2018 Illinois 4-H CloverSeed

2018

ILLINOIS 4-H IMPACT

4-H: Inspiring the next generation of innovators

Dear 4-H Family,

The first 4-H club was founded in 1902. Fast forward to 2019, and 4-H has grown to reach youth in every county of the United States and 50 countries around the world. Our 4-H roots are grounded in radical innovation that we have proudly continued to apply ever since.

In the early 1900s, many farmers were ignoring new scientific advances in favor of traditional agricultural practices. Researchers turned to youth as the vehicle for change. 4-H clubs were founded on a belief that young people are both our best innovators and a valued community resource.

4-H MEMBERSHIP

Hispanic ethnicity

In their 4-H clubs, youth used and experimented with different methods of growing crops, raising livestock, canning and preserving food, and more. In 1925, delegations of 4-H youth from across the United States traveled to Washington, D.C. for the first National 4-H Camp, a predecessor to National 4-H Conference. They pitched tents that filled the front lawn of the White House. They met with the president and legislators to discuss what they were learning in 4-H and why it mattered for their communities.

towns under 10k

K—2 post high school

4-H members are youth age 5 to 18 involved in a long-term club that meets at least six times annually.

In University of Illinois Extension 4-H, we continue to foster a spirit of innovation and youth-driven change. This past year, Illinois 4-H members created project exhibits on 3D printers, recorded videos using 360-degree technology, tracked the migration of monarch butterflies, created habitats to foster a resurgence of pollinators, enhanced forestry education at local forest preserves, and monitored water quality to add to the environmental research of Illinois waterways.

Illinois 4-H youth are addressing realworld issues and inspiring others to take action. We surpassed 1 million meals

packaged and donated to support hungry families in Illinois, and we held our first 4-H Hunger Summit to empower youth to address hunger in their local communities. Members worked together to foster greater understanding across cultures in communities.

There are so many reasons to be excited about and inspired by the youth in Illinois 4-H. In addition to being director of Illinois 4-H, I wear a “4-H Mom” hat and get to see my youngest grow in confidence and find his own voice. In 4-H, we understand that not all children are eager to speak in front of others, lead a group, or finish their 4-H record books; we believe instead that each young person has the potential to lead and inspire in her or his own way. 4-H is that spark that inspires youth to stretch, try new things, set goals, and dream big in their communities.

4-H has always been a community effort. We rely on the generous support of our donors, volunteers, and supporters. Your gifts are making a difference for our young people, our communities, our country, and our world.

My sincerest thanks,

Who we are, what we do, and why it matters

Illinois 4-H is building a generation of empowered, skilled, and confident youth leaders. Read inspirational stories of young people changing their communities. We’ve gathered the stories around our ten core programming efforts.

Our ties to the University of Illinois

1862

One has to wonder if Justin Smith Morrill envisioned that the legislation he sponsored in 1862 would come to hold such a profound place in history. The Morrill Act of 1862 created the land-grant college system, with each state granted public land on which to establish a college specializing in agriculture and the mechanical arts. Illinois had no state university at that time.

1867

University of Illinois in Urbana was established as the land-grant university for Illinois and opened in 1867. Later that year the College of Agriculture (now the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences) was established.

1902

The seed for youth 4-H clubs was planted (pun intended) when A.B. Graham started a youth program in Clark County, Ohio, in January of 1902, followed one month later by a club started by O.J. Kern in Winnebago County, Illinois. These early clubs focused on teaching youth to grow corn and tomatoes more productively, raise faster-growing pigs, and safely can garden produce. The clover emblem was developed in 1910, and by 1912, groups were calling themselves 4-H clubs.

1914

Things all came together with the 1914 passing of the Smith-Lever Act, which established the Cooperative Extension Service. Extension’s purpose was, and remains, to extend the research-based knowledge of the land-grant university to people, helping them apply the information to improve their lives, businesses, and communities.

2018

4-H is one of four program areas offered by the Extension Service through the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

4-H Participation

Illinois 4-H reaches nearly 200,000 youth through clubs, camps, programs, and events.

Hispanic

Meeting people where they live ACES dean wants you at U of I

Dean Kim Kidwell has led the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years. One of her first priorities in beginning her role was to better understand the breadth of the University of Illinois Extension program for which she has oversight. To accomplish that, she visited every Extension unit in the state, all 27 of them, serving the 102 counties of Illinois.

“What’s been special about the visits is getting to see what is different in all parts of the state,” Kidwell says. “What we do on campus is meaningless if it doesn’t reach our state’s communities.”

During a visit to Jacksonville on April 5, Kidwell met with older teens involved in leadership and livestock projects and challenged the group to consider U of I, either as freshmen or later as transfer students.

University of Illinois is working cooperatively with the agricultural programs of Southern Illinois, Western Illinois, and Illinois State universities to stop the flow of high school graduates to other states for college. “There’s a place for every student at Illinois, including community college students who wish to transfer here,” Kidwell says.

Pleading her case for U of I, Kidwell noted some statistics: 94% of students who come to U of I as ACES freshmen

stay in the program; 74% graduate in four years. And ACES graduates earn 21% more money over 20 years than their counterparts who graduate from other Big 10 schools.

“So why Illinois? You graduate on time, enter the workforce earlier, and make more money,” Kidwell says. “Our goal is to make students context-rich and content-ready.” She looks to industry to help, and she encouraged professionals to talk with students about their careers and why they love their careers.

The first step to increasing enrollment is to get students on campus and open their eyes to the possibilities in ACES, Kidwell says, including youth who weren’t raised with a farm background. Kidwell, who became a noted plant breeder, did not come from a farm background, but as an undergraduate at Illinois, she found a passion for agriculture in the Department of Crop Sciences.

“If you like the things you do in 4-H, get curious, and start to imagine yourself doing that kind of stuff in the College of ACES,” Kidwell says. “We need bright people like you.”

Many internship possibilities exist for ACES students. “Our goal is to translate what students are learning in the classroom to real life,” Kidwell says. “When you graduate, we want you to be job-ready.”

Extension Director Shelly NickolsRichardson reminded listeners that ACES isn’t nearly as big as students may fear. Around 2,600 undergraduate students are in the college, with room for more.

As the state’s appointed land-grant university, U of I is tasked with conducting life-changing research, which is taught in the classroom and extended to the public at large by Extension staff housed in each county of the state.

Inspiring change across Illinois

ENHANCING LEADERSHIP

4-H teens are confident in their ability to impact others and add youth voice to decisions.

INSTILLING HEALTHY CHOICES

4-H youth lead healthy lives by making nutritious food choices and resisting negative peer pressure.

DEVELOPING WORKFORCE SKILLS

4-H creates pathways to success by allowing youth experience potential careers & learn from mentors.

BUILDING ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES

4-H youth are more likely to be engaged in their communities, tackling issues that matter to them.

INSPIRING INNOVATION

4-H members do hands-on science activities which lead to discovery and knowledge.

EXPANDING FOOD ACCESS

4-H Hunger Ambassadors determine best ways to alleviate hunger in their local communities.

STEWARDING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

4-H youth know that every action made by humans impacts the environmental world around them.

PRODUCING SAFE FOOD

4-H members use best management practices to produce food for the world’s growing population.

Youth begin their 4-H journeys at all ages!

Of 8,563 1st–year members . . .

4-H Clubs

1,704 4-H Clubs

ƒ 1,113 multi-project clubs

ƒ 321 special interest clubs (focusing on a single project)

ƒ 175 Cloverbud clubs

ƒ 29 school clubs

ƒ 18 military clubs

ƒ 48 afterschool clubs

4-H Volunteerism

15,615 total volunteers across all participation areas

4,334 4-H adult volunteer leader experiences in 4-H clubs

ƒ 3,021 in multi-project clubs

ƒ 898 in special interest clubs

ƒ 299 in Cloverbud clubs

ƒ 32 in school clubs

ƒ 17 in military clubs

2,070

You are my inspiration

“Inspired” is the theme of this year’s CloverSeed, and I’m sure as you read the stories, you’ll feel uplifted by the work happening in Illinois 4-H. So what inspires me about 4-H?

I’m inspired by the Extension staff who dedicate nights and weekends to guide young people on their leadership journeys. I’m inspired by the 15,000 volunteers who donate time and talent to the 4-H program. Without staff and volunteers, 4-H simply would not exist.

I am inspired by the 200,000 4-H members who bring their unique talents together. There are many paths in 4-H: clubs, conferences, project work, competitions, service projects, camps, programs, leadership. 4-H allows individuals to make the program their own however they wish, and their creativity inspires me.

Daily, I am inspired by the many stakeholders and 4-H alumni whom I have the pleasure of meeting. Their desire to support the program so that youth can have a meaningful 4-H experience moves me.

The generosity of all of these people inspires me to go to work every day to be a voice for 4-H! The work being done meets critical issues for Illinois residents. The work is done in partnership with young people and caring adults who want to see kids succeed.

I encourage you read every page of this CloverSeed. It is full of amazing things that show you the good that 4-Hers are doing all over this state. Their inspiring work, attitude, and spirit will inspire you.

If you currently give to the Illinois 4-H Foundation, let me take this opportunity to say an extra thank you for helping us to make all of this happen. If you have not made a gift, I would ask you to consider doing so. Our goal is to reach 1 in 7 Illinois youth by 2025. Will you help us get there?

The Illinois 4-H Foundation Board of Directors: twenty dedicated volunteers with a vital mission. We are grateful to (front, from left) Heather Thompson, corporate advisor, GROWMARK; Heather Hampton + Knodle, Montgomery County; Roger Clark, Cook; Brittney Muschetto, youth representative; Sharon Tenhouse, Adams; (back) Bradley Braddock, Marion; Trevor Scherer, youth representative; Jessie Crews, Clark; Jerry Hicks, Sangamon; Dan Kelley, McLean; Dave Randall, Lake. Our thanks also to those that are not pictured: Paul Hadden, chair, DuPage; Jan Sibley, Lake; Cheryl Wormley, McHenry; Jenny Webb, corporate advisor, Illinois Farm Bureau; Karl Barnhart, Sangamon; Brian Deverman, corporate advisor, Bayer; Kevin Carey, Grundy; Lila Jeanne Eichelberger, Champaign; George Obernagel, Monroe.

2017-18 Foundation Highlights

TOTAL DONORS

TOTAL NUMBER OF GIFTS

3,315

TOTAL GIFTS $3,764,000

2,860 162 NEW DONORS TOTALING $106,700 112 GRANTS

35 STATE-LEVEL SCHOLARSHIPS

TOTALING $35,000

WITH A MARKET VALUE OF NEARLY $3M 44 ENDOWMENTS

3.3% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR!

Illinois 4-H Foundation honors Behrends as Family Spirit Award winner

Numbers tell a powerful story for this year’s Illinois 4-H Foundation Family Spirit Award winner. Spanning five generations, 71 members of the Yvonne and William Behrends family have been 4-H members, beginning with all seven of the couple’s children and 21 of 25 grandchildren, as well as spouses, great-grandchildren, and greatgreat-grandchildren. Collectively, the family members have racked up 545 years of 4-H membership, 95 years of 4-H camping, 389 years of 4-H volunteer service, and 153 project exhibits at the state fair.

The Iroquois County family was honored during a celebration held Aug. 14 at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

The award was created to recognize Illinois families who have substantially benefited from 4-H and continue to advocate for the Illinois 4-H program over multiple generations. Years of 4-H membership is just one criteria for winning families. In addition to longevity, families selected advocate for the county

Foundation honors dedicated volunteers

The Illinois 4-H Foundation annually recognizes 4-H volunteers for exemplary service to the Illinois 4-H program. This year, 67 new members were inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame during a celebration Tuesday, Aug. 14 at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

This year celebrated the 14-year anniversary of the award, said Angie Barnard, Illinois 4-H Foundation executive director.

“These long-time volunteers fully embody what 4-H strives to instill in youth,” Barnard said. “They are caring, dedicated, generous leaders, and the Illinois 4-H

and state 4-H programs through their community service and philanthropy.

Their 4-H journey began in Milks Grove township in rural Iroquois County in 1947, and there has been a Behrends descendant enrolled in 4-H and exhibiting at the Iroquois County Fair for the 71 years since. Each year, as many family members as possible return to the fair to support the current generation of 4-H members.

“Winning with humility, losing with grace, completing a project, speaking in public, holding an office, being a leader, and serving our community are just a few of the traits that have become etched in

us because of our involvement in 4-H,” said a family spokesman “Our ongoing successes in our families, careers, and communities are continually enhanced by our commitment to ‘make the best better.’”

The Illinois 4-H Foundation’s mission is to build relationships to generate financial resources for Illinois 4-H, said Angie Barnard, Foundation Executive Director.

“Funding from individual donors, our Illinois 4-H Project Partners, companies, and friends of Illinois 4-H help the foundation support statewide programming initiatives along with scholarships, assistance to national events, grant opportunities, and filling funding gaps.”

Foundation is extremely proud to be able to provide this honor to each and every one of them to thank them for their service to this wonderful organization.”

The Foundation provides avenues to continue to support the work of Illinois 4-H by accepting financial gifts

specifically directed to the program you wish to support,” Barnard said. “Estate planning services are available to those wishing to continue their 4-H legacy.

Partnering in Illinois 4-H youth development

Our 4-H Project Partners are passionate about their involvement in and contribution to the work the Illinois 4-H Youth Development Program is doing to foster belonging, independence, generosity, and mastery among youth, creating opportunities for them to use their skills while influencing and impacting others.

The Illinois 4-H Foundation has joined forces with some outstanding corporations, organizations, and trade associations that support our programs, events, and members.

Project Partner funding allows the Illinois 4-H Foundation to continue our mission for all

Illinois youth to feel empowered and prepared for success.

We gratefully recognize our Project Partners for collaborating with us as we engage young people in service and handson learning and offer targeted youth education programs to address current issues in Illinois.

Proof that we do what we say

Illinois 4-H empowers and prepares youth for success. The claim is more than a tag line. Recent research findings by Dr. Amy Leman provide powerful evidence backing the Illinois 4-H youth leadership model. Leman, the evaluation and professional development specialist for University of Illinois Extension 4-H, surveyed 595 Illinois teen members between the ages of 15 and 18. Her key findings follow.

Illinois 4-H prepares youth for the future.

All teen 4-H members show high levels of leadership skill development even when compared with youth in other youth development organizations. On a survey measuring leadership life

skills, Illinois 4-H members reported, on average, having more leadership life skills than youth studied in other states. Leadership life skills include skills such as communicating, working in groups, managing and decision making. Other research using the same survey studied 4-H and FFA members in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Iowa and included youth in both 4-H and FFA.

Illinois 4-H leadership programs are effective in teaching leadership skills.

The Illinois 4-H teen leadership model lists six competencies: Planning, Promoting, Teaching, Mentoring, Advocating, and Advising. 4-H teens who were involved in at least one of these

core competencies reported more leadership life skills when compared to 4-H members who had no leadership role.

4-H members who are more involved in their leadership programs report greater leadership skills than others who are less involved in their programs.

While some youth concentrated on one competency area, teens who increased their leadership opportunities in multiple areas scored progressively higher with each role gained. The more competencies they were exposed to, the greater their leadership skills grew.

Three more key findings show the value of teen leadership involvement.

1 Youth in 4-H leadership competency areas report being 4-H members longer than 4-H youth who are not in a leadership competency program.

2 4-H teen leaders feel more confident in their abilities to influence and impact others than 4-H members not involved in leadership competency programs.

3 . When compared with Illinois 4-H members not serving in leadership roles, 4-H teen leaders score higher on many traits:

ƒ Expressing feelings

ƒ Setting goals

ƒ Being honest with others

ƒ Using information to solve problems

ƒ Delegating responsibility

ƒ Setting priorities

ƒ Being open-minded

ƒ Considering the needs of others

ƒ Selecting alternatives

ƒ Recognizing the worth of others

ƒ Solving problems

ƒ Handling mistakes

ƒ Clarifying one’s values

What does this mean for Illinois 4-H members?

We know it’s true: The Illinois 4-H teen competency model works to build the skills youth need to be empowered and successful for future goals.

4-H puts teen on positive path

Angel often ran the streets of Effingham growing up. But that was before 4-H. Now she prefers to hang with her 4-H family and friends doing service projects for others. Though Angel credits 4-H with making her the person she is becoming, joining wasn’t easy. No one in her family had ever been in 4-H. A family friend invited Angel to the Lit’l Bit Country 4-H Club seven years ago. Since then, she’s also joined the Sassy Stitchers and the Effingham County 4-H Youth Ambassadors.

From the first meeting she attended, Angel says, she felt that she belonged. She was drawn to the club president— first because they both have red hair, later because they learned they were more alike than different.

“4-H keeps me out of trouble,” the now 16-year-old junior admits. It has also given her opportunities to explore career interests. Angel will be the first in her family to pursue a college degree. She hopes to attend Southern Illinois University to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Angel didn’t speak for the first several years of her life and used sign language to communicate. She was very shy. But this spring, after attending the Speaking for Illinois 4-H training, Angel spoke to state legislators during 4-H Legislative Connection. Now, with a network of friends and caring adults, Angel is developing new skills and learning to work with others as a team. Angel credits the volunteer leaders for going out of their way to pick her up for meetings and encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone.

4-H keeps me out of trouble.

4-H scholarship honors Deb Stocker’s legacy

For 38 years, Deb Stocker has been synonymous with Illinois 4-H. She began her Extension career in 1980 as assistant home economics advisor in St. Clair County, then worked in Clinton County for 10 years before joining the state staff in 1991. Stocker was responsible for many celebrated teen conferences, including Junior Leadership Conference, Teen Leadership Conference, Illini Summer Academies, Citizenship Washington Focus, National 4-H Conference, and National 4-H Congress.

in 2003. It continues to reach youth at a very vulnerable age in 4-H and demonstrates advantages and opportunities to continuing their membership and expand their horizons in the 4-H program.”

“In her esteemed time with Illinois 4-H, Deb has always been a champion for listening to youth voices,” says Lisa Diaz, U of I Extension assistant dean and director of Illinois 4-H. “She reminds us every day that youth are a critical resource, and that preparing them for the future involves giving them opportunities to lead today. Over her 4-H career, Deb has built a foundation of leadership programs and opportunities that will continue to impact the lives of youth and the communities in which they live.”

