News Releases

Clovers in a field.
4-H youth honored for leadership, career achievements
Urbana, Ill. – 4-H youth across the state have been honored for their career achievements in the 4-H program. The State 4-H Experience Award offers recognition for members who took part in activities and events in the categories of Participation, Community Service, Leadership, and...
Ignite youth gather in front of banner.
National leadership super summit gives teens new pathways
Washington, D.C.. – Eighteen teen leaders from across Illinois were chosen to represent Illinois 4-H at the Ignite by 4-H Summit to be held Mar. 13-17 in Washington D.C. Teens experienced four days of inspiring and engaging panels, respected speakers, workshop sessions, entertainment and...
Ross Vancil at the microphone.
4-H youth leader takes the stage as part of Agriculture Legislative Day
Springfield, Ill. –  Members of the Youth Leadership Team represented Illinois 4-H at the Agriculture Legislative Day held in Springfield Mar. 13. Agriculture Legislative Day allows farm and agricultural commodity organizations and others with an agricultural interest to meet with both...
Road Trip attendees look at a presenter.
Illinois youth attend first 4-H post-high school success conference
URBANA, Ill. — Over 140 eighth through 12th graders from across Illinois headed to the Illini Union on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus for a 4-H College and Career Road Trip. This dynamic conference was aimed at preparing Illinois youth for the journey into higher education...
Members pose in green shirts in the Capitol.
Teen leaders showcase leadership, speaking skills at State Capitol
Springfield, IL – Illinois 4-H teens put their leadership skills to the test as they communicated the value and impact of Illinois 4-H with state legislators as a part of 4-H Legislative Connection on Feb.7 and 8. Legislative Connection provides Illinois 4-H teens a...
Team members pose with ribbons.
4-H youth showcase agricultural excellence at national competition
Louisville, Ky. — 4-H youth headed to the North American International Livestock Exposition to compete in educational contests held as a part of the exposition held Nov. 2-16 in Louisville. The expo drew more than 27,000 livestock entries from...
Illinois 4-H team poses with ribbons and medals.
Illinois 4-H teams make history in Louisville
Louisville, Ky. -- Illinois 4-H had a record-breaking day at the North American International Livestock Exposition. For the first time ever, Illinois 4-H won the National 4-H Quiz Bowl. For the second year in a row, Illinois 4-H won the National 4-H...
Youth work with a computer and STEM equipment.
4-H members ignite their future leadership path
Decatur, Ill.-- Over 100 seventh and eighth grade youth learned ways to improve their leadership skills at the 2023 space-themed 4-H Junior Leadership Conference held Nov. 4-5 at the Decatur Hotel and Conference Center in Decatur. “This event helps youth from all over Illinois gain a new...
Senior winners pose with banners.
Youth livestock skillathon showcases future leaders of ag
Urbana, Ill. — Seventy 4-H youth participated in the State 4-H Livestock Skillathon held in the Stock Pavilion on University of Illinois campus on Nov. 4. Participants went through the contest and then participated in a learning workshop to better prepare for next year’s contests in the summer...
Group of 4-Hers stand around a large rock in forest
Geology Exploration at Millstone Bluff
On November 4, 2023, Unit 24 4-Hers had the unique opportunity to learn about geological layers and explore for fossils at Millstone Bluff and Millstone Lake. This informative session was led by Joe Devera, a Paleontologist associated with the Illinois State Geological Survey. The event aimed to...
Youth lay on the ground and aim rifles
Young marksmen aim for excellence
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The best teenage 4-H rifle shooters from Illinois gathered to compete in small bore rifle and air rifle competition at the 2023 4-H State Rifle Shoot held at Central Illinois Precision Shooters on Oct. 8. The rifle shooting sports discipline involves both precision...
Headshot of Felicity Emmerich
Local student recipient of $1,000 Grundy 4-H Scholarship
MORRIS, Ill – The University of Illinois Extension 4-H program in Grundy County this week announced the recipient of the 2023 Grundy County 4-H Scholarship.  Recognizing a recent graduating senior or college student in their final year of 4-H enrollment, the scholarship recognizes the...
Hall of Fame, 2023 4-H Clover, Inductees
4-H honors extraordinary volunteers
SPRINGFIELD, Ill — Illinois 4-H volunteers empower and prepare youth for success as the program relies on its more than 6,000 volunteers to fill key leadership and mentoring roles. Brad and Paula Zwilling in Champaign County, Angela Jones in Iroquois County, May Ellen McClure in Ford County, and...
Mason 4-H archery team
Local 4-H members excel at State Shooting Sports competition
LEWISTOWN, Ill. - For many people, when the discussion of sports comes up in the fall the conversation tends to lean towards football and cross country. But for some local 4-H members the sports focus is on preparing for the Illinois 4-H State Shooting Sports competitions. Fulton and Mason 4-H...
multiple hands reaching for the center
New committee to drive inclusivity and equity initiatives in Illinois 4-H
Champaign, IL – Illinois 4-H is marking the establishment of a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Implementation Committee. This newly formed committee will advise and collaborate in the implementation of DEIA priorities recently identified through a strategic planning...
youth winners pose
Competition builds camaraderie, sense of friendly competition
BUNKER HILL, Ill. — The best teenage 4-H shotgun shooters from Illinois gathered to shoot a full 100 rounds of trap shooting at Brittany Shooting Park near Bunker Hill on Sept. 23. A crowd of nearly 250 gathered for this event. Seventy shooters were on hand for this year’s competition....