News Releases

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...

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....

Illinois Extension Agronomy Summits equip farmers with strategies for year ahead
URBANA, Ill. — With harvest season behind us and spring planting on the horizon, now is the time to prepare for the year ahead. University of Illinois Extension invites farmers, agronomists, and agriculture professionals to attend one of the...

4-H Enrollment Open in Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counties – No Fees for 2025-26 Thanks to Local Support
PETERSBURG, Ill. – Families in Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties can now enroll for the 2025–26 4-H program year, and there is exciting news for new and returning members: thanks to generous support of local foundations and donors, all 4-H club enrollment fees have been...

Logan County’s Deanna Voyles named to Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame
LINCOLN, Ill. – Illinois 4-H has honored Logan County’s own Deanna Voyles for her remarkable 40+ years of service, inducting her into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame during the Illinois State Fair 4-H Alumni & Volunteer Celebration.Voyles, a leader of the Beason Ag 4-H Club and longtime...

Local 4-H scholarships awarded
LINCOLN, Ill. – Local 4-H members were recently awarded scholarships in recognition of their accomplishments in 4-H, school, and community service.The Logan County 4-H Foundation awarded the Ross B. Conrady Memorial Scholarship to Sophia Schneider of the Beason Ag 4-H Club. She...

4-H members showcase projects at county shows
LINCOLN, Ill. – Local 4-H members showcased their knowledge and skills at the 2025 4-H Shows, earning awards across a variety of project areas.This year’s events featured:Sangamon County: 218 live animal entries (June 29–30, Sangamon County...

Menard County youth share project work during 2025 4-H shows
PETERSBURG, Ill. – 4-H members earned awards during the local 2025 4-H Shows by demonstrating knowledge and skills they gained this year.  Menard County 4-H members showed 93 live animal exhibits at the Menard County Fair and 42 general project exhibits, and 1 entry at the Logan, Menard and...

Farm Business Foundations program empowers local producers with tools for success
LINCOLN, Ill. - University of Illinois Extension recently held a successful Farm Business Foundations program that provided producers with the skills and tools to be effective managers of their farm businesses. This program was conducted in partnership with the Sangamon County and Menard County...