From pumpkin patches to horse stables, Illinois 4-H youth build fall fun brick by brick

More than 65 entries showcase creativity and storytelling in statewide building challenge

URBANA, Ill. — Fall fun took on a whole new shape as Illinois 4-H youth turned colorful plastic building bricks into miniature worlds filled with pumpkins, horses, trick-or-treaters and autumn adventures.

More than 65 youth from across Illinois put their imaginations to work in the October Creating with Building Bricks Challenge, a statewide contest encouraging young builders to capture their favorite fall activities through original creations.

With the theme "Fall Fun," participants brought autumn traditions to life, building everything from cozy cabins and colorful parks to scenes inspired by Halloween and Friday night football games.

"You could really feel the fun in all the builds that were submitted," said Amy Henschen, Illinois 4-H senior program lead. "Kids celebrated fall activities from trick-or-treating to jumping into leaf piles, building scarecrows and attending a high school football game. The builds were so creative and had so many great details that helped bring their stories to life!"

Three young builders earned top honors in their respective age divisions:

• Ages 8-10: Cecily Miguel, 9, of the Helping Hands 4-H Club in McDonough County, created "Fall Picnic in the Park," a colorful autumn scene featuring pumpkins, a cider stand, and characters enjoying the season. "I wanted to include some pretty fall colors and fun fall things like pumpkins and a cider stand," Miguel said. "I try to tell a story with the people — with how they are dressed and how they are set up."
• Ages 11-13: Lyla Johnson, 11, of the Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club in Kendall County, earned top honors with "Happy Horse Stables," a fall-inspired scene featuring a cozy cabin, horse stable, and seasonal details. "My build is of a cozy cabin and horse stable during fall with lots of little details like pumpkins, apples, and of course, lots of horses!" Johnson said.
• Ages 14-18: Anna Rutherford, 14, of the Pin Oak Progressors 4-H Club in Madison County, captured the spirit of Halloween with her creation, "Trick or Treat," featuring a trick-or-treating scene.

Each winner will receive a custom buildable brick-shaped trophy and a clover spinning top in recognition of their creativity.

The monthly challenge introduces youth to the Illinois 4-H Creating with Building Bricks project, which encourages participants to design and construct original creations using plastic building bricks, including LEGO and MEGA BLOKS. Along the way, youth practice creative thinking, problem-solving, and design skills as they bring their ideas to life.

"We hope this contest lets kids channel their creativity and gets them interested in our Creating with Building Bricks 4-H project," Henschen said.

The building fun isn't over yet. The challenge continues through December with new themes to inspire young creators. November invites youth to design a 4-H parade float celebrating a favorite 4-H project, while December challenges builders to create brick masterpieces through mosaic art.

Families can also join the fun over winter break with a special "Fair and Show Favorites" challenge designed for building together.

Whether they're recreating a favorite memory, celebrating a 4-H experience, or dreaming up something entirely new, young builders have plenty of opportunities to turn a handful of bricks into something extraordinary. To learn more about the challenge, visit the Illinois 4-H website.

About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension. Through hands-on learning, mentorship and opportunities to lead, Illinois 4-H empowers young people to develop the skills they need to thrive today and become leaders tomorrow. Learn more at 4h.extension.illinois.edu.