To honor Stocker’s legacy, the Youth Leadership Team scholarship funded by the Illinois 4-H Foundation will now bear her name.

“I’ve always felt that youth should have a say in programming for their age group,” Stocker says. “Teens helped design Illini Summer Academies over 10 years ago. The Youth Leadership Team started the Jr. Leadership Conference for junior high youth

“These youth and adult partnerships have taught me so much over the years, and I know I received as much from them personally as the teens did,” Stocker said. “That’s why I loved this career so much—those relationships.”

These youth and adult partnerships have taught me so much over the years, and I know I received as much from them personally as the teens did.

Youth challenged to design life blueprints

Inspiration from the writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. guided Illinois 4-H members at the Teen Leadership Conference held January 13–14 at the Decatur Conference Center. Nearly 100 teens from across Illinois improved their community advocacy, college readiness, communication, and personal development skills.

“In 4-H, we know that leadership is not about a title or a designation,” says Lisa Diaz, U of I Extension assistant dean and 4-H director. “It’s about impact, influence, and inspiration.”

Diaz shared words from Life’s Blueprint, one of King’s speeches: “Number one in your life’s blueprint should be a deep belief in your own dignity, your worth, and your own ‘somebodiness.’ ”

Brittney Robbins, founder and CEO of The Gray Matter Experience, which provides entrepreneurial tools and resources to black high school students in Chicago, told youth that what they post online builds their personal brand. “Your digital content should directly reflect where you stand on issues.”

Susie Risser, freelance communication specialist from Sangamon County, challenged youth to choose words

and actions carefully when speaking in public: “A lie told often enough will become the truth to the audience.”

Amie Case, Lee County 4-H member, says 4-H provides leadership opportunities that push her out of comfort zone to build skills.

“Through 4-H, I’m able to meet and help others,” says Te-Quandrius Carr of Sangamon County, “to better myself and my future.”

This conference impacted my view of my future by showing me there are other options for jobs. I also learned how to listen to ideas even if I don’t agree and try to turn it into a positive experience.

I learned that it is important to talk to one another. It is ok to talk to new people and be able to be yourself.

4-H sets youth on the path to success.

ƒ Support the Deb Stocker Youth Leadership Scholarship.

ƒ Give to provide conference scholarships to teens.

This 4-H leadership experience taught me many ways of communicating and the importance of thinking on your feet. The workshops were great, and the people in them even better. My view of the future has been expanded and seems brighter than ever!

“How many have seen magic?”

The question seemed unusual, especially coming from someone whose daily life revolves around the very real world of engineering, but to academy instructor Arijit Banerjee, engineering is magic.

“Every day when I come to work, it’s like Disneyland,” Banerjee says.

The electrical and computer engineering (ECE) assistant professor spoke to 25 of the 300 Illinois teens visiting the University of Illinois campus June 24 to 28 as part of 4-H Illini Summer Academies.

Illinois 4-H provides the five-day college experience to help high school teens build relationships with U of I staff as the teens explore college majors and potential careers. This year, 16 campus departments collaborated with U of I Extension 4-H to offer hands-on learning activities. In addition to taking coursework, the participants stay in residence halls, explore campus, and discover many enrichment activities common to a college student’s life.

Professor Lynford Goddard coordinated the ECE activities, showing youth the breadth of

the department, from basic circuits and optical elements to control theory and power grids. The instructors all speak passionately about their teaching and research roles at U of I.

“Our sincere hope is that you come here and replace us,” says Subhonmesh Bose, ECE assistant professor. “All the knowledge we have today will be obsolete when you’re our age.”

Cooperating campus departments have 17 hours with the teens throughout the week. In addition to teaching about their areas

Every day when I come to work, it’s like Disneyland.

of study, staff help the teens understand what it is like to be a college student, including helping them find places to eat lunch, showing them how to ride the bus, and encouraging them to spend time on the Quad. The academy experience is also a time for departments to recruit students one-on-one.

Illini Summer Academies creates a path to the university, says Alvarez Dixon, U of I Extension 4-H youth development specialist. “We know students who got their first introduction to the university during this time and later enrolled as college students.”

“I’ve had students in my college introductory microbiology courses who were my participants at previous 4-H Illini Summer Academies,” says Melissa Reedy, course instructor in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology. Several past veterinary medicine academy participants have returned as vet med students, including 2017 graduate

High school experience of Illini Summer Academies participants

TOP: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

LEFT: GAME DESIGN RIGHT: THEATER

Nicole Thomas, who now practices veterinary medicine in southern Illinois, and current graduate student Justin Hohlen.

Dennis French, department head of veterinary clinical medicine, didn’t miss the opportunity to engage the academy teens as he demonstrated the finer points of trimming hooves. “It may not look glamorous,” French says, “but there is a sense of accomplishment to our work when we see animals who have struggled be able to walk correctly again.”

Other areas of study included applied health sciences and wellness, human development and family studies, aerospace engineering, dance and theater fashion, agricultural communications, animal sciences, anthropology, animal nutrition and pet food manufacturing, game design and digital art, beekeeping, and plant biology.

The Illinois 4-H Foundation provides financial support for Illini Summer Academies in the forms of scholarship and activity support.

ƒ 40% identify as minority

ƒ 10% identify as Hispanic

ƒ 25% were return participants to Illini Summer Academies

ƒ 39% were new to 4-H

After attending Illini Summer Academies, participants said this:

4-H Juntos empowering Latino families for higher education

4-H Juntos (“hoon-tohs,” or together) brings families together to learn and practice skills needed for academic success in middle and high school. The program strives to improve graduation rates and increase parental involvement for Latino youth.

Sandra Prez, 4-H youth development educator serving the metro areas in Lake and McHenry counties, was the first to offer the program in Illinois in 2015. To date, 221 youth and parents in the two counties have participated. Prez’s ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken Spanish helps her to recruit partners and facilitators, as well as to train and deliver the program. Elements of the program are delivered in Spanish to ensure parents understand the lessons and participate with their children.

As a result of Juntos, 56 percent of parents now understand the classes their students need to take to achieve their goals after high school, and 68 percent stated they now have information to help their children be successful.

In Rock Island County, the 34 Juntos participants toured five college campuses: Augustana College, Black Hawk College, St. Ambrose University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Western Illinois University.

Diego Gonzalez, 15, wants to become an aerospace engineer. “I’ve always wanted to go to college, but I didn’t know anything about registering or filling out scholarships,” he says. “I’ve learned all that from this program.”

Becky Buckrop provided support material for this story.

Technology experience plants seed for career path

Briella Henderson had her first technology experience when the Extension office serving the farthest southern Illinois counties brought a mobile fabrication laboratory to the teen’s county. Grant funding from the university provost’s office and Extension allowed staff from the Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab to train dozens of teens to use laser cutters, 3D printers, small electronics, and both 2D and 3D design software.

Briella continued exploring her interest as a member of the maker squad of the Illinois Math and Science Academy. “Growing up on a farm, I learned to be handy building on any scale,” Briella says. “After my 4-H Teen Teacher technology experience, I realized that systems engineering and design fit my interests perfectly.”

The teen says she enjoys all types of designing and building, as well as coordinating a team of people with different skills to make a project work. As a maker squad board member, she reviews new applications for the squad, provides training, plans and advertises events, assists with summer programs, and maintains and fixes equipment.

“I’m fascinated with up-andcoming technologies and their application in engineering,” Briella says. “My engineering classes helped me focus on prototyping skills, with an emphasis on teamwork and design iteration.”

The 17-year-old member of the Massac County Happy Hillbillies 4-H Club will continue her education in the fall of 2019 on her way to a career as a systems engineer.

4-H supports $275,000 in scholarships each year

The future is waiting, and Illinois 4-H is helping young people arrive empowered and prepared for success in the future of their choosing.

Each year, Illinois 4-H members receive more than $225,000 in college scholarships from local Extension 4-H foundations and partners across the state. The Illinois 4-H Foundation awards another $50,000 more in college scholarships to young people whose 4-H accomplishments have earned them top awards.

From bake sales and pork chop dinners to endowments and memorials, the funds raised for these $275,000 private-donor scholarships are changing the futures of Illinois 4-H members.

Many of the local scholarships honor longtime Extension staff and volunteers.

The Eugene Mosbacher Educational Trust, for example, provides $9,000 in scholarship annually to McLean County 4-H members to honor the longtime local Extension crop adviser.

In Woodford County, a $500 annual scholarship honors Elaine Smillie, who served as both youth advisor and unit leader. The scholarship honoring Smillie, a skilled home economist, is awarded to 4-H members who excel in nutrition, health, or home and family project work.

Funds honoring Lucille and Lester Korsmeyer provide annual college scholarships for 4-H members living in Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair counties through an endowment with the Illinois 4-H Foundation. Lucille served as volunteer leader of the Alhambra Morning Glories 4-H Club for 60 years after completing 10 years as a club member.

Many scholarships have decades of giving history. The Bert Blood scholarship,

established in 1972 as a memorial to Albert M. Blood, has provided thousands of dollars in college scholarships to Rock Island County 4-H members.

4-H members also fare well in private scholarships sponsored by businesses and organizations, with applications specifically designed for the type of excellence exhibited by Illinois 4-H members. Farm Credit Illinois, an Illinois 4-H Foundation Project Partner, recently awarded 30 $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors, most of whom are 4-H members.

One of those recipients, Dillon White of Morgan County, will attend John Wood Community College. The 10-year 4-H member from Jacksonville has concentrated his 4-H work in ag-related projects, including beef, swine, crops, and welding. He has also earned top prizes in livestock judging and shooting sports contests.

New in 2018, the U of I College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences teamed with Illinois Extension to provide $115,000 to high school seniors and transfer students entering the College of ACES in the fall. Fifteen of the 46 2018 ACES scholarship winners are 4-H members.

“Extension is at the core of how the University of Illinois shares knowledge and innovation with communities in the state, so working with the College of ACES to bring students to campus just makes sense,” says Dr. Shelly Nickols-Richardson, director of Extension. “We’re proud to help make this world-class education accessible.”

SCHOLARSHIPS: The Illinois 4-H Foundation provided $17,000 in scholarships to 4-H members during a ceremony held Oct. 20 in Champaign. Winners present for the ceremony were (front, left to right) Grace Skelton, Beth Warden, Parker Karrick, Erin Stichter, Brittney Muschetto, and Elaine Miller; and (back) Andrew Cunningham, Seth Mitchell, Dillon White, and Brock Irwin. Winners not pictured are Austin Brockman, Josephine Hubele, Mitchell Meenen, Zachary Perkins, Charlotte Roberts, and Isabella Warmack. In total, the Foundation provides $50,000 annually in scholarships, and local county foundations provide an additional $225,000 to college-bound members.

FOUNDATION GIVING

Support:

ƒ Ag literacy and design thinking in the new 4-H TechQuest

ƒ Illini Summer Academy scholarships

ƒ Local college scholarships where you live

ƒ Latino youth readiness skillbuilding in your community

Your support can provide readiness experiences that prepare youth for college, careers, and entrepreneurial ventures.

4-H legislative connection

David Bruns is a regular at the Illinois State Capitol. Six times, the 4-H alum has donned the recognized green 4-H shirt to tell his life-changing 4-H story to Illinois legislators during 4-H Legislative Connection. For four days each spring, 4-H members meet in Springfield to talk with their local legislators.

“It’s always a great experience to share my story, especially with legislators who are deeply committed to supporting 4-H,” David says. “I’ve seen a change in our support and believe legislators are more passionate about 4-H than ever before.”

Rep. Avery Bourne, a 4-H alum herself, serves as David’s representative in the 95th District and eagerly welcomes the 4-H members to her office each year.

Sangamon County youth Robert Williams, who has attended three Legislative Connection events, says the experience will help him as he pursues a law degree. He credits Erica Austin, U of I Extension 4-H state specialist, with inspiring him to be his best. “When your leader is passionate, it trickles down.”

Youth received training prior to their visit, including tips from consultant Pam Weber. “Legislative Connection allows legislators to see

YOUTH

proof of their investment of state dollars in Extension,” Weber says.

STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

University of Illinois Extension, the parent organization of Illinois 4-H, receives state funding through the Illinois Department of Agriculture budget, but 4-H members don’t discuss funding. All funding questions are handed off to representatives of Extension Partners, a grassroots organization focused on advancing the state’s Extension programs.

Jerry Hicks, president of Extension Partners, says the event showcases the state’s premier youth education program. “Legislators know that 4-H’s track record is solid, and these young people reinforce that with every visit,” Hicks says.

Lisa Diaz, U of I Extension assistant dean and Illinois 4-H director, talked with state representative David Allen Welter,

Learning in the shadows

KANE COUNTY 4-H GOVERNMENT DAY: Youth debated roadside marketing signs in mock meeting.

There’s no better way for teens to understand local government than to step in and run it for a day. 4-H Government Day has a 25-year history in Kane County.

This year, 19 Kane County 4-H members visited the 9-1-1 call center, attended SWAT team tryouts, witnessed courtroom proceedings, and debated an issue in the Kane County Board room as they shadowed county officials to gain firsthand knowledge of local government.

District 75, during the April Legislative Connection. Welter asked Diaz how 4-H had survived recent budget woes, and she replied that the organization looked to outside sources, such as grants and private funding, to fill the gaps. “And we’re working leaner until we’re on more solid funding,” Diaz says.

Welter praised the wide range of activities showcased by the 4-H team of youth he met that day. He had recently participated in a 4-H food-packaging event in Grundy County.

“We’re proud our organization has continued to evolve to meet the needs of youth,” Diaz says. “Issues of food security and community service are core to our programming.”

“This program is a wonderful educational opportunity for our 4-H youth,” says Doris Braddock, Kane County Extension 4-H program coordinator. “The teens leave this day with a better understanding of local government and exposure to new career possibilities.”

At the Kane County Board meeting, chairman Chris Lauzen opened the meeting with a welcome to the 4-H youth shadows. He stressed how 4-H is still important to the future of agriculture, but also that today’s 4-H program provides many additional project opportunities.

“Some of these young people are already providing the world’s food as farmers in Kane County, but they also build rockets and robots. They are equestrians and clothes designers,” says Lauzen. “The 4-H program is all about life skills, how governing works and how to make public presentations that win over your audience.”

Following the county board meeting, the 4-H members were invited to take the seats of the board members and debate guidelines for roadside marketing signs. Other youth followed their mentors

to the Kane County courthouse, the environmental and water resources office, the sheriff’s department, the GIS technology office, the circuit clerk’s office, and the treasurer’s office.

“4-H youth development programs strive to help youth develop critical skills, such as decision making, communicating, and goal setting, all of which are critical to local government,” Braddock says. “We want our youth to lead productive lives, contribute to society, and function effectively in an ever-changing world. This program is a prime example of those experiences.”

“It’s up to you young people to change the flow of things,” says county board member Mike Kenyon. “With your knowledge, you’ll make us all better.”

With your knowledge, you’ll make us all better.

Cultural awareness program connects first-generation Americans with peers

WeConnect is a global youth citizenship curriculum that helps youth find commonalities with peers who may differ culturally from them. Jackie DeBatista, U of I Extension 4-H youth development educator, provided cultural competency training to 250 middle school students in Galena to help first- and second-generation students succeed academically and socially in their school setting.

The program helped Galena students navigate differences that might lead to intercultural misunderstandings. During five months, all students learned to discover and define their own cultural identity, evaluate perceptions and assumptions they held, combat stereotypes, find common ground, and embrace difference.

New contest celebrates value of public speaking

More than 125 competitors, earlier selected as champions in their county speaking contests, were challenged to be bold, be brave, and be heard as they competed for top awards in the redesigned state speaking contest.

The contest, held in June at Richland Community College in Decatur, was supported by the Illinois 4-H Foundation through a gift

from Compeer Financial. In addition to the contest, three educational workshops were provided. Marguerite Walker, local Toastmaster, gave insight on giving and receiving feedback. As part of the event, 4-H members performed their speeches in a cohort with four other members, and they evaluated the members on their presentations.

Alissa Henkel of READiculous inspired the members to look for opportunities to perform in their communities.

Improvisational artist Jayson Albright taught the young performers to prepare for the unexpected by laughing at themselves and to use unplanned occurrences to endear themselves to the audience.

Response to the new format was enthusiastic.

“I can’t say enough, as a 4-H leader, how excited I am to see this focus and dedication to public speaking,” said Macoupin County volunteer Robin Gilmore.

One participant admitted that she cried all through her first 4-H speech. Now she is the communication liaison for her robotics team and gives many speeches as a 4-H Memorial Camp counselor, student council member, class officer, and 4-H club officer.

I can’t say enough, as a 4-H leader, how excited I am to see this focus and dedication to public speaking.

MyPI prepares youth for community disasters

The middle of an emergency is not the time develop a plan. MyPI (My Preparedness Initiative) trained youth to respond to emergencies and disasters that may happen in a community. In the program’s pilot year, 44 youth completed all the steps required to earn certification.

MyPI’s hands-on training teaches youth about disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, search and rescue, disaster psychology, and terrorism. Practical lessons include smoke alarm

Chick hatching was community affair

maintenance, using NOAA weather radios, and organizing emergency preparedness using social media. A section also introduces participants to career fields associated with disaster response.

As a final element of the course, each participant worked with six families to help them prepare emergency supply kits and family emergency plans.

Riding her way into the hearts of her community

Katie Lynn, member of the Logan County Cloverdale 4-H Club, enrolled in horses early in her 4-H career and started her “ride” down the leadership path of community service. Her trails have taken her on paths toward helping others. Katie’s rides now benefit others. For several years, Katie has raised funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital and delivers the money on horseback. She collects donations in advance, then covers 60 miles over three days to deliver them.

The world watched eagerly online in 2017 as April the giraffe gave birth to Taj at the Animal Adventure Zoo in New York. The Darien Dragons 4-H Club wanted to bring the same community spirit to their hometown. Partnering with the local library, the club brought in incubators and hatched chicks.

Members monitored the equipment, cared for the eggs, and taught science workshops throughout the incubation period. The library set up a live webcam to track the 21-day process.

“It was a special opportunity for youth in the area to watch baby chicks hatch up close and to learn about eggs, embryos, and chicks,” says Tricia Giron, club leader. “It’s a captivating, hands-on opportunity to engage youth in science.”

“It provided a memorable and personal experience with science,” says Natalie Williams, head of youth services for Indian Prairie Public Library District. “People are more likely to seek out information and remember what they learn when they watch it come to life, when they can hold it and play with it.”

