HENRY, Ill. The Learn Grow Share SPIN Club, led by Bethany Harrison in collaboration with Marshall-Putnam 4-H, concluded its 2025 growing season with a festive family cookout and pumpkin harvest. The event celebrated a year of hard work, education, and giving back—highlighted by 742 pounds of produce harvested by youth members.
Beginning in February 2025, club members met regularly to explore topics such as seed starting, soil health, garden planning, beneficial insects, nutrient needs, wildlife management, and more. Applying the skills learned, the club empowered youth to grow food, develop leadership skills, and connect with their community through agriculture.
Much of the produce grown by the club was donated to two community Blessing Boxes—one at Henry United Methodist Church and another next to the library in McNabb—serving families in two counties with access to fresh, healthy food.
“This season wasn’t just about gardening; it was about growth in every sense,” said Bethany Harrison, SPIN Club Leader. “Our youth showed real dedication, and the impact they’ve made in the community is something to be proud of.”
The season ended on a high note with a cookout and pumpkin harvest, bringing families and supporters together to celebrate the club’s accomplishments.
Bethany Harrison and Anne Scheel, 4-H Youth Development Coordinator, are already looking ahead to the next gardening year, which will begin again in February 2026. Plans for the upcoming season include expanded in-bed irrigation, increased outreach, and new opportunities for youth to engage in hands-on learning and community service.
The Learn Grow Share SPIN Club is part of Marshall-Putnam 4-H programming, focused on developing life skills through experiential education in agriculture, leadership, and civic responsibility. Youth can join this club by enrolling in Zsuite.org.
For more information about upcoming events, contact the Marshall-Putnam Extension Office at 309-364-2356 or visit https://extension.illinois.edu/blmp.
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.