News Releases

group of 4-H volunteers honored
Outstanding volunteers honored at State Fair ceremony
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Outstanding 4-H volunteers were celebrated as part of the 2022 class of the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame at a ceremony held as part of the 4-H General Project Show at the Illinois State Fair...
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Illinois 4-H invites alumni to join 4-H history project
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois 4-H is proud of the rich history of 4-H and the network of 4-H alums near and far. Alums of the Illinois 4-H program share a unique bond with over 25 million Americans across the country. Illinois 4-H has launched a new initiative for the Illinois 4-H History...
get savvy financial webinar Grow the Green Stuff
Build money management skills early for a solid financial future
URBANA, Ill. — Building positive money habits early in life paves the way for long-term financial stability, but navigating topics such as spending, saving, investing, and managing debt can feel overwhelming, especially for young adults who are tackling financial responsibilities for the first...
4-H members earn awards in State Fair Junior Livestock Shows
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members from Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counites earned champion awards during the 2022 Illinois State Fair Junior Livestock Shows.  In the Junior Livestock Division, 4-H and FFA members from across the state have an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge...
Abe Lincoln 4-H Shooters holds archery exhibition
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Abe Lincoln Shooters 4-H currently offers shooting disciplines of archery and shotgun. The Sangamon County program is guided by a Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinators. The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program is part of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Program which...
4-H members earn awards at Illinois State Fair
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members from Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counites earned special awards for their project exhibits at the 2022 Illinois State Fair.  Eighty-two local 4-H’ers exhibited their project work alongside 4-H’ers from across the state in the Orr Building on Sunday, August 14...
Local community members inducted into Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Two local community members have been inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame in recognition of their decades of dedication to the program.  Patty Huffer of Lincoln and Sharon Lounsberry of Oakford were both employees of Illinois Extension for many years. ...
Local 4-H scholarships awarded
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Local 4-H members were recently awarded scholarships in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments in 4-H, in their schools, and in their communities. Haven Grace Henry, daughter of M. Todd and Bethany Henry of Lincoln, is a 3-year member of the Wide-a-Wake 4-H...
Pumpkin Field Day poster
More than 80 pumpkin varieties to be featured at Field Day
URBANA, Ill. – Commercial pumpkin growers can enhance production practices at the upcoming University of Illinois Extension Pumpkin Field Day. The event begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 1 at Eckert’s Orchard near Belleville. Register by Aug. 29...
Abe Lincoln 4-H Shooters holds shotgun exhibition
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Abe Lincoln Shooters 4-H currently offers shooting disciplines of archery and shotgun. The Sangamon County program is guided by a Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinators. The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program is part of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Program...
4-H members earn awards at county shows
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members earned awards during the local 2022 4-H Shows by demonstrating the knowledge and skills they gained this year.  Sangamon County 4-H members showed 154 live animal exhibits, and members from Sangamon and Menard Counties showed 208 general project exhibits...
Kiwanis presents awards to outstanding Logan County 4-H members
LINCOLN, Ill. – The Lincoln Kiwanis Club recently presented awards to outstanding Logan County 4-H Club members who had completed their 4-H records.  The following individuals were chosen as outstanding 4-H members from their clubs: Reid Kelly, Atlanta Ag 4-H; Sydney Ramlow, Hollanders...
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Summer is upon us: Is your swimming pool safe?
SpRINGFIELD, Ill. — Summer is almost here, and that means spending more time outdoors. To cool down, many take a dip in a pool. Or to relax in the evening, a hot tub provides a nice way to soothe aching muscles. One aspect of owning a pool or hot tub that can be overlooked is its...
A large open area being flooded
Slow stormwater, prevent floods with rain friendly landscaping
URBANA, Ill. – Life does not exist without water. Gardens don’t grow without water. But what happens when there is too much of a good thing? Or when that good thing is mismanaged and becomes a misfortune. Or when there are prolonged periods of drought?“The tale of stormwater is more...
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Mental health matters, learn how to respond when someone needs aid
ARTHUR, Ill. – Mental health and substance use issues are common. Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults lives with a mental illness according to the National Institute of Mental Health. From 1999 to 2016, 630,000 people died from drug overdose according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....
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Farmers battle clock, weeds in spring planting season
URBANA, Ill. – With a warm, dry stretch of weather, Illinois farmers are racing to get corn and soybean crops planted. University of Illinois Extension Weed Scientist Aaron Hager spoke with Media Communications Specialist...
An opening in a forest
Prevent the spread of invasive species in Illinois
URBANA, Ill. – You may not know what an invasive species is, but you've likely heard about them and the price tags they can carry. The estimated cost of managing the damages caused by invasive species such as the emerald ash borer or Asian carp is $120 billion annually in the U.S. ...