JOLIET, Ill. — After months of learning, practicing, and creating, local 4-H members are preparing to showcase their accomplishments. As the youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, 4-H connects young people with research-based education and caring adult mentors who help them thrive.
"4-H members have spent the year learning and growing in areas that interest them," says Emilia Elabed, Illinois Extension 4-H youth development educator. "Every exhibit and show ring tells a story of learning. Whether a member earns a blue ribbon or simply has the courage to step into the ring for the first time, they're developing skills like responsibility, leadership, and resilience that will serve them throughout their lives."
Below is the 4-H fairs and shows schedule for Will County:
- Will County 4-H General Projects Show, July 11, JJC Weitendorf Agricultural Education Center
- Will County 4-H Dog Show, July 13, Wilton Township Community Building
- Will County 4-H Rabbit Show, August 22, Will County Fairgrounds
- Will County 4-H Livestock Shows, August 26-30, Will County Fairgrounds
For times and full details, visit the event pages linked above or online at extension.illinois.edu/gkw/events. Any updates or cancelations will be posted to the individual event pages or announced on the local Illinois Extension Facebook page (@UIEgkw).
All 4-H shows are open to the public and free to attend, so the community is encouraged to come out and support local youth. Winning 4-H exhibits will have the opportunity to display their projects at the Illinois State Fair on August 15 in Springfield.
"The county 4-H fair is one of our favorite traditions because it brings the community together to celebrate local youth," Elabed said. "We hope you'll stop by, meet local 4-H members, and see how 4-H is helping young people build the skills and confidence to become Beyond Ready for whatever comes next."
For more information on 4-H, visit go.illinois.edu/about4hgkw.
SOURCE: Barbara Dubravec, 4-H program coordinator.
WRITER: Anthony Warmack, communications and marketing coordinator.
MEDIA ACCESS: Images are available to download for media use.
INTERVIEWS AND PRESS ACCESS: For interviews and press access during events, contact Brooke Katcher or Anthony Warmack.
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.