BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension’s 4-H program is strengthening the mission of preparing youth to be Beyond Ready for life with the addition of three new staff members serving three counties in Northern Illinois. Barbara Dubravec, Colleen Hoffman, and Kylee Zoran have joined Illinois Extension as the 4-H program coordinators in Will County, Kankakee County, and Grundy County, respectively.
“Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready for the future,” said Marilu Andon, Illinois Extension county director serving Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties. “I am pleased to welcome Barbara and Colleen to new roles within our unit, as well as welcome Kylee, who comes to us after previously serving as an Ag Teacher. I’m excited to see what they accomplish in these new roles, which were previously vacant due to staffing transitions.”
In their new roles, Dubravec, Hoffman, and Zoran will be the first point of contact for 4-H families in their respective counties and will take the lead in managing members, volunteers, clubs, and the 4-H summer exhibitions.
4-H is the flagship youth development program of Illinois Extension and the largest out-of-school program in Illinois. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready for life.
Barbara Dubravec
Dubravec joins Will County from Kankakee and brings years of experience working with youth and community-based programs. A lifelong 4-H alumna for Kankakee County, she has dedicated her career to supporting positive youth development through hands-on learning and strong community partnerships. Known for her ability to connect with families and volunteers, Dubravec is committed to helping young people build confidence, develop practical skills, and stay engaged in their communities.
Dubravec can be reached via email at bud23@illinois.edu.
Colleen Hoffman
Hoffman, previously the Office Support Assistant in Kankakee County, brings a strong background in youth development and community engagement to her new role. She previously assisted in the implementation of Illinois Extension’s new volunteer management experience and brings extensive experience in Volunteer Management. Hoffman is passionate about creating welcoming environments where young people can build confidence, explore new interests, and develop skills.
Hoffman can be reached via email at cjh16@illinois.edu.
Kylee Zoran
New to Illinois Extension, Zoran’s connection to 4-H began in her own youth, where early involvement in agriculture helped shape her career path. A lifelong 4-H alumna from La Salle County, she is no stranger to agriculture and youth education. She previously served as an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. Zoran brings both classroom and leadership experience into her role, where she is passionate about helping young people discover their interests and find their place in the world.
Zoran can be reached via email at kzoran@illinois.edu.
Bringing Beyond Ready to the Community
Dubravec, Hoffman, and Zoran will each be based out of their respective county offices.
“We are excited to welcome these three talented individuals to our team. 4-H is an impactful program, and I am excited to see it continue to grow under their thoughtful guidance,” said Andon.
Illinois 4-H is Illinois’ largest out-of-school program. Participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and twice as likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation, equipping them to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
For more information about 4-H, visit go.illinois.edu/About4HGKW.
SOURCES: Marilu Andon, County Director, Illinois Extension; Barbara Dubravec, 4-H Program Coordinator, Illinois Extension; Colleen Hoffman, 4-H Program Coordinator, Illinois Extension; Kylee Zoran, 4-H Program Coordinator, Illinois Extension.
WRITER: Anthony Warmack, Communications and Marketing Program Coordinator, Illinois Extension
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About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
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.