TAYLORVILLE, Ill. – The Christian County Fair Board has been named the 2025 Community Partner Award winner by University of Illinois Extension in Christian County. This award celebrates their long-standing and successful partnership with Christian County 4-H, which has provided invaluable opportunities for local youth. For years, the board has been an incredible supporter of 4-H, providing instrumental resources for 4-H shows during the fair. “They consistently demonstrate a willingness to assist in any way necessary and are flexible in accommodating the needs and schedules of 4-H activities. The board generously allows us to use their facilities and ensures that the grounds are well-maintained and accessible,” said Taylor Sinclair, 4-H youth development program coordinator.
University of Illinois Extension serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties is exceptionally proud to provide this award to 2025 Miss Christian County Lydia Repscher on behalf of the Christian County Fair Board in recognition and gratitude for their service to Extension. “Illinois Extension relies on strong community partnerships in all aspects of our work. From providing facilities or volunteers that assist with programming to offering financial support or exposure to new audiences, Extension staff and volunteers are grateful and appreciative of each of our community partners and the support they provide,” said Sara Marten, Extension county director.
This award is sponsored by the Extension Council of University of Illinois Extension, serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties. The council recognizes a community partner throughout our four counties each year. Extension Council is a volunteer board that serves in an advisory role cooperating with Extension staff in planning, promoting, developing, implementing, evaluating, and financing an Extension program designed to meet the needs, interests, and resources of the local communities.
Photo Caption: University of Illinois Extension staff presenting the 2025 Community Partner Award to Miss Christian County. (left to right) Jenny Foster, Cheralee Vohlken, Lydia Repscher, and Kenzie Drone.
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.