across the country shared that there is a lack of guidance on...

July 3, 2024

New Illinois Extension educator returns home to support local food growers
ST. CHARLES, Ill. — From raising animals and bees to fruit and vegetable production, University of Illinois Extension strives to help small farms thrive. This summer, a new Extension educator joins the team to specifically support local food production in Kane, DuPage, and Kendall counties....

4-H team carries a banner to competition.

July 2, 2024

Illinois 4-H teams shine at National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships
Grand Island, Neb – The National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships, held from June 23-28, 2024, saw over 700 4-H teenage youth from more than 40 states gather to compete in various shooting sports disciplines, including shotgun, archery, rifle, and pistol, in an Olympic-...

June 28, 2024

Discover, Learn, and Connect at McHenry County's 2024 Farm Stroll
WOODSTOCK, Ill. – Join us for the annual McHenry County Farm Stroll on Sunday, September 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and explore 10 family-owned farms and one student farm across the county. This free, self-guided tour offers a unique opportunity to learn about local agriculture...

More News Releases