YORKVILLE, Ill. – The Kendall County Fair marked the culmination of the 2025-2026 4-H year with exhibits, animal shows, and activities. 4-H members shared their knowledge and skills thanks to the support of many dedicated volunteers.
“4-H shows provide youth with a valuable opportunity to showcase their hard work and to receive helpful guidance for continued growth,” said Tina Anderson, 4-H Program Coordinator. “Through 4-H, members learn through hands-on activities to make decisions, manage time, communicate, and work both independently and with a team.”
4-H members can explore dozens of projects in seven areas of study – animal science, career and leadership development, creative arts, environmental sciences, global civic engagement, healthy living, and STEM. 4-H positive youth development helps members build independence and life skills, promotes leadership, and encourages service to the community.
“4-H opened so many doors for me,” said Asher Munar, 4-H graduate and longtime member of the Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club. “4-H helped shape my interests and allowed me to explore new things safely. 4-H is about building leaders and confidence in today’s youth and doing real hands-on things. 4-H gave me opportunities and experiences that have created the person I am today.”
Munar added that they plan to come back to volunteer with 4-H, joining dozens of other adult community members who share their time and expertise to facilitate or judge 4-H shows. Several community members and organizations also sponsor awards, such as trophies or banners, or provide support to the overall Kendall County 4-H program and shows.
“Each year, our 4-H show volunteers provide youth this important growth experience,” said Anderson. “Thank you to all of our judges, superintendents, club leaders, and other volunteers who make this possible. We also greatly appreciate our Kendall County 4-H show and award sponsors for recognizing the achievements of 4-H youth.”
The 2026 Extension Supporters and 4-H Show sponsors included: Emerald Level – Kendall-Grundy Beef Association; Gold Level – 4-H Livestock Auction Committee, Groot Waste Management, Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau, and RAS Land Management; Silver Level – Friends of Sue Rezin, Heartland Bank and Trust Company, and Spirit Farms/Stewart Spreading; Bronze Level – Gary Brigel, Robert Brummel Memorial, Cryder Builders, Jerry Dalton Memorial, Robert Fruland Memorial, FS Grain LLC, Kellogg Farms, Kendall County Home and Community Education, Kendall County Forest Preserve District, E.M. McCauley & Sons, Shala Farms, Bob and Sarah Stewart; Winding Creek Nursery, Wyffels Hybrids-Don Brummel, and Marc and Patti Wietting; Friends of Extension Level – Carolyn Herren Memorial, Debbie Murray, and Southwest Real Estate.
The 2026 4-H Award sponsors were (alphabetical order): Boulder Terrace Farm, Gary Brigel, Century 21 Integra, the Conservation Foundation, the Dickson Family, the Fitzgerald Family, FNIC Trusted Insurance Advisors, Friends of Sue Rezin, Grainco FS, Inc., Heartland Bank and Trust Company, Kendall County Pork Producers, Kendall Grundy Beef Association, Koch Quarter Horses, Debbie Murray, the Olah Family, Kim Olson, James Paul Memorial, Mary Ann Petersen In Memory of Pete Petersen, Bev Popp, RAS Land Management, In Memory of Ruth and Gordon Schobert, Southwest Real Estate, Bob and Sarah Stewart, the Subat Family, the Sucich Family, Winding Creek Nursery and Garden Center, and Wyffels Hybrids - Don Brummel.
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.