More than 2,000 people participated in the project, which earned the club the Illinois 4-H Project Learning Club Award.

Each year, Katie challenges herself to collect more. She raised $1,500 her first year, $2,300 her second year, and $2,500 her third year. She makes each ride with her grandfather, enjoying the quality family time.

Katie’s interest in serving others is growing. On a recent mission trip to Jamaica, she saw youth without shoes, so she spearheaded a shoe drive to make a difference. A trained Illinois 4-H Hunger Ambassador, she dreams of starting a community garden in her community.

“Katie is inspired to be a giver and gallops into leading community service activities,” says Patty Huffer, U of I Extension 4-H program coordinator. “To think it all began with a 4-H horse project!”

To think it all began with a 4-H horse project.

That’s 1 million, folks

Since 2014, Illinois 4-H members have worked steadily on the common goal of feeding hungry families. On April 4, 2018, they achieved a milestone in that journey when they packaged their 1 millionth meal.

Across the state, one event at a time, Illinois 4-H members and volunteers have dedicated energy, time, and money to creating more food-secure communities where they live as part of the 4-H Feeding & Growing Our Communities initiative. Supported over the years by Evelyn Brandt Thomas and the Illinois 4-H Foundation, local clubs are provided up to $750 of seed money for hosting an event.

Working cooperatively with Illini Fighting Hunger and the Wesley Foundation of Urbana, 4-H clubs purchase bulk ingredients, then form assembly lines of volunteers to measure and fill familysized packages of the soy-based casserole meals, says Bill Million, 4-H youth development specialist. The meals are distributed to food pantries in the counties where the 4-H members live.

Since 2014

10,209 youth and adults have provided

ƒ 43,318 hours of service in the fight against hunger, which

ƒ 7,500 families have benefited from.

ƒ 33,122 pounds (over 16.5 tons) of produce with a $62,148 economic value have been donated to local communities.

ƒ 1,067,455 meals have been packaged.

ƒ 88,000 pounds of food has been distributed through Mobile Markets by 370 volunteers providing 5,640 hours of service and serving 4,740 individuals.

The ingredients cost about 14 cents per meal, and any 4-H club hosting a mealpackaging event must raise funds to cover the cost of the meals being packaged. In 2018, 12 meal-packaging events resulted in 163,656 meals donated to 108 pantries.

The 1,100 volunteers donated 1,600 hours of time and raised $8,656 in local support.

Since 2014, 1,067,455 meals have been packaged and distributed to families in need.

Food access is a major initiative of Illinois 4-H. “In Illinois one in five children faces hunger weekly,” Million says. “Hungry children struggle to learn.”

In addition to packaging meals, 4-H clubs sponsor a variety of hunger-related activities. Last year, 350 4-H garden volunteers harvested and donated 11,325 pounds of produce valued at $17,401. In four years, more than $62,000 worth of 4-H produce has helped feed hungry families.

Franklin County 4-H teens have addressed food deserts by creating mobile food pantries in their communities. In 2018, 180 4-H teens distributed 9 tons of produce and packaged goods, from potatoes and apples to eggs and cereal.

4-H members also gather food donations to fill weekend backpacks for children to take home.

In other communities, those food packs are given to elderly residents. Food pantries often lack the simple ingredients for a birthday celebration, so 4-H members around the state donate 4-H birthday bags filled with cake mix, frosting, candles, and goodies.

In Rock Island County, 4-H Hunger Ambassadors plan, prepare, and serve community meals each month. The grassroots effort empowers youth to understand hunger in their local community and tailor a plan to their community’s needs.

VERMILION COUNTY: Adding their part of 1 million meals, volunteers in Vermilion County worked cooperatively to package meals for local food pantries.

FRANKLIN COUNTY: Teens from Franklin County helped distribute 9 tons of produce and packaged goods through their mobile food market.

Illinois 4-H Hunger Summit inspires youth to fight hunger

Lunch took on a new meaning at the Illinois 4-H Hunger Summit. The summit was the first statewide training to prepare 4-H teens to tackle hunger issues in their local communities, and, for some, the experience turned real.

When the 60 participants opened their lunchboxes, many were surprised, says Bill Million, Illinois Extension 4-H youth development specialist. Some boxes contained an abundance of food, others just a banana or a bag of chips.

Deana McDonagh, U of I professor of industrial design, says the activity helped teens put themselves in the shoes of the people they hoped to help. “If you don’t put the person in the center of your planning,” McDonagh says, “you’re not going to make an impact.”

Industrial design touches everything you experience daily, McDonagh says. Empathic designers “experience the experience of other people’s experiences,” McDonagh adds. The lunchbox lesson illustrates the hunger experienced by thousands of Illinoisans daily.

Teens with only chips or only bananas sat across the table from peers who had received abundant food boxes, with one teen admitting she was “a little jealous” of the bountiful meals others received.

Ojas Shah of McLean County said he

needed a vegetarian meal but got a meat sandwich instead. Teens at the table quickly offered to switch. If others hadn’t helped, McDonagh says, Ojas would have had to choose between sacrificing his vegetarian desire or going without.

The activity prepared the youth for their weekend goal: designing a plan to address hunger in their local communities. In addition to participating in the hunger simulation, teens toured Midwest Food Bank, a 100,000-square-foot food distribution center in Normal.

David Keiser and his farming family started the food bank in a 9,600-squarefoot building on their farm. The response was overwhelming and the need was great, says Mark Csanda, community center administrator for the food bank. Today, the new facility in Normal serves 275 agencies monthly.

“We gather up food and give it away free of charge,” Csanda says. “We know some people would not eat next week if we weren’t doing what we do here.”

Summit participants spent two hours repackaging bulk boxes of granola into 1,500 family-sized, vacuum-sealed sacks.

“There will be a little kid eating granola next week because of your work here today,” Csanda says.

Most teens now plan to tell the hunger story in their local communities.

“People push it away and don’t think about it because it’s sad,” says Ava Galban. ‘We need to get the truth out and educate people.”

Teen instructors included Kate Miller of Hamilton County, Anne Becker of Morgan County, and Megan Miller of Bond County, who have initiated hunger projects in their communities, as well as other Hamilton County club members who have used their community garden produce in their youth cooking schools.

The Illinois 4-H Foundation provided full financial support for the event, which allowed the participants to attend at no cost.

Foundation supports hunger initiatives

Many 4-H groups are already making a difference in their communities with help from the Illinois 4-H Foundation

MCLEAN COUNTY

The Olympia Pacesetters 4-H Club of McLean County operates the Helping Hands Food Pantry and Clothing Exchange center in Stanford. The food pantry, which has scheduled hours, is open to all community members. To help families between distribution dates, the club installed a small “emergency food pantry” outside the center. The metal pantry was built as a 4-H welding project by a 4-H club member. People are encouraged to take what they need and to drop off food when they have excess.

The club also grows fresh produce in the Stanford Sprouts Community Garden. The garden allows club members to learn about horticulture and environmental sustainability while providing service to their community, says club leader Kathy Weinzierl.

MARION COUNTY

4-H participants at Odin Junior and Senior High School expanded their hydroponics garden in 2018 to include microgreens. The young seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs, harvested less than 14 days after germination, contain up to 40 times the vital nutrients of their mature counterparts. The harvested greens are added to dishes prepared by the school’s family and consumer science students in their cooking labs.

Consider supporting 4-H Food Access programs:

The hydroponics garden also provides fresh produce for the cafeteria.

The Illinois 4-H Foundation and the Evelyn Brandt Thomas Foundation provided funding for the project, which reaches 125 youth in grades 7 through 12.

POPE COUNTY

All-weather high tunnel gardens expand the growing season, allowing families to enjoy fresh vegetables throughout the winter months. 4-H members in Pope County assisted Extension ag and natural resources educator Bronwyn Aly in constructing high tunnel gardens at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center near Simpson.

Over winter, youth learned about the local food system and the concept of sustainable, healthy food. Research is being conducted in the high tunnels, including variety tests on cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries, lettuce, and edible flowers grown under hydroponic conditions. To prepare, youth learned research concepts of experimental design, randomization, and other data-collection terms. Funding for the program came from Ball Horticulture Company and GROWMARK Foundation through gifts to the Illinois 4-H Foundation.

ƒ Help fund the ingredients needed to host a meal-packaging event in your county.

ƒ Support 4-H Community Gardens with donations of cash, seed, and labor.

ƒ Contribute funds to purchase meals for weekend food backpacks.

News crew learns what we already know: It is work

4-H exhibitors spend weeks preparing for their time in the show ring. To an outsider, the 10 minutes in the ring may look easy. But the morning news team from WAND TV in Decatur found out just how hard showing livestock can be when they tried their hand at exhibiting hogs at the Illinois State Fair.

Olivia Shike, Eric Schafer, Makenna Green, and Maddie Fugate have more than 30 years of show experience between them. The veterans gave the news crew a crash course in showing, including the most basic lesson: Keep the pig between you and the judge without getting too close.

“It’s important to stay confident,” Makenna says. “The pig knows if you’re not sure what to do.”

It’s important to stay confident

Morning show host Matt Loveless tried to put in lay terms what he was hearing. “The back of the pig is the gas pedal, and the neck is the steering wheel.”

When the guides stepped away and the “show” began, it didn’t take long for panic to set in with the news team. Meredith Juliet raced from edge to edge and side to side trying to keep the pig moving and out of the corner.

Loveless, hoping the hog might respond to positive motivation, whispered, “Come on, buddy; let’s go for a walk.” Expressing a newfound respect for the 4-H members, he admits the work is “physically tiring.”

Juliet says she wasn’t prepared for how large and strong the hogs would be, picturing instead cute baby pigs.

spend each week working on livestock projects. Eighty percent spend at least six hours a week; 35 percent spend more than 16 hours a week. That timeintensive training has noticeable results for Illinois 4-H members:

ƒ 96% say 4-H has taught them to be responsible and ethical.

ƒ 96% believe 4-H has made them more confident and social.

ƒ 91% want an ag science career.

So how do these members think their lives would be different without the 4-H livestock experience?

ƒ “I would not be the same person I am today without all the valuable life lessons.”

ƒ “I would not have the friends and experiences I do.”

ƒ “I would not have any of the confidence I have today.”

ƒ “I would not have as much responsibility as I have today.”

ƒ

Who are livestock project members?

4-H members serve as ambassadors for Illinois 4-H and the livestock industry, says U of I Extension animal science educator Dan Jennings. “These four young people are helping teach people who are far removed from food production.”

When you decide to raise livestock, one thing is certain; there’s never a day you aren’t working on your project. Youth at the state livestock judging contest were recently asked how much time they

“I would not have the skill set I have now and would probably be doing something completely different in life.”

ƒ “I wouldn’t know the people I do today or have the work ethic I do.”

Many members mention the camaraderie, friendship, and fun they enjoy while showing livestock. And one points out the obvious: “I wouldn’t have jeans and boots.”

More than 46,000 animal projects are taken by club members and participants in programs across Illinois every year. That translates into thousands of boots, jeans, and dedicated livestock producers.

Hours a week spent on livestock projects

Randolph County member faces challenge with determination

Never doubt how hard Katelyn Hamilton is willing to work. The Randolph County 4-H member has faced serious challenges, yet she has emerged stronger and more determined in spite of them.

Katelyn spent the first 28 days of her life in a neonatal intensive care unit. Doctors said she would likely need to use a wheelchair and be unable to care for herself. She proved them wrong. At age 5, Katelyn’s family home was destroyed, and her family was forced to move frequently.

The challenges continued: Katelyn’s parents divorced, she lost a childhood friend and three family friends to cancer, a cousin was killed in an auto accident, and her grandfather suffered a heart attack. In sixth grade, she was removed by her family from school, where she faced bullying daily, and began her homeschool education.

“The real me surfaced and developed with my involvement in 4-H and horses,” Katelyn says.

who shared a common interest,” Katelyn says. When her horse was diagnosed with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, she learned as much as she could and volunteered at the local veterinarian office.

“The 4-H horse program provided much more than opportunities for me to gain extensive knowledge of equine,” Katelyn says. “They were a platform to build my confidence and develop other life skills.”

Katelyn’s mother, Mary, says parents face tough choices raising children, but Mary feels the decision to enroll Katelyn in 4-H set her on a path to make wise life choices and realize joy in her life.

“These activities provided my escape from life’s trials. Horses became my passion and the love of my life.”

Katelyn began 4-H at age 9. Katelyn attended horse camps and took lessons, later riding in shows and joining a horse drill team. Last spring, she taught equine science to youth in Randolph and Perry counties to prepare them for Hippology and horse bowl contests.

“Riding was extremely freeing and a great way to meet new friends

Katelyn has achieved national success. She is a member of the Illinois Hippology Team which placed third at the Eastern National 4-H Roundup and fourth at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. She was in the top 20 individuals of the contest in the written test, judging, and overall division. She has won the Superior Young Producer Award and the state’s Leadership, Citizenship, and Professionalism Award. Still, it’s the stability of 4-H during the turbulent times of her life that Katelyn says means the most to her.

The real me surfaced and developed with my involvement in 4-H and horses.

When passion and work align

Aaron Dufelmeier is living the dream, just down the road from where his Extension journey began. Dufelmeier manages the Extension program in Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott counties. In April, he hosted Kim Kidwell, dean of the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, and Shelly Nickols-Richardson, director of U of I Extension.

From Dufelmeier’s Chevy truck, Kidwell and Nickols-Richardson saw rolling fields, Christmas tree farms, peach orchards, ferries, bustling industry, and small communities, including Arenzville, home of the world-famous Arenzville burgoo. Dufelmeier pointed out the area’s largest employers, including Nestlé, Reynolds, and JBS Meat Packing, which processes 20,000 hogs a day.

Dufelmeier oversees educational programs for five counties he describes as “family oriented, tradition-based, and legacy-ag driven.”

Dufelmeier, who grew up on a grain and livestock farm just miles down the road from the Morgan County Extension office, was a 4-H member. “So many opportunities were provided to me, and now I get to fulfill some of those same opportunities and dreams for others,” Dufelmeier says.

Dufelmeier believes that being a member of the livestock judging team in 4-H, in FFA, at junior colleges, and at the University of Illinois helped prepare and shape him into the person he is today.

“We all know and understand the value and importance of decision making and communication,” he says. “This is exactly what being part of livestock judging teaches young people.”

Dufelmeier says he believes that to be an effective leader it is essential that we learn to be transparent and articulate, and that we must provide factual justification for the decisions we make. “Young people that are part of a livestock judging team evaluate animals and their differences both phenotypically and genetically,” he adds. “With the combination of visual assessment in concert with the genetic or performance data of the animals, these students then provide an oral set of reasons or justification for why they placed a class the way they did, and that’s a tremendous life skill.”

Dufelmeier coaches the 4-H members throughout

Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott Counties who wish to enhance their knowledge of the livestock industry and their ability to evaluate the differences in livestock. He coaches these teams to be confident and competitive all while mentoring these youth to be outstanding young leaders.

Whether through livestock judging or building a robot, Dufelmeier believes it is the 4-H program that allows young people to pursue their passion and foster their purpose as they mature into adulthood. “Our 4-H members know and understand that each day, they have the opportunity to inspire others,” Dufelmeier says. “Our members know there is no greater feeling of satisfaction and no greater reward in life than knowing when you have helped someone in need.”

Dufelmeier models the behavior he expects to see from his members. “For nearly 20 years, I have personally witnessed the impact we have on young people’s lives and future,” he says. “Our 4-H members exemplify a positive ‘can do’ attitude, with a spirit of enthusiasm and creativity in their work. We believe we can enhance skills like communication, leadership, and responsibility, fueling our youth’s passion, compassion, patience, generosity, and dedication.”

Our members know there is no greater feeling of satisfaction and no greater reward in life than knowing when you have helped someone in need.

Compeer Financial and CME Group advance higher education

Illinois 4-H members have earned more than $500,000 in college scholarships from the Superior Young Producer Scholarship program. For more than 20 years, the Illinois 4-H Foundation has rewarded exceptional 4-H members in animal science projects for their work both inside and outside the show ring.

The contest which determines the winners is held during the Illinois State Fair and tests a young person’s knowledge in animal production, health, and herd management. In 2018, Compeer Financial provided support for the horse and dairy divisions, and the CME Group of Chicago supported the beef, sheep, and swine divisions. The Land of Lincoln Livestock Breeders Association provides awards.

“Participants tell me they appreciate this important scholarship opportunity,” Hagstrom says. “They are grateful for the award and the contribution to their college expenses.”

HORSE CONTEST WINNERS: Olivia Charles, Carroll County; Hannah Haney, Saline County; and Katie Hoffman, Carroll County.

BEEF, SWINE, SHEEP CONTEST WINNERS: Andy Bates, Knox County; Erin Curley, McDonough County; Fredrick Grohmann, Monroe County; Kate Henkel, Woodford County; Tara Hummel, Kankakee County; Cody Knodle, Montgomery County; Mary Perry, Adams County; Lizzie Schafer, Christian County; and Lane Schilling; Washington County.

Debra Hagstrom, University of Illinois Extension equine specialist, coordinated the horse division of the contest.

DAIRY CONTEST WINNERS: Lane Heinzmann, Clinton County; Addison Raber, Livingston County; and Rachel Scidmore, Carroll County.

Participants are grateful for the award and the contribution to their college expenses.

Chicks teach life lessons to urban youth

That peeping you hear is the sound of a growing 4-H program aimed at bridging the gap between food production and food consumption. The Illinois 4-H Foundation supports the work of expanding 4-H embryology programs in urban communities.

“The incubation embryology program introduces in-school youth to 4-H and Illinois agriculture with a hands-on animal science project that teaches the life cycle of the chick, incorporating the STEM scientific model,” says Deanna Roby, U of I Extension 4-H youth development educator. “It also emphasizes food safety and responsibility to children.”

In 2018, 5,500 students in 121 schools participated in the program. In a world where many people have become disconnected from the food they eat, this program brings the farm into the classroom, teaching animal husbandry, responsibility, and empathy.

Training is offered for teachers who administer the educational program. Those teachers report increases in the development of their students’ life skills, including critical thinking, communication, organizing, accepting differences, self-responsibility, teamwork, sharing, cooperation, and keeping records.

