BOURBONNAIS, Ill — University of Illinois Extension in Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties over the past month have recognized the impact of volunteers on the local 4-H programs in the three counties and recently announced milestone winners.
“Illinois 4-H volunteers are empowering and preparing youth for success,” said Brittney Muschetto-DePatis, 4-H youth development educator serving Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties. “We are very thankful for their service and endless dedication to the youth of our community.”
Illinois Extension recently announced the 2025 Leader Milestone recipients, an award in Grundy and Kankakee which recognize volunteer years of service. Award recipients in each county were recognized at their respective county 4-H awards presentations.
Local winners are:
Completing their first year of service:
Geralyn Goers (Kankakee, Sewing SPIN Club)
Saundra Pratt (Kankakee, Kankakee 4-H Lepra’Club)
Patricia Purnell (Kankakee, Lepra’Club Cloverbuds)
Charlene Haisma (Kankakee, Kankakee Public Library Nature Troopers)
With 5 years of service:
Jen Truhlar (Grundy, Homes Cool Kids)
Kelsey Rincker (Kankakee, Cabery Specials Cloverbuds)
Larry Voigt (Kankakee, Grant Park LLSS)
With 15 years of service:
Amanda Anderson (Grundy, Highland Ag)
Jennifer Bauer (Kankakee, Kids with Kids)
With 20 years of service:
Tammy Richie (Kankakee, Cabery Specials)
With 25 years of service:
Doreen Harlow (Grundy, Highland Ag)
Melissa Saathoff (Kankakee, Manteno Best Pioneers)
Melissa Burwell (Kankakee, Momence Troopers)
With 40 years of service:
Margaret Cote (Kankakee, All Around Kids then Saint George Dragons)
With 65 years of service:
John Adams (Kankakee, Chebanse Ag)
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. 4-H If you are interested in volunteering, visit extension.illinois.edu/gkw/volunteer.
For more information about 4-H in your county, visit go.illinois.edu/About4HGKW
WRITER: Anthony Warmack, communications coordinator, Illinois Extension
SOURCE: Brooke Katcher, 4-H recruitment and engagement coordinator, Illinois Extension
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 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.