ALBION, Ill. – Squealing pigs and smiling kids—all indications of a good time at the second No Limits Livestock Show. The No Limits Livestock Show is an all-inclusive swine show where youth 4-H swine exhibitors and individuals with disabilities team up to show a pig. The show not only introduces local youth to 4-H and livestock but also offers a memorable experience for both the mentors and mentees.
On June 20, at the Edwards County Fairgrounds swine showring, Edwards County 4-H members introduced two participants from Edwards and Richland counties to showing a pig. Before the show began, participants learned about their pigs and how to prepare them for showtime. They learned basic showmanship techniques and practiced guiding their pigs around the showring.
During the show, Interim Assistant Dean/Program Leader & Director of Illinois 4-H, Kevin Carey, served as the livestock judge and evaluated each team’s performance. Ribbons were awarded to the participants as they ended their tour around the showring.
At the conclusion of the show, Carey spoke about the Illinois 4-H program.
“Every single person across the state, between the ages of 5 and 18, deserves the opportunity to be in 4-H; regardless of ability, regardless of identity, regardless of experience, we want people to feel like they belong with us,” said Carey.
4-H strives to provide opportunities for all youth, and parents are encouraged to reach out to their local 4-H program for more information. To learn more about Illinois Extension and the Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, or Wayne County 4-H programs, visit extension.illinois.edu/elrww.
Illinois Extension serving Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, and Wayne counties would also like to thank the following sponsors for their generous donations towards the No Limits Livestock Show:
Lawrence County Memorial Hospital
Casey State Bank - Lawrenceville
Citizens National Bank of Albion
Jim Fontanyi, COUNTRY Financial
Diel Farms
Lawrence County Farm Bureau
Edwards County Farm Bureau
About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.