News Releases

Illinois 4-H announces winners of 2026 Hooks Us Together Fishing Tournament
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois 4-H is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 4-H Hooks Us Together Fishing Tournament, a statewide virtual fishing competition that encouraged youth to explore the outdoors, develop fishing skills, and connect with nature.This virtual tournament attracted an...

Menard County 4-H launches Free Little Art Gallery to foster creativity, community connection
Petersburg, Ill. – In an effort to promote creativity, community, and artistic expression, Menard County 4-H is excited to announce the launch of a Free Little Art Gallery (FLAG) at the Jaycee Park in Petersburg in collaboration with the Town and Country Women’s Club, the Menard County Farm...

Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame honors local volunteers and supporters
Menard and Logan Counties, Ill. – Illinois 4-H volunteers and supporters empower and prepare youth for success, with the program relying on thousands of dedicated individuals across the state to provide leadership, mentorship, and educational opportunities for young people. This year, local...

Recent dust storm warnings highlight need for practices to reduce soil erosion
LINCOLN, Ill. — Over the recent days, the National Weather Service has issued several dust storm warnings and advisories for portions of central Illinois. This has been due to high winds from fronts and other weather patterns that have moved through the area. While there have been no reports of...

Abe Lincoln 4-H Shooters Hosts Archery Celebration
The Abe Lincoln Shooters 4-H Club offers archery through the Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports Program, guided by a certified coordinator and aligned with national standards. Focused on youth development, the program helps members build life skills such as responsibility, decision-making, teamwork,...

Against the Grain: Dr. Salah Issa on Innovating Ag Safety
URBANA, Ill. — Dr. Salah Issa’s career in agricultural safety began in an unexpected way. Starting out at a graduate program in Ecological Sciences and Engineering at Purdue University as a self-described “city kid”, he was unaware that agricultural engineering was even a career option. It wasn’...

4-H Public Speaking Contest results announced
LINCOLN, Ill. – Local 4-H members presented speeches and earned awards at this year’s Logan/Menard/Sangamon 4-H Public Speaking Contest, which was held March 16 at the Logan County Extension Office in Lincoln.Awards winners included:Champion...

Celebrate spring’s arrival with new Illinois Extension Four Seasons Gardening webinars
URBANA, Ill. — Springtime brings visions of beautiful butterfly gardens and dreams of delicious vegetable varieties growing in a garden or porch pots outside the window.Garden planning and the countdown to a new growing season continue with two new webinars...

After the storm: Illinois Extension shares resources for storm recovery, rebuilding, disaster preparedness
URBANA, Ill. — After strong storms swept across much of Illinois, many communities are facing damaged property and stressful situations. The hours and days following a major storm are often filled with urgent questions. Residents can navigate those decisions using research-based resources from...

Illinois 4-H names new class of statewide youth leaders
Champaign, IL – Thirty-nine outstanding 4-H members from across Illinois have been selected to serve on Illinois 4-H's ambassador teams, recognizing their dedication, leadership, and excellence within the...

2026 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale returns record-high results
URBANA, Ill. — Strong results continue at the 2026 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale held on Feb. 19 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The sale averaged $7,284 on 37 lots, setting an all-time record high average for the sale."The...

ACES marks 150 years of the Morrow Plots, our nation's oldest research field
URBANA, Ill. — A lot has changed on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus since its founding in 1867, but a storied plot of land near the south quad has been preserved nearly intact for a century and a half....

4-H Beyond Ready CPR training prepares Athens High School students to respond in emergencies
ATHENS, IL – From February 4-6, 2026, Athens High School students gained lifesaving skills thanks to Menard County 4-H’s Beyond Ready CPR training program. This year, 41 students successfully completed CPR certification, equipping them with the confidence and knowledge...

Illinois Extension Crop Management Conference equips agriculturalists for upcoming growing season
URBANA, Ill. — How individuals strategize their next farming season can differ from one farmer, landowner, producer, or industry professional to the next. University of Illinois Extension’s online-only Crop...

Genes from corn's wild ancestor change soil microbial community, improve sustainability
URBANA, Ill. — Corn bred with genes from wild relatives can reshape soil microbial communities and reduce nitrogen loss — with no yield reduction — according to new research from the University...

New Focus on the Future meetings to help Illinois agriculture community build, sustain farm legacy
URBANA, Ill. — Every farm has an individual story to tell, and it is up to the generations of farmers living it to tell the tale. In 2026, University of Illinois Extension and Illinois Farm Bureau are...

Illinois Extension is growing cover crop conversations by connecting farmers to farmers
URBANA, Ill. — What better way to learn about cover crops than from someone already growing them? University of Illinois Extension is offering farmers, producers, landowners, and industry professionals a chance to log on for a free virtual panel on...

Strengthen livestock facility management through 2026 Certified Livestock Manager Training
URBANA, Ill. — Livestock operations are strengthened by having certified individuals on staff. Certification helps minimize environmental impacts through increased awareness of regulations and proper manure nutrient management. Anyone responsible for managing a facility can benefit from...

Springfield Agronomy Summit connects producers with timely research
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Discover how farm management decisions are shaping the future of agriculture at the Illinois Extension Agronomy Summit, hosted at the Sangamon County Extension Office. This year’s event will take place on Tuesday,...

Menard County 4-H Team Earns Illinois Extension Excellence Award for Innovative Year-Round Promotion Initiative
Petersburg, Ill. — The Menard County 4-H team has been honored with the 2025 Illinois Extension Excellence Award for Promotional Excellence, recognizing their unified and innovative approach to elevating community awareness of 4-H’s year-round youth development programs....