Not all lessons are science related. “I have a student who has anger issues, and I was a little worried about him holding the chicks,” one teacher says, “but he was so gentle and really looked forward to that part of the day. It was a great incentive for him.”

Information provided by Rosie Ralston

FOUNDATION GIVING

You can advance the work of animal science:

ƒ Support livestock scholarships.

ƒ Fund the purchase of embryology supplies.

ƒ Fund judging teams to compete nationally.

When you imagine kids working with robots, you may think they all want engineering careers. You would be wrong.

Vincent Chiappetta, a 12-year-old from Kane County, wants to be a comic book designer, and he’s using the design skills he’s learning in 4-H to work toward that dream. Maya DeWitte of Carroll County wants to be a political scientist. “4-H has helped me with my leadership skills,” the 14-year-old says.

old Henry Lauer of McDonough County, who wants to be a surgeon.

The annual contest tests the 4-H members’ mastery of skills in robotics. 4-H members work for months programming robots to perform tasks. The more tasks performed, the higher the club’s score in competition.

Alexander DeCarlo, a 12-year-old member of the Hot Shot Bots 4-H Club in Kankakee County, wants to be a blacksmith. He credits 4-H with inspiring him to think creatively.

Yoseline De La Roso, a 10-year-old from Cook County, says 4-H has helped encourage her to become a better citizen and leader as she dreams of a career as a lawyer.

“4-H has given me a better understanding of science,” says 10-year-

Nidhi Kapale wants to be a paleontologist, and the 10-year-old from McDonough County credits 4-H with helping her build a team of like-minded friends. Celena Mangalaraj, 11, who wants to be a geneticist, says teamwork skills learned in 4-H are making a difference in her life. “I can achieve big things in the future because 4-H helped me learn together as a team.”

Isabella Estrada from Cook County and Sabryna Borders of Union County both want to become doctors. “4-H is helping me get motivated to help people,” Isabella says.

“4-H has encouraged and inspired me,” says Varek Venugopalan, “and given me new ideas.” The 12-year-old from McDonough County wants to be a forensic scientist.

Winnebago County 4-H member Autumn Sottile has plans for her future that are being strengthened by 4-H. She plans to attend West Point to study counterintelligence, eventually becoming a case officer in the National Security Agency. “4-H is helping me accomplish this by teaching me important leadership, communications, and survival skills, skills I’ve learned through my small engines, health, sewing, and robotics projects,” Autumn said.

‘When I grow up’

4-H has helped me with my leadership skills

The girls of STEM DEORA

Deora Inniss is everything that’s right about Illinois 4-H. The 18-year-old member from Knoxville uses what she knows to improve situations and solve problems. Deora tutors young people in chemistry, biology, and anatomy at her high school and teaches Extension STEM workshops for National Youth Science Day. A member of the Binary Bullets Robotics Club, she will help design the 2019 Illinois 4-H State Robotics Challenge.

“In STEM, you meet new people from different backgrounds working on a similar goal. You learn there can be so many different outcomes and ways to solve one problem,” Deora says. “People’s eyes sparkle when they talk about the amazing innovation and passion of STEM discoveries.”

Deora is not just smart and inquisitive; she’s kind. At a recent robotics competition, she was providing tours for groups when she learned several in the group spoke limited English. While a teammate took the lead, Deora stayed with the group and translated the tour into Spanish so everyone could learn from the tour.

“By the time I was done, a little 9-yearold had wrapped her arms around me and told me she wanted to be like me and speak both English and Spanish so she could help others, too,” Deora said. “As her parents cried and smiled, I told her that whatever she set out to do she would achieve.”

Deora plans to attend University of Illinois at Springfield majoring in biochemistry, followed by going to medical school on her way to becoming an obstetrician.

ALLISON

4-H alum Allison Pratt believes STEM is the future. “Every day, something new is happening with technology,” she says, “and the world needs people who understand it.”

A 10-year member of the Graymont Achievers 4-H Club, Allison teaches science at the Fairbury Boys and Girls Club and mentors a robotics club in Bloomington. She has helped design the state robotics challenge for two years and is forming a new robotics competition team. “STEM inspires youth to think outside the box.”

Allison encourages girls to pursue STEM careers, because they often bring a fresh insight to issues that businesses need.

AJA

Aja Capel says STEM allows her to use her out-of-the-box thinking and problemsolving strengths. She enjoys engineering the best. “Engineering is not an individual endeavor, rather, a collaborative team effort where we strive to bring form and function together to solve problems.”

Aja is a member of Invader Bots, a 4-H robotics club which also competes as a FIRST FTC team. She teaches robotics at the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum in Urbana, and is interning with

the Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab. Aja started her own organization, See Me in STEM, that partners with other community organization to provide exposure, access, and opportunities to under-represented youth.

“Robotics is my passion,” says Aja. “In robotics, building is the form and programming is the function; together you get synergy—creating a whole that is greater than each part alone. I am a roboticist.

“The coolest thing about sharing 4-H STEM experiences is cracking open the door to a world of possibilities for them,” she says. “I am passionate about standing in the STEM gap and providing a bridge. I am having an immense impact on the world around me. It is important to me that underrepresented youth see me, especially since I have been where they are.”

Aja will enroll in college at 16 and study mechanical engineering with a concentration in robotics. Currently, she is considering opportunities that small engineering schools offer with experiential, project-based learning. She is considering an engineering design degree from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

“Girls should dream big and follow their own unique path,” Aja says. “Nothing I have ever done has been ordinary or the usual way, but I wouldn’t change a thing, because the ride has been exhilarating and a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.”

4G STEM Camp

Sometimes all you need is a spark to light a fire that burns brightly. 4G STEM Camp is lighting the imaginations of young women in the Peoria area.

4G stands for Girls + Games + Gadgets, which add up to Genius. Girls are introduced to science, technology, engineering, and math during four days at local businesses, such as JUMP Simulation, Advanced Medical Transport, CSE Software, Caterpillar, UIS Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, and the Nature Conservancy of Illinois. Nearly 90% of attenders said they discovered a new career possibility because of their 4G experience.

U of I Extension 4-H youth development educator Judy Schmidt has followed some of the participants over the years and found that many girls followed through on their goal of adding STEM activities to their lives by participating in additional programs, such as Riverfront Museum STEM activities, science fairs, FIRST Robotics, and Code Girls.

Real-life experience builds real-life skills

4-H leader Doug Bergeron takes a novel approach to building engineering skills among the members of the DaVinci’s Coders STEM 4-H Club in Mason County. Bergeron first finds a “customer” in the community that needs a new or improved process, tool, system, or product; then club members begin “solutioning.”

Bergeron taught the club members the three basic phases of an engineering project: 1) define the problem; 2) investigate the solutions; and 3) evaluate the options.

“The first phase involves working directly with the customer to capture all the requirements for solving the problem,” Bergeron said. After phase 1, the members begin their research, finding technical experts of whom they can ask questions while they develop solutions and build their creative problem-solving skills. The final phase includes the detailed documentation of the recommendation and a final presentation to the customer.

Though the DaVinci’s Coders club name implies a heavy focus on science, technology, engineering, and math, the youth gain far more than just STEM education. Working through the entire

engineering process helps them work better as a team, develop communication skills, learn problem-solving skills, network with community members, and much more.

“It’s like taking something that you have zero experience in, and putting together a whole project,” one member says. “It builds confidence to do things like that in the future.”

Unique STEM programs in Illinois

4-H STEM programming happens in every Illinois county. Here are a few of the more unusual adventures!

Harvest Heroes is an afterschool ag science program in Macon County.

Keepers of the Land helps youth gain appreciation for the local nature preserve in Stephenson County.

Young Researchers conduct studies and incorporate their own perspectives in a final design in Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam counties.

4-H Spy & Crime Camp teaches youth to use deductive reasoning skills in interactive science experiments in Logan, Sangamon, and Menard counties.

Eco Camp teaches youth about soils, water quality, and forestry during a field-trip experience in Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties.

Farm to Fork teaches youth in Champaign and Ford counties how their food is grown and raised.

Science Safari explores a variety of science careers with hands-on activities in Crawford County.

Mystery Camp explores the world of forensic science using genetic wheels, DNA, and fingerprints in Grundy County.

Rube Goldberg Challenge teaches kids to work together to create a Rube Goldberg machine out of household items in Grundy County.

Science Siesta is an overnight experience in Boone, Ogle, and DeKalb counties where youth learn about careers in science by working with local scientists.

Teacher Tuesdays allows teachers, librarians, and out-of-school youth

providers to network on STEM and maker activities in Peoria, Fulton, Mason, and Tazewell counties.

Radio Controlled Car Club allows youth to use Arduino software, coding, math, and gear ratios to make things move in Cook County.

Up in the Air 4-H Club teaches members about drones, rocketry, and flight in Carroll, Lee, and Whiteside counties.

Super Snoops members use detectivelike skills to solve imaginary crimes, building their reasoning, problem-solving, and teamwork skills in Will County.

SeaPearch 4-H Club members program robots using an underwater remoteoperated vehicle in Will County.

Hands-On, Minds-On Science Club incorporates the latest National Youth Science Day experiments to introduce science to elementary-age youth in DuPage, Kane, and Kendall counties.

Be an Entrepreneur youth work in teams and learn Tinkercad 3D design to build a product they “sell” to their classmates in Hamilton, Saline, Gallatin, Pope, Harden, and White counties.

STEM Day Camp uses maker technology to explore possibilities in Alexander, Johnson, Pulaski, Union, and Massac counties.

Junkdrawer Clipmobile Challenge teaches physics in a fun, hands-on way by having youth build a car from “junk,” then have it overcome resistance as it travels beyond the ramp in Bond, Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington counties.

How to Remember the Illinois 4-H Program in Your Will or Trust

Share

FOUNDATION GIVING

4-H sets youth on the path to success.

ƒ Start a STEM club in your community.

ƒ Provide funding to support Illinois 4-H Robotics.

Still teaching lessons used every day across America

In kitchens across the state, there’s a drawer filled with old 4-H cooking manuals, stained with grease spots and the remains of cake batter on yellowing pages. Though online recipes have come to supplant cookbooks, many 4-H alumni wouldn’t give up their treasured copies of Let’s Start Cooking or You Learn to Bake.

4-H is where generations learned to measure flour, knead dough, and hard-cook (not hard-boil) eggs. It only took a slice into the peeled egg to know if you had passed the test. 4-H is where we learned that 3 teaspoons equal a tablespoon and 4 cups equal a quart. We learned to spoon, not scoop, flour in measuring cups, and we learned to wait until everyone has their food before you start to eat.

The recipe names remind us of simpler times: one-egg cakes, shaken pudding, frankfurter and potato soup, peach crisp, meat loaf, cherry jumble. The cookbook names have changed, but the objective remains for members enrolled in nutrition projects: “Cooking is fun when you know how to do it” (from You Learn to Bake).

Members still gather around a table with parents and leaders to learn the basics of cooking and healthy living. Nearly 28,000 4-H project enrollments in 2018 focused on nutrition and health.

In East Aurora, 4-H Teen Healthy Living Ambassadors teach peers to follow dietary recommendations, increase their physical activity, and reduce their sugar intake. They also show them how advertising impacts food choices.

“We get to interact with kids about food, nutrition, and exercise,” says Christian Delayo, a Healthy Living Ambassador. The teens serve as mentors and help youth with a variety of tasks, from tying their shoes to talking about dinners at home.

Healthy kids make better choices

Health Rocks has inspired youth to reduce risky behaviors associated with use of alcohol, tobacco, and opioids. Youth learn life skills that lead to healthy lifestyle choices. The program fosters healthy partnerships of at-risk youth with caring adult mentors who help guide youth to productive living.

Youth engaged in the Illinois Health Rocks program gained valuable understanding of the dangers associated with risky behaviors. They were able to articulate the health risks related to smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs, both illegal and prescription (opioids).

In addition to making decisions related to their own choices and behaviors, the youth have become advocates for their peers and their communities. They have identified strategies to respond to peer pressure and decipher media messages they see in print, video, and social media. Illinois youth are not only taking a stand on health and social issues, they are demonstrating an ability to thrive.

Beyond the value of skill and knowledge gains experienced by Health Rocks participants, an additional impact was realized through the involvement of Teen Teachers who delivered the program. Feedback provided by Teen Teachers highlighted the commitment they developed for educating youth about the dangers of substance abuse.

Health Rocks serves as a vehicle both for sharing a positive message and for helping teens have an active voice in their

Success Story

future. Beyond the skills Teen Teachers gain in their teaching role, they learn to advocate for change: they advocate for behavior change among their peers and for collaboration among members of their community in support of youth making positive choices.

In 2018, more than 2,000 youth in fourth through ninth grades participated; 75 percent self-identified as minority race, and 73 percent lived in urban or suburban communities.

Caleigh Arentsen, an eighth-grade 4-H Teen Teacher, developed a close relationship with the fourth graders she taught at Germantown Elementary. “Caleigh is a natural-born teacher and quickly became famous throughout the school halls,” says Cheryl Timmerman, U of I Extension 4-H program coordinator. She even received flowers from some of the students at her eighthgrade graduation.

Caleigh is modest when asked about her popularity with the participants.

“I’m better with kids than I thought I’d be,” she says. “As a mentor, I was someone the kids could confide in besides their parents since I was closer to their age.”

One Health Rocks participant, usually quiet and withdrawn in class, had frequent questions for the 4-H Teen Teachers. She always paid attention and was engaged in activities. During the final session, she spent a lot of time talking with a Teen Teacher. The girl’s older sister had used several drugs due to the influence of a boyfriend. She had several close calls, once needing a Narcan shot after a heroin overdose. The young participant said she was worried for her sister and feared the same thing happening to her. But meeting the 4-H Teen Teachers, she said, showed her that you don’t need to use drugs. She said she would rather not have a boyfriend than to have one that makes you do bad things. She wished Health Rocks had been at their school when her sister was in middle school; the program might have helped her sister make better choices.

Health Jam brings health careers alive for youth.

The 9-week program introduces youth to a variety of health careers while engaging them in creative exercise to keep their bodies healthy. Teams of health professionals partner with Extension to share their passion and explain their roles in patient care.

ƒ 1,109 youth | 85% minority | 71% Hispanic

ƒ 72% pay more attention to how much water they drink.

ƒ 59% pay more attention to how many sugary drinks they drink.

ƒ 45% pay more attention to the vegetables they eat.

ƒ 53% pay more attention to the fruits they eat.

This gal can cook . . . and teach others, too

Kaitlyn May hasn’t been around the world—yet—but she has been a frequent flyer to Washington, D.C., thanks to 4-H and her pursuit of learning about healthy living.

On her first trip, Kaitlyn learned ways to teach nutritious eating and cooking from organizers of the national Smart Food Families program. Her second trip, to the National 4-H Healthy Living Summit, addressed health-related issues for today’s youth, including nutrition, physical fitness, wellness, and emotional well-being.

FOUNDATION GIVING

4-H sets youth on the path to success.

Provide support to expand Healthy Living programs in your community to raise awareness and prepare youth to make wise choices today that impact their future.

“These topics are special to me because I see I’m changing so many children’s lives,” Kaitlyn says. “Watching these children grow from day one has been one of the best things I get to do, and it is also the reason I am still a 4-H Teen Leader.”

Kaitlyn’s team taught cooking skills to dozens of Massac County youth. They also initiated a healthy living family night, where the program participants

taught their parents what they had learned during cooking club. Then the parents were given a challenge of making a meal out of food items they were provided.

Kaitlyn’s programs include youth from different backgrounds, she says, some facing daily hardships. “Watching them go home is extremely hard for me because I do not know what their home life is,” the 17-year-old said, “but I’m reassured they will now be able to cook for themselves if they need to.”

Kaitlyn will attend Shawnee Community College in Ullin, with plans to transfer to Southern Illinois University Carbondale to earn a degree in accounting or finance. She wants to remain close to her roots in southern Illinois so she can stay involved in her local 4-H community.

“I have had amazing 4-H leaders and coordinators who have backed me every step of my journey.”

Memories

When Maribel died, it was the end of a 40-year tradition for the McGrew family. My paternal grandparents had 11 children: 10 boys and one girl. As the boys married, grandmother moved the family celebration to Christmas Eve so the daughters-in-law could spend Christmas day with their families.

Family spirit still burns

Late one evening, decades ago, a family of five stopped by the McGrew farmstead near Walnut Grove in McDonough County looking for help—a job, a place to stay, or gas to drive a little farther. J. Miles and Maribel McGrew were about to put supper on the table for the family’s 11 children. They gathered them and said, “We can give the visitors a little gas and send them on their way, or, if each of you cuts your serving of meat in half, they can join us for supper.”

In unison, the children cried out, “We’ll share!” Judy Taylor says that this beloved family story exemplifies how Miles and Maribel lived and taught giving to others, a core value of 4-H to this day. Though 4-H was not available to the couple in their youth, they made sure all their children were involved and members of the Prairie City Livewires 4-H Club. Besides the children, 14 spouses, 31 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren have been a part of 4-H across seven states.

The family was honored in 2013 as winners of the Illinois 4-H Foundation Family Spirit Award. Combined, 92 family members share 671 years of 4-H membership and 251 years as 4-H volunteers. Taylor served 22 years with University of Illinois Extension 4-H, training more than 40,000 4-H youth, volunteers, and professionals and developing many materials still in use today.

“4-H impacted us in innumerable ways,” Taylor says. Some family members felt a rise in self-esteem they needed to graduate from college; others honed public-speaking skills needed to advance their careers.

“The many activities and opportunities we experienced through 4-H have taught us teamwork, leadership, and communication skills,” Taylor says. “In 4-H, we learned responsibility, economic

principles, and practical information that was applied in everyday situations.”

The family boasts a variety of careers— in agriculture, government, medicine, education, sales, child care, and music—and includes veterans and active duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and National Guard.

“The skills we gained through 4-H have helped us build strong and responsible families,” Taylor says.

The family has begun efforts to create an endowment through the Illinois 4-H Foundation that will expand 4-H opportunities to other families. “The endowment honors the legacy Miles and Maribel left on the children of the community by encouraging other children to learn and grow through practical experiences,” Taylor says. “4-H is an extraordinary organization for fostering those practical life experiences.”

The extended family meets twice a year, and since winning the Family Spirit Award, the reunions include some type of fundraising toward the endowment. For example, when a tornado destroyed the family barn, the family “turned lemons into lemonade” by selling remnants of that barn, Taylor said.

