SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois 4-H volunteers empower and prepare youth for success as the program relies on its more than 15,000 volunteers to fill key leadership and mentoring roles. Longtime volunteers and former staff members were recently honored by the Illinois 4-H Foundation for their selfless dedication to the University of Illinois Extension 4-H youth development program.
The Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame recognizes those who have a track record of exemplary service to 4-H or outstanding career and community achievement and were nominated by county Illinois Extension staff.
The 2026 Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame inductees include: Amy Sitton, Alexander County; Paul Zeien, Jr., Boone County; Donna Olson, Bureau County; Martha Bick, Calhoun County; Greg and Annette Gruhn, Carroll County; Jeff and Lisa Warden, Cass County; Marilyn Whalen, Champaign County; Tal and Mercedez Foley, Clark County; Rocky and Anita Allen, Clay County; Jenna Brandmeyer Buscher, Clinton County; Kerry Travis, Crawford County; Thomas and Cassandra Meyen, DeWitt County; Lora Ford, DuPage County; Kristian Klyaic, Edgar County; Don and Karen Grupe, Effingham County; Mona Durbin, Fayette County; Brett and Jodi Beyers, Ford County; Lonnie Van Pelt, Fulton County; Steve and Racheal Albrecht, Greene County; Pete and Bobbi Brockman, Grundy County.
Dave Biery, Hancock County; Jon Schar, Henderson County; Kimberly Bohlmann, Iroquois County; Mark and Tony Hartich, Jasper County; Karen Koester, JoDaviess County; Donna Nuger, Kane County; Kim Eisnaugle, Kendall County; Roger Malone, Knox County; Kayla Diss, LaSalle County; Blake Lanphier, Lake County; Deborah Weger, Lawrence County; Nikki Freeman, Lee County; Jenny and Dale Larkin, Livingston County; Bruce Davis, Logan County; Erika Tibbs, Macon County; Kim Barber, Macoupin County; Janice Denby, Madison County; Shauna Breckenridge, Marshall-Putnam County; Vickie Taylor, Massac County; Marilyn Olsen, McDonough County.
Christine Stebbins, McHenry County; Rick and Pam Munster, McLean County; Jared and Ed Whitcomb, Menard County; Matthew Brandt, Monroe County; Mark and Donna Jackson, Morgan County; Carmen Conderman, Ogle County; May Bach, Peoria County; Mary Kay and Mike Randall, Piatt County; Lora Kucher, Richland County; Sue Gutmann, Scott County; Stuart and Lola Thompson, Shelby County; Jackie Joyner-Kersee, St. Clair County; Ryan and Nikki Keltner, Stephenson County; Mary Springer, Tazewell County; Holly Hurt, Union County; Richard Gochenour, Wabash County; Mike and Tina Huston, Warren County; Travis and Shannon Mix, Wayne County; Jason Draper, White County; Pam Clodfelter, Whiteside County; Jeanne Walton, Winnebago County; and Dan and Johnna Jennings, Illinois 4-H.
The ceremonies were held over three days during the Illinois State Fair, in conjunction with each county’s exhibit day at the 4-H General Project Show. Learn more about this year’s Hall of Fame inductees and other Illinois 4-H honorees in the 2026 Illinois 4-H Alumni & Volunteer Recognition video at go.illinois.edu/4-Hrecognition2026.
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.
Source: Pat McGlaughlin, 4-H Youth Development Senior Program Lead, patm@illinois.edu
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 500 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 five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.