HAVANA, Ill - Just as 4-H has many project areas and ways for members to flourish, the new Mason County 4-H coordinator has had unique experiences that will bring a fresh perspective to Mason County 4-H. Alicia Sandidge of Chandlerville, joined the University of Illinois Extension staff in early May.
Alicia has been a 4-H volunteer in Cass County for three years, where her three children are active members. “Our family spends the summer showing cattle and a few horses, attending up to seven county fairs, along with competitive tumbling, softball, volleyball, and baseball,” Alicia shared. “Having been to so many of our county fairs in the state and even national shows, I hope to bring a fresh perspective to Mason County and build on all that Extension does for their 4-H members.”
Alicia “joined” 4-H as a 4-H mom. She grew up in Massachusetts and moved halfway across the United States and went to Olympia High School. “It was at Olympia where I became very active in FFA,” she continued. “That is when I realized I had a passion for agriculture and advocacy.”
As a student at Southern Illinois University, she belonged to the Collegiate FFA chapter, where she served as president and assisted in hosting several District CDE events. In college while being involved in many groups and activities, volunteering her time became a regular part of her life. Some of her volunteer roles included Ag in the Classroom education, president of the SIUC Sigma Alpha sorority, and campus tours for perspective students. Currently she serves on her local Farm Bureau board.
Alicia and her husband John work together on their row-crop farm in rural Cass County. For over a decade they owned and operated Sandidge Hay LLC where they grew and shipped hay all over the country.
Alicia’s life experiences are the perfect recipe for success as the new Mason County 4-H program coordinator.
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.