One may contribute to the J. Miles and Maribel McGrew 4-H endowment by contacting the Illinois 4-H Foundation.

Early December each year, the grandchildren were in charge of decorating, sometimes draping colored beads over lampshades and mirrors and attaching ornaments anywhere they could. On Christmas Eve, the expanded family gathered for a potluck supper of soup, sandwiches, and desserts, including homemade pies.

Grandmother loved to buy presents for each person. In time, that included nearly a hundred grand- and greatgrandchildren and spouses. During a trip to Australia, Miles and Maribel bought a little stuffed animal for each child. I helped wrap each and decide who received the zebra, kangaroo, and tiger. Several years, Grandmother made flannel nightgowns for all the “little girls.” The gifts were different every year.

As the number of relatives grew, Grandmother bought multiple cases of food, then mixed them up so each couple got a variety of food. When possible, she purchased something specific to each person’s interests. During my high school sewing days, Grandmother gave me an engraved pair of left-handed dressmaking shears.

Grandmother died on December 23. She had already purchased and wrapped gifts. We gathered at her house on Christmas Eve, unwrapped her gifts to us, ate soup and pie, and reflected on the many Christmas Eves we had celebrated at the home.

Monarchs are on the move, thanks to 4-H

Monarch butterfly numbers are declining, but a group of 4-H Teen Teachers is working to reverse the trend by inspiring youth to understand the needs of these important pollinators.

In the hands-on Monarchs on the Move simulation, teams of youth led by teens trained in the project work collaboratively to obtain “food” by collecting green magnets from a simulated milkweed plant, says Bill Million, U of I Extension 4-H youth development specialist. At the same time, they must avoid predation and harmful environmental conditions.

It’s not only the butterflies who benefit from the activity, Million adds. Youth learn how landscapes can be managed to increase

the biodiversity that benefits monarchs, pollinators, and other wildlife. Some of the practices benefit farmers and communities by conserving soil and reducing chemical runoff into waterways.

“We want our young audiences to learn why the monarch butterfly is a flagship species representing many pollinators that contribute to our food supply and the health of our planet,” says Donna Nuger, U of I Extension 4-H youth development educator for DuPage,

Kane, and Kendall counties.

Local students use critical thinking skills to solve this real-world science challenge, Nuger says. The national

4-H Ag Innovators program of the National 4-H Council funds the project. More than 1,350 youth in 2018 increased their understanding of challenges impacting the declining monarch population and explored ways to reverse the decline.

Another 4-H Ag Innovator program challenged youth to protect pollinators. Nearly 1,200 youth participated in the Honey Bee Challenge.

“One in every three bites we take is dependent on the work of pollinators in our environment,” Million says. “Environmental practices continue to threaten the bee population.”

In the middle school years, youth begin to express a dislike for science.

“These fun, hands-on learning activities teach important sciencebased skills and inspire youth to see how science can help solve the world’s programs,” Million says.

Nearly 80 percent of the participants in both programs agreed that science can solve everyday problems, and 52 percent said they want a career related to the science industry.

Rosie Ralston provided information for this story.

One in every three bites we take is dependent on the work of pollinators in our environment.

Interactive trail brings state park alive

Understanding nature just became easier, thanks to some young Perry County 4-H members. Pyramid State Park, the largest park in Illinois with 19,700 acres, has many native varieties of trees along Ten Mile Trail.

For weeks, the Kids in the Park 4-H Club met with Extension Master Gardeners and Rhonda Shubert, U of I Extension 4-H program coordinator, to research and identify trees along two miles of the path. They posted their findings and photos of 31 varieties to a website: plantsmap.com/organizations/pyramid-state-park.

Barcode plaques were attached to the trees; visitors can scan the codes with a smartphone and immediately learn more about the tree at a given location. “We hope to encourage others statewide to incorporate this interpretive trail project in their parks,” says Bill Million, Extension 4-H youth development specialist.

Two benches along the path were donated by Perry County Home and Community Education. Members of that group collected plastic bottle caps, which were recycled to make the benches.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held July 7. Funding for Kids in the Park, an environmental special interest 4-H club with 30 members, was provided by the Illinois 4-H Foundation.

BARDODE

Visitors scan a barcode using a smartphone to read more about the native trees.

Something’s fishy about this 4-H Club

With the support of two new volunteers, Coles County added a new 4-H fishing special interest club. The members learned to tie knots, cast, and catch fish. As its service project, the club built an artificial fish habitat that was placed in a local lake. Equipment was purchased with support from the Illinois 4-H Foundation in the form of a club growth and innovation grant The funding has stimulated 4-H growth in Coles County. The fishing club has grown in its second year and is exploring more ways to help clean and monitor local lakes and waterways. Both leaders have returned and are helping in other aspects of the county 4-H program.

River holds mysteries for 4-H participants studying science

The fifth annual 4G STEM Camp for girls included a trip to Therkildsen Field Station, University of Illinois-Springfield, and The Nature Conservancy. Thirty-five participants collected samples from the Emiquon Preserve to study the diversity and water quality. Illinois 4-H Foundation provided foundational funding for 4G (Girls + Games + Gadgets = Genius) when it began. The program is coordinated by staff in the Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit and draws young women from throughout central Illinois.

FOUNDATION GIVING

Your gift supports outdoor education for 4-H members:

ƒ Support outdoor science workshops for club members.

ƒ Help fund additional pollinator protection programs.

ƒ Send Illinois 4-H members to the National Ag Innovators training in Washington.

Brothers take top recurve spots; Trujillo defends compound title

Archery is a sport where the competition is against you and a target, except when your brother is competing right next to you. Then, it becomes a sibling rivalry.

Forty teen archers, including Mason County brothers Ben and Isaac Snider, competed for top scores in the Illinois 4-H State Archery Shoot held Sept. 8 at Pekin Archers in Pekin. The brothers, 14 and 16, respectively, finished first and second in recurve bow competition, 270 points ahead of the nearest competitor. As the lead went back and forth, the main question was who would claim the championship.

The competitors started the day in the wooded area around the Pekin

Archers complex, where they shot both three-dimensional targets and flat field targets. The Sniders shot dead even on the 3D course. In field shooting, Ben held a two-point lead going into the lunch break.

In the afternoon, participants shoot at large, round targets from distances of 50, 40, and 30 yards. At this point of the competition, participants start to feel fatigue from repetitive shooting. By the end of the day, each competitor will make 105 shots.

Ben gained an advantage over Isaac in the round target competition and was awarded the championship buckle in the recurve division.

Other top recurve placings included Alexander Ford of DuPage, third; Jamie Anderson of McHenry, fourth; Lawrence Rhyner III of McHenry County, fifth; Michael Perkins of McHenry County, sixth; Brittney Rhyner of McHenry County, seventh; and Kailey Foster of McHenry County, eighth.

In the compound division, Macon County teen Dominick Trujillo returned to successfully defend last year’s championship title. Dominick scored 830 out of a perfect score of 885 points. Other top finishers include Levi Nusz of Stark County, second; Kutter Thompson of Adams County, third; Carter Carpenter of Marion County, fourth; Jessica Shilling of Edwards County, fifth; Carson McGill of Iroquois County, sixth; Jacob Maschino of Edgar County, seventh; Isaac Adams of Woodford County, eighth; Celtan McGinnis of Peoria County, ninth; and John Reutter of McLean County, tenth.

The atmosphere was relaxed and supportive, with families pitching popup tents and relaxing in chairs awaiting reports back from their teens. “4-H is meant to come from the people,” says Curt Sinclair, interim University of Illinois Extension shooting sports coordinator, “and this is exactly what these families wanted to be doing with their kids today.”

A team of certified state 4-H shooting sports volunteers organized the event, but youth scored their achievements as a shooting cohort after each end of arrows.

For some youth, archery is their only 4-H experience. Others, such as Madi Hofreiter of Mason County, participate in a variety of 4-H programs. “4-H opens up new experiences to me which some people don’t have access to.” She serves as vice president of the Happy Handful 4-H Club. Brianna Hayes of Peoria County studies photography, cooking, and visual art projects, but says archery allows her to compete in a sport.

The Illinois 4-H Foundation supports the Illinois 4-H shooting sports team members who will compete in the National 4-H Shooting Sports competition in June 2019.

Current Active 4-H Shooting Sports Clubs in Illinois

Shotgun Rifle Archery

Pistol

Outdoor Skills

NOT ONE, BUT 2 ‘ROBIN HOOD’ SHOTS WERE MADE WHEN ONE SHOOTER’S ARROW SPLIT ANOTHER ARROW DOWN THE MIDDLE.

Perfect score wins state 4-H shotgun contest

The crowd couldn’t help but cheer when Brandon Austin hit his final clay target. The target was his 100th in a row and capped his championship win of the 2018 Illinois 4-H Shotgun Shoot held Sept. 15 in Bunker Hill.

“I’m still shaking,” the teen says after hitting the final target. “I’ve never hit 100 in a row, or even 75 in a row.”

The teen humbly accepts the honor and acknowledges the other competitors’ talents. “There are some competitors here that I know are better shooters than me,”

Brandon says.

The Knox County 4-H member admits to having some jitters going into the final round of 25 shots. To handle the nerves, Brandon says he repeated the same procedure for every shot: “plant my feet; exhale on the guy shooting before me; inhale, then, pull the trigger on my exhale.”

Brandon is involved with many aspects of the 4-H program, including serving as president of his club and serving on the county federation. In addition to shooting sports, he has taken dog obedience, geology, cooking, and photography.

Brandon says it was important to believe he could win. “If you’re not

thinking about breaking the target, you’re not going to break it.”

Competition in the top ten spots was intense. Logan Hawkins of Grundy County and Michael Lemberg of Rock Island County were tied at the end of four rounds, each hitting 98 targets. In a shoot-off, Logan claimed second place, hitting another 25 straight shots. Michael ended the day in third.

Alexander York of Carroll County placed fourth. Another tie forced two play-off rounds, with Dakota Lamb of Piatt County finishing in fifth and Ethan Sandhorn of Logan County finishing in sixth.

Brandon Batchelder of Rock Island County earned the seventh spot over Cole Haynes of LaSalle County, who finished in eighth place. Both initially shot a 94. Braydin Lanners of Logan County finished ninth, and L. Sikorski of Piatt County finished tenth, edging out Megan Bierman of Effingham County, who finished 11th after a tie-breaker round.

Lexis Caslin of Logan County says shooting sports teaches patience and concentration. “It’s different than other sports.”

Volunteer leader Bill Peterson of Rock Island County coached the 2018 state shotgun team, which placed fourth in national competition. “You’ve never shot your worse score until you quit,” the veteran marksman says. Peterson’s team again claimed the top team award in the 2018 contest. Other top teams included Piatt County, second; Mason County, third; Franklin County, fourth; and White County, fifth.

University of Illinois Extension interim 4-H shooting sports educator Curt Sinclair praises the youth. The top half of the 60 competitors scored 85 or above.

Youth with an interest in shooting sports are encouraged to learn more by contacting the local U of I Extension office in each county.

On target, on the range, and in life

Sometimes the real wins have nothing to do with how many bullseyes you hit; it’s what changes inside of you because you tried.

Teens across Illinois competed in the Illinois 4-H State Rifle and Pistol Shoot Sept. 28-29 at Central Illinois Precision Shooters in Bloomington. Inside the glass enclosure, teens focused on the paper targets across the wall. Outside the glass, their parents and 4-H volunteer leaders followed their journey of courage, compassion, dedication, and leadership.

“I saw more emotion out of him than I ever did when he competed in any of the ball sports,” says a Johnson County parent. “From each event, he learns more; and we learn more of what it takes.”

Extension 4-H program coordinator Robin Mizell saw seasoned competitors come up and offer advice and encouragement to the young member. One of the top competitors told the beginner to “keep trying and you will improve.”

“But that’s what 4-H is all about.” Mizell says. “Whether it’s shooting sports or public speaking or cooking or showing livestock, inspiring others to work hard to achieve their own personal best is a core 4-H value.”

Mizell assists the 4-H shooting sports program for Johnson County. “Since our shooting sports program crosses county lines, club meetings bring members who don’t normally interact with each other together to learn and socialize. The project teaches responsibility, patience, and precision which will transfer to other aspects of life.”

Jaden Thompson of McLean County continues to dominate the Illinois 4-H rifle sport. The Olympics hopeful has placed first or second in the state for the past three years. The Bloomington teen claimed first place with a 40-point margin.

Illinois 4-H shotgun team scores big at Nationals

Illinois 4-H shooting sports is still in its infancy when compared to states such as Texas and Missouri, which have decades of history in the 4-H program. Illinois entered the shooting sports arena in 2009 and sent its first team to national competition in 2015.

Being new didn’t stop the Illinois 4-H shotgun team from winning fourth place in the overall team competition at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships

June 24-29 in Grand Island, Neb. The key to their success was consistently placing in the top ten in each element of the contest, says Illinois 4-H interim shooting sports educator Curt Sinclair. The team won fourth in sporting clays, fourth in trap shooting, and sixth in skeet shooting out of 30 shotgun teams in the contest.

Team members also earned high individual scores, including Thomas Keeshan of Rock Island County, eighth overall; Jacob Dies of Rock Island County, 15th; Drew Baxter of Rock Island County, 16th; and Cole Gordon of Marion County, 38th. Bill Peterson of Rock Island County coached the team.

Twelve other Illinois 4-H members also competed in various shooting disciplines. In air rifle, team members include Shandre Willoughby of McLean County, Hunter Swanson of DeKalb County, Joe Couri of DuPage County, and Marlee Anderson of McHenry County. Kurt Willoughby coached the team. The small bore rifle team members include Jasmine Dotson of McLean County, Sarah Fandel of Woodford County, Gavyn Love of Woodford County, and Marygrace Couri of DuPage County. Dave Randolph coached the team.

Four Illinois members competed in archery. Dominick Trujillo of Macon County and Gavin Coombe of Edgar County competed in the compound bow division. Jeffrey Che of Jackson County and Jamie Anderson of McHenry County competed in the recurve bow division.

Gone. . . but not forgotten

4-H Memorial Camp serves as a living tribute to military heroes

With the world at war, 1944 saw the beginnings of a central-Illinois memorial to servicemen and servicewomen who lost their lives in World War II—a memorial lived out each year by hundreds of youth at summer 4-H camp. Thanks to Robert Allerton and countless additional donors, World War II heroes are not forgotten there.

Each year, freedom is celebrated at 4-H Memorial Camp near Monticello, Illinois, during four weeks of 4-H youth camp, as well as during as a camp week exclusively for youth of military families who have experienced the death or serious injury of a family member. Camp Corral, sponsored by Golden Corral restaurant, serves about 200 youth annually.

Last July marked the 70th anniversary of the dedication of 4-H Memorial Camp. An advisory

committee first proposed the camp in September 1944 as a memorial to the 4-H members and alumni who lost their lives in World War II. In July 1946, Allerton donated 250 acres from his Monticello estate to house the camp, and it was dedicated two years later.

4-H Memorial Camp is used 190 days a year, with more than 8,500 guests staying every year. The 34 cabins can house 256 campers, with every bunk filled for the four weeks of 4-H youth summer camp. About

60 counselors are hired each year to mentor the summer campers, ages 8 to 15, and nearly half of the counselors return the following year.

“There’s something about fresh air, campfires, starry nights, and lake water that brings out the best in humanity,” says camp director Curt Sinclair, who celebrates 25 years on staff at 4-H Memorial. The camp is popular with University of Illinois student groups, who use its high ropes and challenge courses to build teamwork. These groups return

year after year for unique leadership training offered by Sinclair and Andy Davis, University of Illinois Extension 4-H camping educator. “We know we are making a difference because they keep returning,” Davis says.

The week devoted to children of military families holds special meaning. Camp Corral allows children to bond with peers across the state who understand the unique challenges facing military families. Daphne Tapia, a former Camp Corral camper, now serves as a counselor for the five weeks of youth camp. Her dad, a Purple Heart recipient, was injured saving 13 people after a car bomb exploded in Afghanistan.

“I feel at home at Camp Corral,” Daphne says. “People here have gone through the same thing I have, and now I want to give the campers what other counselors gave me—a place to feel safe.”

Many campers feel homesick, but those at Camp Corral experience homesickness coupled with many other emotions, and counselors such as Daphne take time during the week to listen and share their own experiences growing up in a military family.

“Most kids don’t understand that when military families move, we have to be ‘the new kid’ all over again,” Daphne says. “And we have to see our parents return

from combat in a different frame of mind—PTSD is real.”

Daphne’s story caught the attention of the Golden Corral leadership, and she and her family were guests of the restaurant chain’s annual convention in San Francisco, where a video of her work with military youth was featured. Daphne praised Sinclair for “not only opening camp gates to everyone, but for making it the best place on earth.”

he also believes that in his 25 years of camp work, his biggest impact has been on the 700 young adult counselors he’s worked with during a transitional phase of their lives.

“It’s in these moments during the counselors’ six weeks living at camp that you can impact what comes next for them,” Sinclair says. “These young adults reassure me there is hope for the future.”

Another former Camp Corral camper, Josh Bushart, served his first year as a 4-H Memorial Camp counselor in 2018.

Josh’s father was killed while serving in Iraq in 2003. “There is power in numbers,” Josh says, referring to the support of campers whose families share a military background, “and talking is important.”

Josh says he tells campers, “I’ve been where you are, and I’m here to help you work it out.”

According to Sinclair, camping is powerful for inspiring youth to appreciate our natural resources, build new friendships, and participate in physical activities, but

Sinclair and Davis are an important factor in the transformational growth of character that counselors experience. Former counselor Kendra Greenlee of Urbana, now 20 years old, is moving to Chicago to work at Lurie Children’s Hospital as a child life specialist. She stopped at camp to thank Sinclair, saying that the path to her career began right on the grounds of 4-H Memorial Camp.

Kendra will help children dealing with trauma associated with hospitalization and illness. “Everything here at 4-H camp is why I’m doing what I’m doing for a career.”

For Josh, the relationship with Sinclair runs deep. “I didn’t grow up with a dad,” he says, “so Curt is like a dad for me when I’m here.” That lump that arises in Sinclair’s throat at hearing Josh’s declaration is evidence the feeling is mutual.

These young adults reassure me there is hope for the future.

