YORKVILLE, Ill. — From farms to the marketplace, the future of agriculture depends on raising animals responsibly and ethically. On Saturday, local 4-H members from Grundy and Kendall counties gathered at the Kendall County Fairgrounds to learn from industry leaders about practical insights on animal health, stewardship, and standards that sustain consumer trust.
“4-H members put a lot of care and attention into the animals that they show at the fair,” said Brooke Katcher, 4-H recruitment and engagement coordinator. “Learning directly from industry leaders helps youth better understand the responsibility that comes with raising livestock. Those skills not only help them in the show ring, but also build the foundation for ethical animal care throughout the agriculture industry.”
The event, co-sponsored by University of Illinois Extension and the Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau, provided young people with vital training in preparation for the 2026 4-H show season.
Sessions were presented by local agricultural professionals, and participants rotated through sessions that focused on important topics related to quality animal care.
“This event was a huge success and allowed us to help 4-H members fulfill their ethics training requirement and provide an in-depth, high-quality learning opportunity," said Jenna Siegel, Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau manager. “Thanks are extended to the many people who made this event possible, including the Joliet Junior College Livestock Judging Team, Runnings of Morris, Earlybird, PetSmart, and the Kendall Grundy Beef Association.”
Four industry leaders and one organization presented on a variety of topics:
- Chad Mahler, an FFA advisor and agriculture teacher, presented on ethics.
- Chad Crane, of Earlybird feed, presented on food and nutrition.
- Buzz Iliff, of Iliff Veterinary and Consulting, presented on animal health.
- Sara Mitchell, of Compeer Financial, Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau, and local swine producer, presented on biosecurity and housing.
- Members of the Joliet Junior College livestock judging team presented on animal showing techniques.
For Macy Mahler, a Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club member and part of the JJC Livestock Judging team, the main takeaway of the event was simple: “It is important to know the proper way to handle and treat animals, and to make sure you do so in the best possible way.”
Mahler attended the program as both a participant and volunteer as her group presented on selecting fair animals: “I helped teach them important things to look for before purchasing their animal, including talking to the seller beforehand and structural things about the animal.”
According to Siegel, learning opportunities like this one impact the agriculture industry for the better:
“It’s important for 4-H members and young people who are interested in livestock to base their knowledge on animal health and stewardship. This foundation reinforces the high standards of care that consumers expect from today’s agriculture industry and builds the confidence they need to continue their journey in the industry.”
For more information about 4-H, visit go.illinois.edu/Survey4Hdkk in Kendall County or go.illinois.edu/About4HGKW in Grundy County.
Learn more about the Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau at kendallgrundyfb.com.
WRITERS: Anthony Warmack, communications and marketing coordinator, Illinois Extension; Rosie Ralston, publicity and promotion associate, Illinois Extension
SOURCES: Brooke Katcher, 4-H recruitment and engagement coordinator, Illinois Extension; Jenna Siegel, Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau Manager; Tina Anderson, 4-H youth development program coordinator, Illinois Extension.
IMAGE CREDIT: Images courtesy of the Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau.
MEDIA ACCESS: Images in this release can be downloaded for media use. For press inquiries, contact Anthony Warmack (warmacka@illinois.edu, 217-244-5813) or Rosie Ralston (rralston@illinois.edu, 217-244-4529). Want to keep in touch with news from Illinois Extension in Grundy, Kankakee, and Will Counties? Sign up for press updates.
About Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau: The Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau is a grassroots, volunteer-led organization committed to promoting agriculture through education, advocacy, and community involvement. Serving both rural and urban populations, they support the well-being of farmers and the vitality of agricultural communities across northeastern Illinois.
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.