SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members in Illinois will join 6 million youth across the country in celebrating National 4-H Week Oct. 1-7. Clubs around Illinois celebrate this week by highlighting the remarkable 4‑H youth in their communities and showcasing the incredible experiences that 4‑H offers young people.

Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth program for the University of Illinois Extension and the largest out-of-school youth organization in Illinois. 4-H youth development programs in Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties challenge youth to “learn by doing” with fun, hands-on activities. Kids can learn, practice, and demonstrate new skills while exploring the interests that are important to them. 

In 4-H, youth are brought together in clubs, led by caring adults, who welcome them as a part of the larger 4-H family. Members learn about topics that interest them through projects. That could be anything from learning how to cook, build a robot or care for the environment.  Members can explore these topics through 4-H experiences such as community clubs, special interest clubs, workshops and more.

”4-H’s ‘learn by doing’ philosophy encourages youth to experiment, innovate and think independently,” said Carissa Davis, University of Illinois Extension Youth Development Educator. “4-H grows confident kids who tackle issues that matter most in their communities.” 

Illinois 4-H members range in age from 8 to 18, and youth who are 5 to 7 years of age may join 4-H as a Cloverbud member. The cost to join 4-H for the year is $20. New members can get more information by visiting go.illinois.edu/LMS4-H or contacting your local 4-H office:

• Logan County: 217-732-8289
• Menard County: 217-632-7491
• Sangamon County: 217-782-4617

Community clubs offered in the Logan, Menard and Sangamon County Extension unit are as follows:

Logan County 4-H Clubs youth can join:

• Atlanta Ag & Atlanta Ag Cloverbuds – meets 3rd Sunday at 3 PM in Atlanta
• Atlanta Town and Country – meets 1st Monday at 7 PM in Atlanta
• Beason Ag – meets 2nd Sunday at 1:30 PM in Beason
• Chester – meets 3rd Sunday at 2 PM in Lincoln
• Cloverdale – meets 1st Thursday at 7 PM in Lincoln
• Four Corner Clovers & Four Corner Cloverbuds – meets 2nd Wednesday at 6 PM in Lincoln
• Hartem Clovers – meets 4th Sunday at 3 PM in Emden
• Hollanders & Whiz Kids Cloverbuds – meets 3rd Sunday at 1 PM in New Holland
• Middletown 4-H’ers & Middletown Cloverbuds – meets varying Sundays at 4:30 PM in Middletown
• Topper – meeting day/time TBD in Mt. Pulaski
• Wide-A-Wake & Early Riser Cloverbuds – meets 2nd Sunday at 3 PM in Lincoln

Menard County 4-H Clubs youth can join:

• Greenview Boosters & Greenview Boosters Cloverbuds – meets 3rd Sunday at 6:30 PM in Greenview
• West Menarders & West Menarders Cloverbuds – meets 1st Sunday at 5 PM in Petersburg

Sangamon County 4-H Clubs youth can join:

• Capital Clovers & Capital Cloverbuds – meets 3rd Sunday at 3 PM in Springfield
• Cooper Jets & Cooper Jets Cloverbuds – meets 4th Sunday at 6:30 PM in Rochester
• Illiopolis – meets 3rd Sunday at 5 PM in Illiopolis
• Island Grove & Island Grove Cloverbuds – meets 3rd Sunday at 2 PM in New Berlin
• Lucky Clovers & Lucky Cloverbuds – meets 2nd Monday at 1 PM in Springfield
• Pawnee Cloverbuds – meets last Saturday at 10 AM in Pawnee
• Pleasant Plains Clovers – meets 1st Sunday at 2 PM in Pleasant Plains
• Sugar Creek Pioneers – meets 2nd Sunday at 2 PM in Chatham
• Talkington – meets 2nd Sunday at 5:30 PM in Waverly
• Town and Country – meets 1st Saturday at 1 PM in Auburn
• Tri-City – meets 3rd Wednesday at 7 PM in Buffalo
• West Side & West Side Cloverbuds – meets 2nd Wednesday at 7 PM in New Berlin

ABOUT ILLINOIS 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension and administered through the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences.4-H grows true leaders, youth who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow. The hands-on approach in 4-H gives young people guidance, tools and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. Independent research confirms the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience, demonstrating that young people are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.