Why 4-H overnight camping is needed

The benefits of overnight camping extend far beyond the simple joys that come from eating roasted marshmallows and jumping into a cool lake on a hot day. Overnight camping is a valued part of the 4-H experience for thousands of children each year and teaches valuable lessons, whether campers realize it at the time or not.

4-H Memorial Camp director Curt Sinclair, a 25-year veteran of youth camping, says that overnight camping changes both camper and counselor. “At camp, kids can be themselves,” Sinclair says. “For many, it’s the first time they have had to be responsible for their own things.”

from technology and spend time fishing, boating, swimming, and hiking, Sinclair says. Research from University of Illinois natural resources researcher Ming Kuo illustrates the need for increasing time outdoors. Her research has proven that exposure to green landscapes slows the heart rate and shifts our physiological responses from “fight-or-flight to tend-and-befriend mode.” People with more access to nature show better psychological functioning and better physical health, Kuo says.

becoming independent and making career and social decisions in their lives.”

“Teen counselors are coming from our own communities and our own 4-H programs,” Jennings says, “so they’re more invested in being the best role models possible.”

Professionals trained in youth development oversee every aspect of 4-H camping, ensuring not only a safe and positive environment for youth, but educational activities with specific learning objectives.

4-H youth development educator Johnna Jennings says that regardless of how campers are treated in their schools or communities, “at camp, they can reframe who they are and who they want to be.”

Andy Davis, the University of Illinois

Extension 4-H camping educator, says, “Kids explore their own interests at camp, not those of their parents. They can try a new activity and decide it’s awesome, or it’s not something they want to do again.”

Campers gain an appreciation and respect for natural resources when they unplug

The popular high ropes and challenge courses at 4-H Memorial Camp teach young people to work cooperatively to achieve a common goal. Even serving as a “table trotter” teaches youth to be responsible and encourages them to be helpful serving others.

As good as camping is for the youth who attend, “counselors get the most from the camping experience,” Sinclair says, because they’re at camp longer, up to five weeks at 4-H Memorial Camp. “Their counselor experience happens exactly as they’re

“People trust 4-H,” Davis says. “Parents know it’s safe to send their kids to us.”

4-H Memorial Camp is accredited with the American Camping Association. Only onequarter of camps across the country earn that accreditation.

“4-H camping often opens the door to other experiences for new families who learn that camping is just one component of something much larger,” Jennings says.

At camp, kids can be themselves.

Benefits of 4-H overnight camping for youth

ƒ Gain independence being away from home while in a safe environment.

ƒ Make lifelong friendships.

ƒ Learn to live and play cooperatively with people who are different from them.

ƒ Gain outdoor skills and unplug from technology.

ƒ Practice environmental stewardship.

ƒ Work as a team for a common goal.

ƒ Feel welcomed as a member of a group or team.

FOUNDATION GIVING

Your gift may

ƒ Provide camp scholarships to youth

ƒ Expand counselor training

ƒ Enhance the camper experience with needed equipment and supplies

ƒ Explore activities not available in their community.

ƒ Step outside of a comfort zone to try new things.

ƒ Practice generous living by helping others during meals, cleanup, and team building.

ƒ Meet new people and start lifelong friendships.

ƒ Explore career opportunities related to natural resource stewardship, outdoor living, and teaching.

ƒ Donor support reduces camper costs.

COUNSELOR TRAINING: Funding from the Illinois 4-H Foundation allowed counselors in Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, JoDaviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago counties to build a solid team of camping mentors.

Foundation supports camping teamwork

The success of any 4-H camping program rests in the ability of its teen counselors to create a warm, caring, and safe environment for young campers in their care. The Illinois 4-H Foundation funded training for 28 counselors, 10 with no previous experience, in the nine most northwestern counties of Illinois. 2018 was the first time these counties had joined for a week of summer camping.

In the counselors’ words:

It’s a life-changing experience which changes you for the better.

4-H camp helped me understand the difficulties involved in being a leader.

It really helped me with teamwork and, definitely, patience.

Illinois 4-H joined the Illinois 4-H Foundation and its donors in applauding the achievements of youth whose collective work has earned them top awards. The ceremony was held October 20 in Champaign.

Illinois Veterinary Science Award

This award recognizes youth who have enrolled and demonstrated mastery in the 4-H Veterinary Science project for a minimum of three years.

Sponsor: Auxiliary to the Illinois State Veterinary Medicine Association.

4-H Leadership, Citizenship, Professionalism Award

This award recognizes youth who have excelled in demonstrating leadership, citizenship, and professionalism in their 4-H work on local, area, state, and national levels.

Sponsor: Illinois Farm Bureau and Affiliates.

State 4-H Key Award

This award recognizes youth who have demonstrated excellence in leadership and a strong focus on community service and mentoring.

Sponsor: H. Richard and Sarah F. McFarland Endowed 4-H Youth Leadership and Character Development Support Fund.

4-H Livestock Scholarship

This award recognizes youth who have demonstrated and maintained a high standard of 4-H excellence and mastery in the livestock area during their membership and who are working toward a degree in agriculture.

Sponsors: LA-CO Industries, Inc. and the Illinois 4-H Foundation.

4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship

This award recognizes the longtime accomplishments of 4-H members throughout their 4-H careers and includes a $1,000 college scholarship.

Sponsors: Legacy of Leadership Endowment, Farm Credit Illinois, Nann Armstrong, Patricia Clickener, Lila Jeanne Eichelberger, Nellie R. McCannon Trust, Keith Parr, Dee Murray, John and Anne Zick, The Andersons, Inc., George Obernagel, The Deverman Family, John and Lynne Slayton, and the Illinois 4-H Foundation.

4-H Experience Award

This award recognizes youth who have expanded their 4-H careers beyond the county. Two levels of achievement are recognized (diamond and emerald) in Community Service, Leadership, and Project Learning.

Sponsor: Illinois 4-H Foundation.

State 4-H Award

Recipients may select a $1,000 scholarship or a trip to National 4-H Congress. This award is given in five areas: Community Service, Communications, Leadership, Personal Growth, and Project Mastery.

Sponsors: Illinois 4-H Foundation, Illinois Farm Bureau, Jennifer Cowsert, Keith Engel, Carrie Francis, Paul and Kristen Hadden, Peter Johnson, Victoria Jozef, Janet Kolmer Grommet, Donna Mueller, Keith and Lissa Parr, Michael Razim, Ryan and Elaine Ruwe, Marvin and Elizabeth Schnitzler, James and Jean Shinn, Jason and Andrya Smith, Kenneth and Lorna Smith, Gerald and Linda Thiele, and John and Tania Wilken.

1 KATELYN ACKLAND Emerald Award: Project Learning

Rochelle, IL | Ogle County

2 JESSICA ANDERSON State 4-H Award: Community Service

Argenta, IL | Macon County

3 ANNE BECKER State 4-H Award: Leadership Emerald Award: Leadership Jacksonville, IL | Morgan County

4 EMMA BEHRENS Emerald Award: Leadership Huntley, IL | McHenry County

5 GRACE BETZ State 4-H Award: Project Mastery Emerald Award: Leadership Oak Lawn, IL | Will County

6 SARAH BETZ Emerald Award: Leadership Oak Lawn, IL | Will County

7 ASHLIE BOYSEN-LEDBETTER Emerald Award: Leadership Rock Island, IL | Rock Island County

8 SHELBY BOYSEN-LEDBETTER Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team, Retiring Rock Island, IL | Rock Island County

9 KEVIN BRITTON Diamond Award: Leadership Olmsted, IL | Pulaski County

10 AUSTIN BROCKMAN 4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship Garden Prairie, IL | Boone County

11 BRADLEY BRUHL State 4-H Award: Project Mastery LeRoy, IL | McLean County

12 DAVID BRUNS Emerald Award: Leadership Rosamond, IL | Christian County

13 DARIA CLELAND State 4-H Award: Personal Growth Capron, IL | Boone County

14 JOSHUA COLE-BRODNAX

Retiring Illinois State

4-H Youth Leadership Team Cedar Rapids, IA | Rock Island County

15 LINDY COUCH State 4-H Award: Community Service Geneseo, IL | Henry County

16 TAYLOR CROUCH

Diamond Award: Project Learning Maroa, IL | Macon County

17 ANDREW CUNNINGHAM

4-H Leadership, Citizenship, And Professionalism Award

4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship

Decatur, IL | Macon County

18 AUSTIN DUFELMEIER

Diamond Award: Project Learning

Jacksonville, IL | Morgan County

19 JACOB ELLIS

Diamond Award: Leadership Jonesboro, IL | Union County

20 AARON FISHBURN State 4-H Award: Community Service Mechanicsburg, IL | Sangamon County

21 RYDER FLENER Retiring Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team Elizabethtown, IL | PopeHardin County

22 GWENDOLYN FOWLER State 4-H Award: Personal Growth Aledo, IL | Mercer County

23 MADELINE FRANKLIN State 4-H Award: Leadership Leroy, IL | DeWitt County

24 KARA FROIDCOEUR Illinois 4-H Veterinary Science Award Hudson, IL | McLean County

25 MADDIE FUGATE Illinois Farm Bureau Youth Education Committee State 4-H Award: Leadership Mahomet, IL | Christian County

26 KRZYSZTOF GAJDA Emerald Award: Leadership Retiring Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team Rockford, IL | Winnebago County

27 KATELYN HAMILTON 4-H Leadership, Citizenship, And Professionalism Award Emerald Award: Leadership Red Bud, IL | Randolph County

28 BRADY HARING State 4-H Award: Personal Growth Elizabeth, IL | Jo Daviess County

57 CHRISTIVIE NZENGO State 4-H Award: Community Service

Normal, IL | McLean County

58 LYDIA OKER Emerald Award: Leadership Sandwich, IL | Kendall County

59 CAMRYN PARKER Emerald Award: Leadership McLeansboro, IL | Hamilton County

60 ZACHARY PERKINS

4-H Livestock Scholarship

Illinois Farm Bureau

Youth Education Committee

4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship

Millbrook, IL | Kendall County

61 EMILY REPPY Emerald Award: Project Learning Yorkville, IL | Kendall County

62 SYDNEY REPPY Emerald Award: Project Learning

Yorkville, IL | Kendall County

63 CHARLOTTE ROBERTS Emerald Award: Leadership 4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship

Grayslake, IL | Lake County

64 KATYLN ROBERTS State 4-H Key Award Liberty, IL | Adams County

65 JOSHUA ROSSI State 4-H Key Award State 4-H Award: Personal Growth Emerald Award: Leadership Morris, IL | Grundy County

66 KALEY ROUSE Illinois Farm Bureau

Youth Education Committee Toulon, IL | Stark County

67 JAKE RYAN State 4-H Award: Project Mastery Belvidere, IL | Boone County

68 MCKENNA SELL Diamond Award: Project Learning Sycamore, IL | DeKalb County

69 GRACE SKELTON

4-H Leadership, Citizenship, And Professionalism Award State 4-H Key Award

4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship Middletown, IL | Logan County

70 ALAINA SMITH

Emerald Award: Project Learning Ruma, IL | Randolph County

71 CHASE SMITH

Emerald Award: Project Learning Ruma, IL | Randolph County

72 RILEY SMITH Emerald Award: Project Learning Ruma, IL | Randolph County

73 ABIGAIL STEFFENS

State 4-H Award: Project Mastery Lincoln, IL | Logan County

74 CONNER STEWART Diamond Award: Project Learning Coulterville, IL | Randolph County

75 ERIN STICHTER

State 4-H Key Award

4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship Erie, IL | Whiteside County

76 JONATHAN TIMM State 4-H Award: Project Mastery Iuka, IL | Marion County

77 HANNA VOSS State 4-H Key Award Breese, IL | Clinton County

78 BETH WARDEN Legacy of Leadership Scholarship Emerald Award: Project Learning Beardstown, IL | Cass County

79 ANTHONY WARMACK Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team, Retiring Marseilles, IL | Grundy County

80 ISABELLA WARMACK

Emerald Award: Leadership 4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship Marseilles, IL | Grundy County

81 NALIA WARMACK State 4-H Award: Project Mastery Emerald Award: Leadership Marseilles, IL | Grundy County

82 DILLON WHITE State 4-H Award: Personal Growth

4-H Livestock Scholarship Jacksonville, IL | Morgan County

83 LYDIA WIDENER State 4-H Award: Leadership Normal, IL | McLean County

84 GARRETT WILLIAMS

4-H Leadership, Citizenship, And Professionalism Award Emerald Award: Leadership Noble, IL | Richland County

85 RACHEL WOLFF State 4-H Key Award Shipman, IL | Macoupin County

Illinois dominates national 4-H animal science judging contests

The Illinois 4-H Foundation supports Illinois 4-H members and alum competing in national livestock and equine judging contests. Your gifts allow these members to demonstrate mastery in an elite competitive event and propels their career interests in various agricultural paths.

ANNUAL REPORT ON GIVING

The Illinois 4-H Foundation would like to thank the many individuals, businesses, trade associations, and organizations that provide financial support for our 4-H programs. Your financial support is the reason we can continue to fund outstanding 4-H opportunities in Illinois that give our youth opportunities to grow, learn, and succeed. The following contributions—each one important and appreciated—were made between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018.

Dear Illinois 4-H friends,

As we consider the recent holiday, it’s a great time to reflect on all the things we are thankful for.

It’s been a great year for Illinois 4-H and the Illinois 4-H Foundation.  Thanks to the efforts by individuals across the state, we continue to grow in our connections and resources that create and provide opportunities for 4-H’ers. In addition, the stories we read and hear, both in the urban and rural communities, continue to propel us to develop and enhance our networks, networks that share in our passions and want to give their time, talents, and resources.  We need your help. We need your voice to continue to share what 4-H is doing, not only for the individuals in the clubs, but the individuals these clubs impact.  Help us to create a green canvas across the state so kids and adults recognize the benefits of giving.

Whenever my family gathers around the table in November, my mom always asks us what we’re thankful for. This year, a few things I added at the Thanksgiving dinner table were: my head, my heart, my hands, and my health, and my club, my community, my country, and my world.  In the world of 4-H, what are you thankful for and how can you share that with those individuals it can impact?

Regards,

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

MAYA ANGELOU

Paul Hadden

Gean and Eleanor Gregory

Richard and Barbara

Gregory

Stan and Brenda Gregory

Kelly Greiner

Carman Gresham

Richard and Kim Grever

Gerald and Carolyn Grieser

Walter and Nancy Grimes

Marsha Gritton

Frederick and Leslie

Grohmann

David and Lynn Grotefendt

David and Amanda Grove

Kevin and Elizabeth Groves

Curt Grummel

Leo Grummel

Lisa Guinan

Lavange Guinn

Donald and Susan Guinnip

Virgil and Darleen

Gummersheimer

Michael and Alee Gunderson

Sondra Gunn

LeRoy and Janet Gurga

Donald Gustafson

Brian and Rebecca Guthrie

Kirby and Jane Guthrie

Kent and Teresa Guymon

Landon and Sara Guymon

William and Lorraine Hacker

Paul and Kristen Hadden

Joel and Marilyn Haefelin

Fred and Alice Haegele

Adrian and Michelle Hagen

Donald Hahn

Fred and Eula Haier

Trisha Haines

Jeffrey and Kathleen

Hainline

Tom Halat

Peter and Darla Hall

Richard Hall

Christine Hall

Fred and Janet Hall

William and Elaine Hall

William and Vivian Hallett

Rita Hallett

Sheila Hammann

Bernard and Mary Hammel

Gregory and Peggy

Hampton

Joseph and Margaret

Hampton

Jennifer Hancock

Donald and Lorraine Hand

Duane and Margaret Haney

Steven and Lyren Haney

Raymond and Ellen Hankes

Martha Hankins

Pearley and Wreatha Hanold

Corey and Andrea Hanson

Orin and Charlene Hapke

Jerry Hardin

Tom and Susan Harlan

Mary Harland

Paul and Sandra Harmon

Harvey Harms

Ryan and Breanne Harms

Norman and Karen Harms

Earl and JoAnn Harness

Robert and Dorothy Harpster

Louis Harr

George and Phyllis Harrell

Max and Sandra Harrington

Sharon Harris

Lisa Hart

Dayna Hart

Maynard and Leta Hartke

Michael Hartman

Gerald and Nancy Hartmann

Ronald and Patricia Hartmann

Doug Hartwick

Leonard and Barbara Harzman

Peter and Beverly Haselhorst

Faiz and Linda Hasib

Grace Haskins

Gregory and Jan Hastings

Darren and Jody Havens

Stuart Hawbaker

John and Katherine Hawkins

Harold and Carol Hawkinson

Alfred and Vickie Hayden

Mark Hayes

Gary and Sylvia Haynes

Gary and Sharon Hays

Gary and Judy Hazen

Sharon Heal

Byron and Martha Heape

Troy Heaton

Alan and Charlotte Heaton

Esther Heaton

Nancy Heaton

James and Donna Heavey

Ellyn Hebden

Julia Heberer

Bruce and Norma Hedbloom

Howard and Goldie Hedrick

M. J. Hefner and Bonita

Hefner

Raymond and Klista Hegele

Elizabeth Heiden

Fred Heina and Joan Freitag

Heina

Raymond Heinisch

William Heinisch

Thad and Elizabeth Heinold

Nelson and Bonita

Heinzmann

John Heitzig

Richard and Diane Heitzig

Sidney and June Helle

Dale and Jane Helms

Matthew and Michelle

Helms

Donald and Andrea Henderson

Jack and Marge

Hennenfent

Mike and Judy Hennenfent

William and Rebecca

Hennenfent

Chad and Janet Hensley

David and Lindsey Henson

Doris Henson

Alvin and Phyllis Hepner

Darcy Hepner

Dennis Herbert

Vincent and Mary Herman

Susan Herren

Joyce Herriott

Kristina Herriott

Bertha Herrmann

Dorothy Hertz

Dennis and Donna Hesker

Steven and Phyllis Hess

William and Marilyn

Hessman

Brad and Michele Hester

Thomas and Jill Hevrdejs

Keith and Michele Heyen

Jerry and Jill Hicks

Vicki Hicks

Robert and Phyllis

Hieronymus

Ricki Higgins

Roger and Shirley Higgs

David and Karen Hildebrand

George and Penny Hiler

Jim Hilligoss

G. R. Hillman

Linda Hiltabrand

Rebecca Hines

Kenneth Hinkle

Robert and Marsha Hinthorn

John and Lauren Hintzsche

Mark and Michelle Hitz

William and Janet

Hnetkovsky

J. M. and Debrah Hobbs

Marian Hobbs

Julie Hodges

Ann Hodgson

Michael Hoeft

Stanley Hoelzer

Anne Becker

Age 17, Morgan County Agri Stars 4-H Club Anne is always looking to do more for her community. She influences the youth in her county to have fun while helping others through community service projects. In 2018, she chaired the mealpackaging event that pushed Illinois over the millionth-meal threshold of food packaged for hungry residents of Illinois. Your service to others inspires us, Anne.

