McLean County 4-H Robotics Team Wins Regional Title and Qualifies for World Championship
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Robotics teaches more than just competition and University of Illinois Extension-McLean County 4-H youth are using their minds, ideas, and skills to take them beyond. MetalCow Robotics is a local 4-H Robotics team which meets at Second Presbyterian Church in...

Home-to-Market Act expands options for Illinois’ growing cottage food industry
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois’ Cottage Food Law allows food entrepreneurs, local producers, and home cooks to sell non-potentially hazardous homemade foods and drinks to the public. Prior to 2012, those foods had to be prepared in a licensed commercial kitchen, an expensive option for those running a...

USDA path to nutrition security runs through Illinois Extension Nutrition Education Programs
  URBANA, Ill. – Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture released its Actions on Nutrition Security report outlining four principles that will guide its path to national nutrition security....

Talking about money doesn't have to be stressful
  URBANA, Ill. – Many households experience stress and anxiety about their personal finances. These intense feelings of uneasiness and discontent can lead to misinformation and negative money behaviors. University of Illinois Extension is providing a series of six free...

Secure your farm's security by knowing your legal rights
URBANA, Ill. – Legal risks can be fatal to a farm business. Understanding legal issues can dispel anxiety and help farmers realize their power to control their circumstances. University of Illinois Extension partners with Farm Commons for a four-part series on legal issues for farms....

Youth ready to train 6,000 peers in ag innovation
URBANA, Ill. – 4-H youth from six states convened at the 2022 National 4-H Council Ag Innovators Experience on the University of Illinois campus Feb. 4-6. Illinois 4-H staff and University of Illinois...

Prevent avian flu in your small flock
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Youth demonstrate specialized equine knowledge in state contest
GALVA, Ill. – Youth from around the state demonstrated their specialized equine knowledge at the Illinois 4-H State Horse Judging Contest on Feb. 19. In this contest, youth judge six classes of...

Be ready for severe weather before the sirens go off
URBANA, Ill. – Weather can change from blue skies to ominous clouds in an instant in Illinois. When the wail of an alert siren is heard, it’s a warning sign that should not be ignored. Illinois Severe Weather Preparedness Week is Feb. 28 to March 4. The early awareness allows ...

4-H Foundation awards $45,000 in scholarships
Urbana, Ill. – The career achievements of Illinois 4-H members are being celebrated with $45,000 in scholarships awarded by the Illinois 4-H Foundation. The scholarships are awarded to five Illinois 4-H members in nine focus categories and are based on merit and a demonstrated standard...

4-H youth honored for career achievements
Urbana, Ill. – 4-H youth across the state have been honored for their career achievements in the 4-H program. The State 4-H Experience Award offers recognition for members who...

Illinois SNAP-Ed conferences bring awareness to hunger and food insecurity
URBANA, Ill. – One in ten people in Illinois struggle with food insecurity daily, according to Feeding America. When families are hungry, making a healthy food choice is not always the easy choice. To...

Get ready for spring with 20th annual Home, Lawn and Garden Day
URBANA, Ill. – Be inspired to grow cut flowers, learn how to properly care for your trees, or get a handle on the basics of everyday gardening at the 20th annual Home, Lawn and Garden Day. Enjoy live workshops, a Q&A with gardening experts and a keynote speech on sustainable...

Illinois Extension celebrates outstanding programs, staff
URBANA, Ill. – Across the state, local University of Illinois Extension staff members help families, businesses, and communities identify local issues and potential solutions to those issues. Extension professionals use research-based knowledge and translate that knowledge into actions and...

Illinois 4-H Livestock Judging Team crowned national champions
Louisville, KY – The Illinois 4-H Livestock Judging Team recently topped 34 states to bring home the National 4-H Livestock...

Plant seeds for success with beginner vegetable gardening workshop
URBANA, Ill. – Whether you have a multi-row backyard vegetable plot or a patio with room for a few containers, now is the time to start planning for a successful gardening season. Over the past several years, there has been a surge of gardeners taking up the trowel for the first time to try...

Uncover dimensions of wellness that enhance health, wealth, happiness
URBANA, Ill. – Personal wellness is more than just diet and exercise. Wellness is multi-dimensional, encompassing eight dimensions: physical, financial, emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, vocational, and intellectual. "These eight dimensions work in harmony to help you achieve...

Illinois 4-H staff honored for professional dedication, service
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Give houseplants new life with DIY kokedama moss balls
URBANA, Ill. – Free your houseplants’ roots this winter by creating organic art for your home through kokedama, a form of Japanese bonsai, where plants are grown in a special soil mix and wrapped in moss. Kokedama is a uniquely beautiful way to grow houseplants in a non-traditional way. ...

Make a big difference on small farms with winter workshops
URBANA, Ill. – Every small farm is different. Direct market farmers sending produce to local restaurants have different needs than homesteaders getting started with livestock for the first time. But small farmers, hobby operations, and backyard growers alike can always trust University of...