PRINCETON, Ill.- The new 4-H Drone Clubs in Bureau, LaSalle, and Marshall-Putnam Counties are taking flight! Thanks to a generous grant from Compeer Financial, our 4-H team was able to purchase three drone kits and launch an exciting learning adventure for more than 25 youth across the region.
Participants explored the basics of flight, weather, and drone safety, while also discovering how drones are transforming agriculture and other career fields. The program culminated in a drone competition, where seven teams showcased their skills: navigating obstacle courses, performing “crop applications,” and demonstrating teamwork, creativity, and precision.
Almost 70 people gathered to cheer the teams on at the Second Story Teen Center in Princeton. The teen center was created to reach at-risk youth throughout the community, and LaSalle, Bureau, and Marshall-Putnam 4-H has established this new partnership to bring STEM-related programming to their facility.
“The kids inspired me to dive deeper into drone technology and the innovations shaping our future,” says Shasta Hladovcak, 4-H & Youth Development Educator. “While I taught them the fundamentals of flight, regulations, and how drones are transforming agriculture and career pathways, they showed me just how quickly youth and technology can soar. Their curiosity and capability over the last couple of months far exceeded my expectations and will leave a lasting impact on all of our lives.
The 4-H drone club is just one of many educational experiences offered through the University of Illinois Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program. 4-H provides learning opportunities that help youth grow into confident, capable, and caring individuals. To learn more about 4-H opportunities, call University of Illinois Extension at 217-244-5812 or email Shasta Hladovcak at shlad@illinois.edu.
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.