Allen and Jane Hoffman

Bryce and Courtney Hoffman

Roger and Patricia Hoffman

Mary Hoffman

Joseph and Nancy Hogan

Dan and Deanna Hoge

Mark and Katie Hoge

Kenneth and Helen Hohenstein

Kenneth and Marian Holdsworth

Arthur Holevoet

Larry and Jennifer Holldorf

William and Brigit Hollis

Richard and Gail Hollis

Merlyn and Jane Holmbeck

David and Thelma Holmbeck

Dean and Arlene Holmes

John Holmes

Richard and Gayla Holmes

Roger and Diane Holmes

Nancy Holsapple

Gary and Marilyn Holt

Ronald and Pattie Homann

Keith and Joy Honegger

Lloyd and Joyce Honegger

Jack and Sharon Hoobler

Steve and Lisa Hood

Julie Hood

Frank and Dorothea Hopkins

Barbara Hopkins

Cornelia Hoppe

Russell and Lois Horeni

Judy Hormell

Harold and Judith Horn

John Horn

Daniel and Constance

Hornickel

Richard and Kay Horsch

Evan says 4-H has inspired him to be more outgoing and to be a leader. “In our new robotics club, I have been able to teach some of the other kids. It makes me feel proud and smart, like I am doing the right thing.” Your willingness to lead inspires us, Evan.

Bruce and Caroll Hortin

Scott and Michele Horton

Mark and Brenda Hosto

Rick and Sherrill Houchens

Thomas and Suzanne Hough

Roger and Karen Houston

Patricia Howard

Roger and M. R. Hubele

James and Nina Hubert

Thomas and Dona Hubert

Don and Joy Hubner

Jeremy Huelsmann

Kenneth and Rosemary Huff

Jeff and Patricia Huffer

John Huffstutler

Robert and Genevieve

Hughes

Gayla Hughes

Robert Hull and Polly Hull

Nathan and Annica Hulstedt

David and Suzanne

Humphreys

Thomas and Mary Hunsley

James and Hattie Jacobs

Jane Jacoby

Ryan Jacuot

Bernard Janecki

Kay Jansen

John Janssen

James Jarboe

Anthony and Kristine Jarden

David Jasper

Ryan and Sara Jennings

James and Joyce Jensen

William and Willa Jewsbury

Jason Johns

Victor and Tammy Johns

Chuck and Sue Johnson

Daniel and Linda Johnson

David Johnson

Donald and Virginia Johnson

Edgar and Betty Johnson

Peter Johnson

Ralph and Ruth Johnson

Stephen and Lila Johnson

Terry and Kathryn Johnson

Thomas Johnson

Rick and Carline Johnson

Larry and Christine Johnson

Robert and Jeannie Johnson

Mark and Karen Johnson

Ruth Johnson

Thomas and Sharon Johnson

Douglas and Stephanie Johnson

Donald and Virginia Johnson

Anna Johnson

Cheryl Johnson

Elaine Johnson

Gail Johnson

Donnell and Dorothea Hunt

Donald Hunt

Sally Hunt

Wayne and Susan Hurliman

Oscar and Susan Hurst

Lawrence and Mary Huseman

Philip and Lucinda Huskey

Mary Ann Husmann

John and Anne Huston

Raymond and Diana Huston

Allen and Judy Huston

Nosheen Hydari

John and Barbara Ibendahl

Betty Imboden

John and Carrie Inczauskis

Mary Ingmire

Larry and Verdeen Ingram

Michael and Melissa Inman

Patricia Inness

Luan Ippensen

David Irwin

Edith Irwin

Lucile Johnson

Nancy Johnson

Jean Johnston

Vicki Joiner

James Jones

Phil and Judith Jones

Allen and Audrey Jones

Chester and Janice Jones

Joseph and Kenda Jones

Carol Jones

Eunece Jones

Leroy Jording

Rebecca Joyce

Victoria Jozef

Henrietta Juarbe

Matthew and Krystal

Jungmann

Floyd and Lois Jurgens

Arianne Kaack

John and Marcia Kabat

Larry and Rita Kabat

Larry and Patricia Kaburick

Melvin Kaiser

Henry Kallal

Norman and Mary Kallal

Damien and Audra Kalvar

Francis Kamerer

Hal Kapraun

Julius and Marilyn Kasa

Timothy and Virginia Kasser

Robert and Carolyn Kassing

Carl and Donna Kasten

David and Virginia Kater

Mark and Mary Ann

Kaufman

Donald and Audrey

Kaufman

Russell and Norma Keagy

Marjorie Keane

Teri Keegan

Karen Kehoe

Dale Kehr

Christopher and Ann Keim

Jerry and Kathleen Keimig

William and Betty Kelch

John and Marilyn Kell

Daniel and Pamela Kelley

John and Elizabeth Kelley

Catherine Kellogg

John and Janice Kellogg

Shirley Kelly

Jeannette Kelly

Gordon Kelm

Joel and Nancy Kelsey

Clarke Kelso

Kurt Kelso

Kyle Kelso

Marilyn Kemmerer

Robert and Judith Kemp

Robert Kenney

Jon and Georgia Kenney

Helen Kenney

Robert and Marian Kerr

Ronald and Patricia Kerres

Kenneth and Lora Kesler

W. J. and Dorothy Kessler

Daryl and Katherine Keylor

Roger and Carol Kiddoo

Richard and Barbara Kiefer

Pamela Kieper

Matthew and Gretchen

Killam

Kevin and DeNeene Killey

Richard and Mary Killey

John and Anastasia Killian

Toby King and Judith

Hevrdejs-King

Robert and Kathleen King

Edward and Kimberly King

Michael and Brenda Kinney

John and Carolyn Kinsella

Michael and Sherry Kinser

David and Mary Kirbach

William and Lillian Kirk

Robert and Margery Kirwan

John and Susan Kissick

Marty and Jami Kistler

Thomas and Denise Kistner

Thomas and Karen Klatt

Susan Klehm

Ronald Klein

Carolyn Kleven

Marjorie Klindera

Sharon Klingstedt

Alan and Sylvia Klokkenga

Mary Klokkenga

Verlene Klopmeier

Ronald and Wanda Kloster

Gilbert and Rosemary Knap

Laurence and Joy Knicl

Kenneth and Jeanette

Knight

Richard and Darlene Knipe

Brian Knodle and Heather

Hampton+Knodle

Eugene and Joyce Knodle

Robert Knott

Scott and Jana Knupp

Cleo Koch

Edward and Karen Koch

Elmon and Janice Koch

George and Dottie Koenig

Oscar Koenig

Robert and Donna Kohl

Janet Kolmer Grommet

Judy Koniak

Joseph and Jennifer Konneker

Martin and Rebecca Koster

Franklin and Geraldine Kovarik

Betty Kraft

Edward and Sharon Kramer

Joseph Kramer

Janice Kramer

Gayle Krantz and Carole

Swanson-Krantz

Charles Krause and S. J. Krause

Joanne Krieger

David and Sandra Kroeschel

Gary Krueger

Ronald Kruse

Leonard and Betty Krusemark

Richard and Carrie Kubetz

Donald Kuhlman

Monty Kuhn

William and Lisa Kuhn

Patricia Kuhn

Gary and Sharon Kuhns

Marion and Dianne Kujawa

Carol Robertson

Roy and Paula Robinson

William and Karen Robinson

Peggy Robinson

Amy Rochkes

Curtis and Beth Rocke

Michael and Theresa Roegge

George and Ruby Roemer

Judy Roessler

Charles Rogers

David and Louise Rogers

William and Ann Rogers

Nathan Rohlfs

Daniel and Marilyn BidnerRoley

Jacuelyn Roll

Thomas and Mary Root

Gordon Ropp

Kenneth and Rebecca Ropp

Ray and Carol Ropp

Rollin and Sybil Roselle

John and Jane Rosenbohm

Donald Rosenboom

Kris and Theresa

Rosentreter

Gerald and Evalyn Roskamp

Norman and Mary Ross

Barbara Rossman

Larry and M. J. Roth

Albert and Roberta Roth

Scott and Tracy Rothe

Wayne and Catherine Rovey

Michael and Tina Rowe

John and Lois Rowe

Maurice and Anita Roy

Lawrence and Doris Rubin

Beverly Rudolph

Kirk and Sherry Rueb

Lisa Ruebush

Otis and Marian Ruff

Alphonse and Kathleen Ruholl

Eric and Maria Rund

Richard and Ann Rund

John and Anita Runduist

Sandra Runge

Duane and Pamela Runyon

Joseph and Carol Runyon

William Runzel

Chad and Andrea Ruppert

Garrett and Ellen Rush

Bill and Cindy Russell

Steven and Donna Russell

John and Carol Ruth

Ryan and Elaine Ruwe

Alan and Phyllis Ruwe

Tommy Ruyle

Dave and Beth Rylander

Mike and Kelli Sabin

Mark and Dina Sackman

Steven and Mary Safford

Shirley Saiter

Michael and Barbara Sallee

Joan Salzman

Orion and Gloria Samuelson

Harold Sanders

David and Rose Sandstrom

Teresa Sanford-Shipplett

Ronald and Mary Sanko

Allen and Heather Sasse

David and Gail Apel-Sasse

Nathan and Elizabeth Sasse

Gregg and Cindy Sauder

Richard Sauder

David and Sylvia Saunders

John and Claire Sauntry

Richard Sawyer

Dennis and Amy Schaal

Debra Schaal

Lloyd and Joan Schaal

James and Carol Schacht

John and Kimberly Schaefer

John and Shelly Schaefer

David and Helen Schafer

Gary Schafer

Kenneth and Linda Schafer

William and William Schafer

Louise Schafer

Neil and Melody Schaffer

Wendy Schaffer

Thomas and Pam Schahrer

Duane and Kimberly Schallenberg

Joseph and Tonya Scheetz

Delbert Scheider

Thomas and Mary Scheider

John and Karen Schemerhorn

Douglas and Laura

Schemmer

Christian and Jane Scherer

Darrell and Betty Scherer

Ronald and Sharon Scherer

Alfred Schierer

David and Darlene Schingoethe

Dale and Janice Schleder

Sally Schlegel

Clarence and Jo Ann

Schlueter

Johnny and Barbara Schmid

James and Arlene Schmidt

Ronald and Mary Schmidt

Kenneth and Mary Schmidt

Eric and Stephanie Schmisseur

Thomas and Nancy Schneider

Marvin and Elizabeth Schnitzler

John Schoolman

Linda Schrader

John and Barbara Schrage

Averil Schreiber

Jeffrey and Lynne Schroeder

Derek and Jamie Schrof

Sandra Schrof

Richard and Sheila

Schrumpf

Donna Schumacher

Joseph and Connie Schurr

Brock and Jacueline

Schutz

Amy Schwamberger

Herman Schwantz

Dennis and Paula Schwark

Kay Schwarting

Christine Schwartz

Melvin and Delores

Schweizer

Lorie Schwerer

Douglas and Kathleen Scott

Mark and Karen Searl

Anne Sears

Nancy Sears

Doris Seaton

Robert Seaver

Mark and Brenda Seboldt

James Seibert

Albert and Kathie Seibert

Sheri Seibold

Timothy and Roxanna

Seifert

Teresa Selin

B. B. and Ruth Seney

Samuel and Julie Serven

Dan and Sandra Setters

Debra Seyller

Phillip and Sharon Shaner

Esther Shanks

John Share

Charles and Audrey Shaw

Linda Sheldon

Jean Shelly

Jack Shelton

William and Catherine

Shenaut

Michael Shepherd

Mark and Toni Shepherd

Tom Sheppard

Elwanda Sheriff

Patsy Sherrard

Frank Shiflet

Ronald and Suellen Shike

Lynn and Peggy Shimmin

Randal and Jane Shimmin

James and Jean Shinn

Julie Shinn

Annsley Healy

Age 10, White County Enfield Blue

Ribbons 4-H Club

Annsley says 4-H has taught her how to feed, wash, and show hogs. She was named the junior showman for White County and had the cleanest stall this year. Your willingness to work hard inspires us, Annsley.

Carole Shirely

Timothy and Rebecca Shoemaker

Donald and Alicia Short

John and Jackie Shortal

Mamie Shorter

Charles and Mary Shuman

Roger Shupe

Jeffrey and Janice Sibley

Joseph and Brenda MattesSica

Kay Siebenthal

John and Cheri Siebken

Gloria Siebken

Thomas Siegel

Kathryn Siegel

Jeanette Siemens

Ralph and Rosa Simkins

Carra Simmons

Revamary Simpson

Kent Sims

Randy and Mary Sims

Curtis and Heather Sinclair

Gordon and Jane Sissing

Antoinette Skelley

Kent and Penny Lawyer

John and Barbara Slaton

John and Lynne Slayton

Ralph and Eva Sloman

James and Shirley Slothower

F. E. and Jo Smalley

Cecil and Debby Smith

James Smith

Jason and Andrya Smith

Jennifer Smith and Shane Ater

Kenneth and Lorna Smith

Robert and Elaine Smith

Jay Smith and Diane Donnell Smith

Bret and Erin Smith

M. E. and Joyce Smith

Donald and Judy Smith

Michael and Marcia Smith

Margaret Smith

Gary and Paula Smith

Treasure Smith

Charlotte Smith

Gary and Mary Smith

Jess Smithers

Mary Smitley

Kaley Rouse

Age 20, Stark County Century Clover

4-H Clovers alum

4-H has inspired Kaley to work with youth to achieve their full potential. Her nonprofit organization collects toys for the OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois and St. Jude. The wrapped toys are delivered before Christmas while she visits children on the pediatric ICU, hematology, and oncology floors of the hospital. Kaley is studying to become a nurse practitioner specializing in pediatrics and obstetrics. Your joyful living inspires us, Kaley.

Mary Snavely

Lea Sneed

William Snyder

Perry and Rita Soldwedel

Donna Sons

Earl and Doris Sorrells

Donald and Judith Sowinski

John and Holly Spangler

Terry Sponheim

J. M. and Kathy Sponsler

Melvin and Susan Sprague

Patricia Sprague

Maurice Sprout

Sonya Suibb

Allen and Valerie Stabenow

Patricia Stack

Kenneth and Ann Stahl

Lloyd and Betty Stahl

Melinda States

Gary and Constance Stauffer

Jerry and Patsy Steck

Joseph and Cheryl Steckel

Mandell and Hazel Steffey

Roger Steimel

Richard Steiner

Walter and Betty Steiner

Diane Stelter

Donna Stelter

Francis and Karen Stenzel

Deborah Sterett

Mark and Sue Sterr

Elmer Sterthman

William and Lois Stetzler

Raymond and Darlene

Stevens

Glenn and Judy Stevens

DeWayne and Verla Stevens

Terry and Ruth Stevig

Cody Stewart

Brandon and Casey Stichter

Dolores Stierwalt

Sharon Stierwalt

Bruce Stikkers

Wayen and Alice Stille

Barbara Stille

Elinor Stille

C. J. Stilwell

Katherine Stine

Krista Stine

Lionel and Rebecca Stirrett

Tom Stites

Harold Stith

Warren Stith

Dale and Debra Stocker

Rosanne Stockman-Block

Gerald and Joan Stoffregen

Alice Stogsill

Collins and Barbara Stoll

Rodney Stoll

Lynn Stoller

Irvin and Judith Story

Virginia Stout

Robbie and Terry Strauch

Peter Streid

Wanda Streitmatter

Patricia Stremsterfer

Pat and Leah Strom

Doug and Marsha Strom

Dennis and Bonnie Strong

Don and Ilene Stults

Evelyn Stumpe

Marvin and Gayle Stumpf

Mark and Judith Sturgell

Vera Stutzke

Charles Sullivan

Gregory and Mary Sullivan

Matt and Karla Sullivan

Terry and Jackie Sullivan

Robert and Patricia Sullivan

Carole Sullivan

Dale Summers

Joe and Carole Summerville

Kenneth and Alice Sundberg

Henry and Karen Sutton

Jeffrey and Rhonda

Swanhorst

Lori Swanson

Caren Swanson

Daniel Swanson

F. C. and Bonnie Swatek

Joy Swearingen

Steven and Kathy

Swearingen

Allen Swegle

John Swiech

Kathleen Tafoya

Stephen and Robin Taft

Robert and Dorothy Talbott

Ken and Mary Tasset

Christopher and Dawn Tate

Mark and Regina Taylor

Charles and Judith Taylor

Christine Taylor

Mary Taylor

Susan Taylor

Alan and Alice Tebbe

Amy Tenhouse

Arthur and Sharon Tenhouse

Robert and Liana Terwilliger

Edwin and Melanie Teubel

Leona Thacker

Karen Thennes

Ronald and Judith Theobald

Paul and Mary Thomas

Evelyn Thomas

Anita Thomas

Reid and Heather Thompson

Mary Thompson

Roger and Karen Thor

Rick Thorman

Marvin and Alice Thorman

Christopher and Cathy Thorp

Don and Karon Thorp

JoAnn Thorp

Alberta Thorpe

Wayne Thurmond

Raymond Thursby

Howard Tingley

Marilyn Tjardes

Becky Toohill

Loren Torbeck

Venson and Tami Toreja

Casey Torrance

Nicholas Torrance

Scott and Monica Torrance

Lisa Torrance

Mauri Traylor

Charles Traylor

Jean Treter

Robert and Norma Trojan

Dana Trone

Lee Trotter

Dale and Teresa Troyer

Neil and Pamela Truman

Mary Tunison

Terrie and Alexa Tuntland

Gary and Ann Turner

Joey and Patricia Tusek

Robert and Mary Twardock

Virl Two and Connie Hallett

Kenneth and Charlotte

Tyrrell

William and Eleanor Uhlman

Anthony and Amy Ulrich

Gary Unsicker

Kenneth Uphoff

Larry and Jane Vahle

Kenneth and June Valentine

Dennis and Cherie Van

Daele

Marvin Van Hoorn

Forrest Van Orman

Penny Van Tine and Roger

Van Tine

Mary Vance

Timothy and Bambi Spangler

Ruth Sparkman

Byron and Jennifer Sparrow

Bettie Speer

Rick and Julie Spencer

Shane and Lisa Spencer James Spohr

Don Stolworthy

David and Eleanor Stolz

Kenneth and Janis Stone

Lyle and Diane Stone

Patricia Stone

Peter Stork

Jack and Nan Stork

Gerald and Linda Thiele

David Thiems

Karen Thiems

Melvin and Linda Thies

Michael and Catheran

Thomas

Jeffrey and Sandra Thomas

Sherri Vancil

David Vandeburg

Marvin and Tara VanHoorn

Sean and Deborah Vanslyke

Mary Varel

Douglas Vaughn and Stacie Piatt-Vaughn

McDonough Telephone Cooperative

McGrew Feedlot Equipment

McLean County 4-H

McLean County 4H Horse Education Committee

McLean County Farm Bureau

Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District

Mercer County Title Company

Mercer Rock Island Pork Producers

Mercer Township

Merck Partnership for Giving

MetLife, Inc.

