Illinois 4-H volunteers empower and prepare youth for success as the program relies on its more than 6,000 volunteers to fill key leadership and mentoring roles. Cindy Anderson, a ten-year volunteer in Winnebago County, was recently honored by Illinois 4-H for their selfless dedication to the University of Illinois Extension 4-H youth development program.
In 2024, 70 individuals were inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame.
Illinois 4-H honors and celebrates extraordinary 4-H alumni, volunteers, and former 4-H staff. Those inducted have a track record of exemplary service to 4-H or outstanding career and community achievement and were nominated by county University of Illinois Extension staff. Each inductee receives a commemorative Hall of Fame medallion at the Illinois State Fair 4-H Alumni & Volunteer Celebration events. Cindy will also be honored at the Winnebago County 4-H Recognition Event in November.
“Cindy is such an important asset to the 4-H community,” states Becky Gocken, Winnebago County 4-H Program Coordinator. “She has a wealth of 4-H knowledge and is always willing to step in and help. I couldn’t do fair without her!”
Cindy and her husband Roger have been married for 26 years and have two children. Their oldest, Carter is a junior at Illinois State University. Their daughter Ella is a freshman also at Illinois State University. Cindy works as an insurance agent at Broadmoor Insurance Agency. Cindy is also actively involved as a handbell ringer in the ECHO Ringers at Grace United Methodist Church.
4-H has been a part of Cindy’s life since she was a Cloverbud. Her favorite memories are of showing beef cattle growing up. She has a long family history of 4-H as her grandfather was instrumental in bringing 4-H to northern Illinois.
When asked about her involvement as a 4-H leader Anderson states, “4-H is for everyone! I love that I get to help kids find their passion that could someday turn into a career.”
Illinois 4-H programs in Winnebago County reach nearly 300 youth each year through 4-H clubs, camps, educational programs, workshops, and conferences held in communities, schools, parks, and homes. Volunteers fill key leadership and mentoring roles throughout the state.
“Volunteers are the heart of the Illinois 4-H Youth Development program, embodying the spirit of dedicated service that nurtures the growth of our future leaders,” says Patricia McGlaughlin, University of Illinois Extension specialist. “Their unwavering commitment and selfless contributions empower our youth to learn, thrive, and make a positive impact on their communities. Volunteers help youth find their spark and help build our next generations.”
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.