The Extension Connection

Rise & Shine
After sleeping at night, your body is ready for nourishment when you wake up. Eating breakfast is healthy and recommended. Discuss sweet-and-savory breakfast pairings, explore your barriers to morning eating, and troubleshoot solutions to make breakfast eating accessible and affordable, from ideas...

Spring Birds & Blooms
This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to learn - no experience needed, just curiosity and a love for nature. Join us for a day of fun, discovery, and hands-on learning!Throughout the day, you will:Learn about spring birds and simple ways to identify them.Learn about...

4-H Archery Recruitment Shoot
Have you ever considered trying archery, or are you an experienced archer looking to join a 4-H Shooting Sports Club?All 4-H programs focus on developing young people into confident individuals and responsible, productive citizens. Through Shooting Sports, youth learn marksmanship, the safe and...

4-H Horticulture Workshop - Let's Get Gardening!
Youth will have a chance to get their hands into the soil by planting early-season plant starts (grown by the Monticello High School horticulture classes) and seeds. Help start a large early-season garden to supply local food pantries with fresh produce this summer. Attendees will be introduced to...

Foods from the Home Kitchen: Illinois Cottage Food Law
Start your food business at home as a Cottage Food Operation. In Illinois, certain foods can be made in home kitchens and sold at farmers' markets and other locations. Learn the basics of Illinois Cottage Food Law, including current legislation, allowed and prohibited foods, essential safety...

Get Out of the House Now!
The Crossing Garden Education Series will guide you through a full gardening season -- from starting seeds and nurturing young plants to harvesting big and wrapping things up for the year. Along the way, Master Gardeners will share practical tips, tried-and-true techniques, and a few insider...

Homegrown Harvest: Soil Health and Planting Cool Season Crops
Homegrown Harvest is a series of free, family-friendly vegetable garden workshops designed to support beginning gardeners through the growing season. Topics include seed sowing, soil health, planting cool season crops, and planting warm season crops. Workshop materials will be provided, please...

Little Sprouts with 4-H and Master Gardeners
Little Sprouts with 4-H and Master Gardeners!This program will introduce youth to nature and gardening through storybooks and fun learning activities. This session explores the fascinating parts of plants. Come learn, imagine, and grow with us!  Register by April 17....

Motivation Monday: Diabetes at the Y
Understanding how food impacts blood sugar can increase your confidence to manage diabetes day-to-day. Join Illinois Extension for educational sessions to strengthen your knowledge and skills. Recipe demonstrations and food samples are provided.There will be multiple classes and...

Foods from the Home Kitchen: Illinois Cottage Food Law
Start your food business at home as a Cottage Food Operation. In Illinois, certain foods can be made in home kitchens and sold at farmers' markets and other locations. Learn the basics of Illinois Cottage Food Law, including current legislation, allowed and prohibited foods, essential safety...

Get Growing Bement with Piatt County Master Gardeners
Get Growing Bement!Stop by anytime between 10 am and noon and visit with the Piatt County Master Gardeners. Learn gardening tips, plant some seeds to take home, and mingle with gardeners. Also, learn about gardening workshops coming to Bement! Walk-ins are Welcome...

Grow Together
Grow Together | Container GardensJoin us for some hands-on learning experiences designed to help you grow with confidence and community! Discover how to grow and design beautiful and productive container gardens while learning about the advantages of gardening in containers and...

Foods from the Home Kitchen: Illinois Cottage Food Law
Start your food business at home as a Cottage Food Operation. In Illinois, certain foods can be made in home kitchens and sold at farmers markets and other locations. Learn the basics of Illinois Cottage Food Law, including current legislation, allowed and prohibited foods, essential safety...

Master Gardener & Master Naturalist Plant Sale
If you are making plans for the growing season, be sure to stop by the Macon County Master Gardener and Master Naturalist plant sale. The annual plant offers gardeners a wide variety of flower and vegetable plants with on-site consultations provided by our Master Gardener and Master Naturalist...