MidAmerica National Bancshares, Inc.

Midwest Bank

Midwest Dairy Association

Midwest Grass and Forage

MJM Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Modelite Home Extension

Modern Electric

Monroe County Extension & 4-H Education Foundation

Monsanto Company

Moore’s Insurance Agency, Inc. Gable-Moore Insurance Agency

Morton Community Bank

Mount Olive HCE Unit

Mulch Farms, Inc.

Murfin Farms

Murray Legacy Farms, LLC

National 4-H Council

Nelson Farm Service

New Windsor Fair, Rodeo & Horse Show Association

Nilwood Unit HCE

No Place Like Home

Northwest Designs Ink, Inc.

NPL Tax & Accounting, LLC

NRA Foundation, Inc.

NTN-Bower Corporation

Oak Run Garden Club

Office Specialists, Inc.

Olson Acres

Opus Investment Management

Otter Creek Acres

Oxford Enterprises

Production Office

Paul A. Funk Foundation

Paul S. Figge Insurance

Agency, Inc.

Paullin Farm

Peoria County 4-H

Extension Foundation, Inc.

Peterson Brothers Seed

Pharmacy Plus, Inc.

Pheasants Forever, Inc.

Pike County Association for HCE Detroit HCE Unit

Pine Ridge Homes, Inc.

Pine Transportation Inc.

Pioneers 4-H Club

Pita Hut, Inc.

Pitstick Farms LLC

Pittsfield HCE Nite II

Pittsfield Nite I

Plate Services Inc.

Plaza Truck Service Inc.

Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.

Prairie State Generating Company

Pumo Insurance

Purdum Gray Ingledue Beck, Inc.

R & D Walter Farm

R and S Mulch Farms, Inc.

Rally Tree Farm

Ramsey Grain, Inc.

Raritan State Bank

RCM Farms Ltd.

Rex Encore Promotions, LLC

RF Scheldt Enterprises, Inc.

Riddell Roofing, Inc.

Riden Farm Supply Inc.

Riechmann Bros. L.L.C.

Rippelmeyer Farms Inc.

Rochester State Bank

Ron Schmidt Farms, Inc.

Ropp Jersey Cheese, LLC

Rosebud Ranch

Roseville Clinic

Roseville Veterinary Service, PC

Rotary Club of Carlinville

ROVA Class of 1971

RTS Family Farms, Inc.

Rural King

Ruyle & Sims Attorneys at Law

Samuel Cardinal Stritch

Council 4630 Knights of Columbus

Sangamon County Rural Youth Alumni Association

SCB Bancorp, Inc.

Schaub Bros. Hardwoods LLC

Scheels

Schmisseur Farms of Kansas, LP

Schoolman Farms II

Schwab Charitable Fund

SCI Corporation

Security Bancorp Mhc

Security Savings Bank

Shady Ridge Farm

Sievers Equipment Comapny

Sievers Truck Leasing Service, Inc.

Sonneborn Bros Trucking

Sorrells Farm Supply, Inc.

South Family Farm, LLC

South Side Hardware, Inc.

Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Soy Capital Ag Services

Staff of KCCDD

State Bank of Industry

State Bank of Lincoln

State Farm Companies

Foundation

Gift Program

The Vasquez-Sottile family

Winnebago County, Guilford

Gainers 4-H Club

Matching

Steve’s Appliance

Stitch & Stir HCE Unit

Stobbs, Sinclair & Associates, Ltd.

Stronghurst Community Corporation

Sullivan Bros. Fertilizer Service

Support Extension & 4H Fund

Support Extension and 4-H Foundation

Syverson Strege & Company

T. Rowe Price Program for Charitable Giving Tanners Orchard, Ltd.

Tappendorf Farms

Terrill Title Company Inc.

The Andersons, Inc.

The Bird’s Nest Knit & More, LLC

The Cantlin Law Firm

The Carrollton Levee, Inc.

The Chicago Community Trust

The Hill-Dodge Banking Company

The Kilian Corporation

The Northern Trust Company

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

Thompson Insurance Agency, Inc.

Thrivent Financial

Timmermann & Company Ltd.

Tinkham’s Electric

Mom Michelle Angela writes: “As the years have passed, I have seen such a change in my children. 4-H has been a valuable program in giving them more self-confidence, building friendships, and teaching them amazing things. It would have been easy for me to sit back and breathe for a minute while the kids enjoyed their time with this amazing program, but when we saw what it was doing for our children, we knew we wanted to help out wherever possible to reach even more children. Working together on projects, planning meetings, building robots, or even just wearing dorky matching 4-H sweatshirts, we always have a blast because 4-H has brought us even closer to one another.” Your willingness to help and your dorky 4-H sweatshirts inspire us, Michelle!

Jack and Janet Engelsen

Jim Folger

Dennis and Linda

Fredrickson

Galesburg Boots & Saddle Club

Chris Gibbs

Alfred and Vickie Hayden

Gary and Sylvia Haynes

Bruce and Norma Hedbloom

Jimmy Walker Tire and Auto Service, Inc.

Chuck and Sue Johnson

Gail Johnson

Bob and Cindy Lance

Keith and Heather

Lindstrom

Kimberly Locke

McCartney’s

Lynn and Carolyn McClure

Jim and Cindy Meldrum

George Pease

Gary and Vickie Poynter

Marilyn Rask

Penelope Roberts

Peggy Robinson

Rosebud Ranch

ROVA Class of 1971

Dave and Beth Rylander

John and Cheri Siebken

Gloria Siebken

Ralph and Rosa Simkins

Staff of KCCDD

Rosanne Stockman-Block

Charles Sullivan

Kathleen Tafoya

Roger and Karen Thor

Dana Trone

Kenneth and Mary West

Carl and Carolyn Wilcoxson

Jim and Sue Wilson

Angela Zellman

Judith Craig

St. Joseph

January 19, 1936 – March 31, 2018

Scott and Cynthia Paceley

George Daigh

Urbana, IL

September 22, 1929 – June 9, 2018

Accounting plus Tax Solutions, Inc.

Marilyn Craver

Theodore and Jo Ann Curtin

Thomas and Beverly Frey

Fred and Alice Haegele

Richard and Carrie Kubetz

Donald Kuhlman

Marjorie Mead

Roscoe and Annette

Pershing

Richard and Ann Rund

Clarence and Jo Ann

Schlueter

Dan and Sandra Setters

Charlotte Smith

Rodney Stoll

Patricia Stone

Robert and Emmaline

Davison

Sherrard, IL

Robert and Betsy Davison

John Downey

Aledo, Illinois

February 2, 1952 –

November 5, 2016

Richard and Elizabeth MacDonald

James Eggen

Aledo, Illinois

September 14, 1937 – April

13, 2017

Curtis and Marsha Coberly

John Eisenmayer

Stronghurst, Illinois

March 7, 1925 – September

4, 2015

Sharon Eisenmayer

Alberta Franklin

Antonio and Marie Franklin

Linda Crump

Warren Stith

Harold Stith Sr.

Ada Heen

Livewires 4-H Club

Norman Hecht

Springfield, IL

October 20, 1931 – May 10, 2004

Alice Hecht

Elizabeth Hunt

Girard, IL

August 1, 1923 - January 22, 2018

Wilma Beckert

Central Illinois Corvettes, Inc.

Mark and Debbi Denzler

Farm Credit Illinois

R. S. Gage and Dixie

Stewart-Gage

Lisa Guinan

Kenneth and Rosemary Huff

Todd and Kimberly Maisch

Bradley and Leslie McCarty

Michael and Marcia Smith

Ronald and Judith Theobald

Mauri Traylor

Ronald and Evelyn Weller

Edwin and Coni Whitcomb

George Irick

Congerville, IN

April 30, 1949 - January 28, 2018

Pauline Atkins

Tyler Atkins

Nathaniel Johnson

Elaine Johnson

Rickey Keim

Pittsfield, Illinois

February 14, 1953 – April 3, 2018

William and Gloria Ferguson

Glenna Ferguson

Kirby and Jane Guthrie

Edgar and Betty Johnson

Robert and Virginia Lister

Mary Lister

Marlin and Evelyn

McCormick

Kirk and Sherry Rueb

Shane and Lisa Spencer

Paul and Mary Thomas

Jimmy and Cheryl Westfall

Harry and Helen Wright

Ema Koontz

Anna Rhodes

Donna Kuhlman

Savoy, IL

June 2, 1938 - December 19, 2017

Rodney and Rodney Fink

Lyle Landon

Linda Landon

Daniel Lloyd

Aledo, Illinois

November 23, 1952 –

January 6, 2017

Richard and Elizabeth MacDonald

Rollover!

Good IRA.

The tax-free IRA charitable rollover is back, permanently! Direct gifts to the University of Illinois Foundation for the benefit of Illinois 4-H Youth Development Program from your IRA:

ƒ Be an easy and convenient way to make a gift from one of your major assets.

ƒ Be excluded from your gross income: a tax-free rollover.

ƒ Count toward your required minimum distribution

For your gift to qualify for benefits:

ƒ You must be 70½ or older at the time of your gift.

ƒ The transfer must go directly from your IRA to the U of I Foundation to benefit the Illinois 4-H Foundation.

ƒ Your total IRA gift(s) cannot exceed $100,000.

ƒ You cannot receive anything in return.

Contact us today to see how a rollover could benefit you! 217-333-9295

Her gifts will inspire generations of campers

Longtime University of Illinois and Illinois 4-H supporter Lila Jeanne Eichelberger was honored at a ceremony Nov. 28 at 4-H Memorial Camp near Monticello during the dedication of a 4,000 square-foot hands-on, multi-purpose learning facility, which bears the name Eichelberger Hall.

The building is one of many gifts she and her late husband, Paul, have made to the camp, including donations to support three cabins. She also funds college scholarships for 4-H members. Eichelberger has been a continuous donor to U of I athletics and 4-H for more than 50 years, said Angie Barnard, Illinois 4-H Foundation executive director. Her gifts include funding for the Eichelberger Woman’s Softball Field on the Urbana campus.

“Her legacy is the young people she helps,” Barnard added.

Curt Sinclair, camp director at 4-H Memorial Camp for 25 years, said he shares a common goal with Eichelberger. “We are intertwined by our common belief in the incredible power 4-H camping programs can have in the lives of young people, both campers and counselors.”

Lisa Diaz, U of I Extension assistant dean and 4-H program leader in Illinois added, “4-H in Illinois has a long, proud tradition, and coming to 4-H Memorial Camp is a pentacle event. This is a place where youth gain a sense of belonging; where they’re developing their independence, pursuing their passion and stretching to do things they’ve never done before. They’re going home with lifelong memories and lifetime friends.”

The land for the camp was gifted to 4-H in 1944 by Robert Allerton as a memorial to Illinois 4-H service men and women who lost their lives in World War II. More than 8,000 guests stay at the camp each year, with camps, workshops, trainings, and team building events taking place 190 days out of the year.

“The thread that holds my life together is 4-H,” Eichelberger said. A youngster during the depression, Eichelberger credits her parents with creating opportunities for her to thrive. Her mother was a 4-H leader, and club meetings gave the Mason County 4-H member an opportunity to learn while she socialized with other youth. Her love of camping began as a 4-H camper and counselor in western Illinois.

A bright student, Eichelberger received two degrees from the University of Illinois and stayed at the 4-H House cooperative on campus. She taught home economics in Champaign County. Many of the guests attending the ribbon cutting spoke of their admiration for the woman they call “Shorty.”

“Shorty never meets a stranger,” said Marcia Seibert, who first met Eichelberger on a bus trip to an Illini football game.

Barbara and Stu Clark live next to Eichelberger, and each morning at 6:30. there is a knock on their door from the 90-yearold neighbor whose energy and enthusiasm they admire. “Her loyalty to the university and to 4-H is inspiring,” Barbara said.

Perpetual Gifts

Perpetual gifts are a means to provide ongoing support for the Illinois 4-H Youth Development Program.

Endowed Gift Funds

An endowment can be created to continuously benefit a 4-H initiative or county 4-H program with a minimum gift of $25,000.

4-H Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Alexander Memorial Fund

Margarette E. Athey 4-H Adult Volunteer Leader Development Fund

Ruth and Donald Berger Family Memorial 4-H Endowment Fund

Charles and Frances Brummer 4-H Endowment Fund

Camp White Eagle Scholarship Fund

Dick and Sally McFarland 4-H Programming Endowment Fund

4-H Jerry G. Cash Memorial Dairy Judging Awards Fund

4-H Citizenship Memorial Award Fund

4-H Dairy Judging Contests Endowment Fund

4-H George A. Doole Memorial Aerospace Award Fund

4-H Endowment Fund

4-H Equine Excellence Endowed Fund

Farm Credit Services of Illinois Endowed Fund for the Annual

Support and Sponsorship of the Illinois 4-H Project Partners Program

4-H Mel Fink Livestock Judging Travel Endowment Fund

4-H Dr. Leo Fryman Leadership Dairy Award Fund

Herman W. Hanouw Endowment Fund

Patti Jeanne Higgins 4-H Scholarship Fund

Illinois 4-H Alumni Legacy Fund

Illinois 4-H Foundation Board of Directors Endowment Fund

Illinois 4-H Youth Development Center Endowment Fund

4-H International IFYE Endowment Fund

Lucille and Lester Korsmeyer 4-H Scholarship

4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship Fund

Nyle and Monica Masten Endowment Fund

4-H Lisa M. Mauney Memorial National Congress

Achievement Award

Nellie R. McCannon 4-H Special Interest Club Fund

H. Richard McFarland Endowed Scholarship Fund

H. Richard and Sarah F. McFarland Endowed 4-H Youth

Leadership and Character Development Support Fund

Suzanne McMurry Memorial 4-H Endowed Fund

Eugene G. Mosbacher 4-H Program Support Fund

4-H Deborah Edwards Orr Memorial Dog Obedience Award Fund

David D. Pyle Fund for 4-H Volunteer Development Fund

4-H Harold Salzman Memorial Fund

4-H Emerson Scholl Memorial Fund-National Conference

Janice A. Seitz 4-H Character Education Awards Endowed Fund

4-H Earl J. Sobinsky Memorial Livestock Fund

Milford and Florence Skog 4-H Endowed Fund

John Clyde Spitler and Walter M. Johnson County 4-H Scholarship Fund

Superior Young Producers Scholarship Fund

Gordon and Evelyn Brandt Thomas Quasi-Endowment Scholarship Fund

4-H Kenneth Waddell Memorial Performing Arts Fund

Clareta Walker Endowed Fund

4-H Nedra Wesson Fund

Lisa Woessner Memorial 4-H Science and Technology Award Fund

4-H Ray Woodis Memorial IFYE Fund

Deferred Gifts

Bequests, Trusts, Life Insurance

Thank you to the following individuals who have included Illinois 4-H Youth Development Program in their estate planning.

John and Beatrice Bagby

Dr. Sandra Broadrick-Allen

Patricia Clickener

Charles and Ruth Dow

Lila Jeanne Eichelberger

Jo Menacher

Duane Schroeder

Rod Stoll

Phyllis Summers

Susan and Ronald Warsaw

The good feeling that comes from knowing you are making a difference can grow by combining a current gift with a future gift to Illinois 4-H.

This thoughtful approach to giving allows you to continue to see the impact of your support today and be part of helping us address tomorrow’s challenges.

Blending your giving today with a future gift to Illinois 4-H lets you make a bigger impact than you ever thought possible. You have the flexibility to choose the combination of gifts that complement your financial situation and the future needs of you and your loved ones.

2018

INSPIRED

ILLINOIS 4-H IMPACT

The CloverSeed is a joint publication of the Illinois 4-H Foundation and University of Illinois Extension State 4-H and serves to show statewide impact of the 4-H program, made possible, in part, by the support of Foundation donors.

This report recognizes all donors who have generously supported the Illinois 4-H Foundation through their financial contributions from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information.

In the interest of economy, computerized methods have been used wherever possible in compiling names. Please forgive any errors or omissions that may have occurred. We ask that you notify the Illinois 4-H Foundation of any mistakes so that we can correct our records. Thank you.

Managing Editor/Lead Writer: Judy Mae Bingman

Contributors: Paul Hadden, Rosie Ralston, Anita Wilkinson, Patty Huffer, and Becky Buckrop

Photos: Judy Mae Bingman, with contributions from local Extension 4-H staff

Copy Editor: Molly Bentsen

Designers: Dylan & Mallory Simonds

Illinois 4-H Youth Development

Lisa B. Diaz Ph.D, Assistant Dean and 4-H Director

Email: illinois4H@illinois.edu

Web: 4-H.illinois.edu

Phone 217-333-0910

Office 801 N. Country Fair Dr., Suite E Champaign, IL 61821

Illinois 4-H Foundation

Angie H. Barnard, Executive Director

Email: illinois4hfoundation@illinois.edu

Web: 4hfoundation.illinois.edu

Phone 217-333-9295

203 Mumford Hall

1301 W. Gregory Dr. Urbana, IL 61801

University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, UrbanaChampaign, Illinois

© Copyright 2019, University of Illinois

Board of Trustees

United States Department of Agriculture | Local Extension Councils

Cooperating

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Shelly Nickols-Richardson, Director, University of Illinois Extension.

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.