LITCHFIELD, Ill. – Elaan Bader from Litchfield is a runner up for the 2023 4-H Youth in Action Award for Agriculture. Bader is recognized nationally for her dedication to pollinator education and environmental benefits.

Elaan attributes the spark she has for agriculture and the global health of pollinators to 4-H. Armed with a can-do attitude and a belief the one person can make a difference, 4-H has provided her opportunities and experiences that have honed her public speaking, creative writing and leadership skills.

Working as a pollinator ambassador through a national 4-H grant, Elaan trained over 3,000 youth and adult volunteers and helped to plant over 36 acres of pollinator plots. During the pandemic, she utilized her strengths and talents gained in 4-H to independently educate people both locally and internationally about pollinators’ importance, creating original educational materials including a monthly newsletter, PSAs and social media content. Speaking out wherever she’s offered the opportunity­­­­--at community clubs, agricultural venues and the like--Elaan is passionate about her work and is driven to inspire and enable others to be change agents to make our world a better place. 

A student at Washington University in St. Louis, Bader aims to share her pollinator passion through a career in agriculture law. The 4-H Youth in Action Awards began in 2010 to recognize 4-H’ers who have overcome challenges and used the knowledge they gained in 4-H to create a lasting impact in their community. To learn more about the 4-H Youth in Action program and the 2023 runners up, please visit http://4-H.org/YouthInAction.

Media Contact: Cassie O'Connell, Marketing and Communications Program Coordinator,  coconne@illinois.edu

Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/4H.