ONARGA, Ill. – Forty-five 4-H Cloverbuds from Ford and Iroquois Counties gathered at the Ford-Iroquois County Extension office for Cloverbud Camp on June 8, 2023. Cloverbud Camp is a program that allows the Cloverbuds (4-Hers that are five to seven years old) to experience what it will be like when they get to present their own 4-H projects at their local fairs.

Cloverbud camp was put in place to help the Cloverbuds transition from leader-guided groups to the self-guided and exploratory program of the 4-H projects that they could complete once they entered the traditional 4-H program. The day also educated Cloverbuds on the numerous kinds of opportunities that 4-H offers them as they grow.

Ford-Iroquois 4-H Extension Program Coordinator Sara Seyfert talked about why it was important to introduce a program that offered these opportunities, “We had noticed that first-year 4-H members and their families had questions regarding all the different 4-H project options after graduating from Cloverbuds to traditional 4-H. We wanted to provide an experience that would mimic some of those 4-H projects at a Cloverbud level.”

Cloverbuds were led by two older 4-Hers through a series of seven stations, where they were able to learn about projects such as Aerospace, Entomology, Visual Arts, Floriculture, Health, Livestock, and Livestock showmanship. Campers created balloon rockets, met livestock animals such as cows, horses, pigs, and sheep, created an insect out of marshmallows and pretzels, planted flowers in pots they decorated themselves, and learned about first aid and handwashing.

“It was incredible to see the ‘big kids’ having as much fun as the Cloverbuds,” says Sara Seyfert. “Seeing our teen leaders so engaged with our youngest members was wonderful.”

If you’re interested in learning more about 4-H programming, contact Sara Seyfert at sseyfert@illinois.edu or call our office at 815-268-4051.

This program was offered free to all Cloverbuds in Ford and Iroquois counties thanks to our generous sponsors: Ford and Iroquois Counties 4-H Foundation, Watseka Ford Lincoln, Gibson Area Hospital, Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Illinois, Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois, First Trust and Savings Bank, Kuhns Equipment, Shields Automart, Iroquois Federal, Bank of Gibson City, Schroeder Farms, Citizen’s State Bank of Milford, Joyce Bork and Affordable Arts.

About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension and administered through the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. 4-H grows true leaders, youth who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow. The hands-on approach in 4-H gives young people guidance, tools, and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. Independent research confirms the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience, demonstrating that young people are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.