URBANA, Ill. — The core of University of Illinois Extension’s mission is to help individuals and communities improve by connecting them with life-changing research-based information. Every year, staff across the state offer thousands of in-person and remote programs to meet this mission. Extension recently acknowledged five teams with Team Excellence and Honorable Mention awards for their project work and program delivery at the 2024 Annual Conference awards ceremony. The projects included expanding food access in southern Illinois, connecting vegetable gardening and financial education, and creating an immersive 4-H camping experience.
Southern Illinois Food Access: Interdisciplinary State Team Excellence
The Southern Illinois Food Access Project addresses food insecurity for vulnerable populations in a 16-county downstate region. A 12-member Southern Illinois Food Access regional advisory board guides the local efforts in enhancing food access. The initiative’s survey of the city of Cairo and Gallatin County led to the opening of a grocery store in Cairo, fixing a seven-year absence. The project also launched the "Food on the Move" Mobile Food Pantry, serving three counties with limited grocery options. This collaborative approach created lasting improvements in community health and access to nutritious food.
The project team (photoed above) included Jody Johnson, county director; Angie Messmer, county director and director of the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center; Elizabeth Cooley-Questelle, SNAP-Ed educator; John Shadowens, visiting community economic development educator; Destenie Sullivan, community and economic development research assistant; Monica Meyer, unit fiscal office support specialist; Toni Kay Wright, SNAP-Ed educator; Lacey Barnhill, SNAP-Ed program coordinator.
Gardening and Grocery Planning: Interdisciplinary Unit Team Excellence
Gardening and Grocery Planning is a successful collaborative program designed to improve both financial literacy and food security. It is led by Financial Educator Jamie Mahlandt an Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator Christina Lueking. The program connects gardening and financial planning, allowing participants to learn how to grow food while managing grocery budgets. Over 84% of participants reported improved gardening and budgeting skills. Participants also shared surplus produce with local food pantries.
Photo: Jamie Mahlandt and Christina Lueking and Jennifer McCaffrey, family and consumer sciences assistant dean, and Travis Burke, assistant dean, agriculture/agri-business program leader.
Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski, and Union counties 4-H Team: Interdisciplinary Unit Team Honorable Mention
The 4-H team in Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski, and Union counties integrated 4-H programming into 84 classrooms, engaging with more than 1,200 youth in the spring of 2024 and aligning hands-on projects with Illinois learning standards. Highlights included embryology, butterfly studies, financial literacy, and cultural awareness. The team includes Jody Johnson, county director; Monica Meyer, unit fiscal office support specialist; Amy Shuck, office support assistant; Kristi Stout, 4-H youth development educator; Dena Wood, 4-H youth development program coordinator; Vickie Taylor, 4-H youth development program coordinator.
Campapalooza: Team Excellence
The "Focus Field Trip: Campapalooza" offered Illinois 4-H staff an immersive camping experience at 4-H Memorial Camp to boost morale and increase familiarity with camp resources. The innovative professional development initiative included team-building activities and hands-on learning in shooting sports, outdoor education, and STEM. The program’s success has inspired annual overnight learning events, which will enhance youth programming and foster stronger connections across the state.
The professional development team, photoed, included 4-H Youth Development Senior Program Lead Amy Henschen; 4-H Youth Development Specialist Danielle Gapinski; 4-H Youth Development and Metro Educator Latosha Reggans; 4-H Youth Development Educators Andrea Farrier, Emily Schoenfelder, and Jaylynn Schober; and 4-H Youth Development Program Coordinators Ryan Littlejohn, Megan Pierson, Angela Miller, Siera Duesterhaus.
Developing Broadband Leadership: Team Excellence Honorable Mention
Since 2017, Extension's community and economic development team has partnered with the Illinois Office of Broadband and the Benton Institute to equip local leaders with skills for infrastructure planning through the Developing Broadband Leadership webinar series. These workshops have helped local municipalities secure funding for projects and improve internet access, fostering economic growth and educational opportunities in rural communities. The team included Community and Economic Educators Valerie Belusko, Mike Delany, and Jennifer Russell; and Community and Economic Development State Specialist Nancy Ouedraogo.
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.