Illinois 4-H Foundation

A year's worth of 4-H for only $20! A child gets SO much more than $20 worth of confidence, leadership, belonging by being in 4-H, but for some, the $20 can be a barrier to being able to participate. How many kids could you provide a year of 4-H for at the cost of $20/child?

Consider giving this opportunity to the young people of Illinois on this Giving Tuesday.

Head to https://4hfoundation.illinois.edu/giving and select the Annual Fund option to provide the broadest support to our 4-H programs. Thank you for supporting 4-H!

Giving Tuesday is here!

Did you know that your gift to the Illinois 4-H Foundation will help Illinois youth achieve their unique potential and gain confidence that will guide them as adults? And we can’t do it without you! Your $20 gift could provide enrollment support for one 4-H youth for the year.

Head to https://4hfoundation.illinois.edu/giving and select the Annual Fund option to provide the broadest support to our 4-H programs. Thank you for supporting 4-H!

Celebrate 4-H! Happy National 4-H Week!

Happy National 4-H Week! Are you ready to join the 6 million youth across the country in celebrating?

4-H week is all about highlighting the remarkable 4-H youth in your communities and showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people all while having a lot of fun!

Be sure to join us online for Spirit Week this week too! Tag on Instagram or send us your post in Facebook messenger for a chance to be featured on our stories/feed:
• Service Project Sunday (today!) – Give back to your community today with an individual or club service project.
• Member Monday – Show that you are a proud 4-H member! Post a picture of yourself in your 4-H shirt with five reasons why you love 4-H on socials/stories.
• Time Machine Tuesday – Share a picture of you at the start of your 4-H career vs. now.
• Why 4-H Wednesday – Share why someone should join 4-H either in person or on social media/stories.
• Thankful Thursday – Thank someone who supported you in 4-H!
• Favorite Project Friday – Share a picture of you with your favorite 4-H project
• Spirit Saturday - Show your 4-H spirit! Wear your favorite 4-H shirt today or show off your 4-H sticker swag on your computers, water bottles, and more.

It's going to be a great week!

So proud that Dr. Janice Seitz is being honored as an inductee into the National 4-H Hall of Fame!

Former Illinois 4-H Director Janice Seitz of Springfield has been selected as an elite inductee to the National 4-H Hall of Fame. The decorated educator will be honored during a special ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 12 in Washington, D.C.

Seitz held 4-H leadership roles across the country and is known for her passion, dedication, enthusiasm, and love of empowering with youth, says Lisa Diaz, University of Illinois Extension 4-H program leader.

Growing up on a small farm in a Mennonite community near Paulding, Ohio, Seitz attended her first 4-H club meeting from a bassinet; her mother served as club leader of the Clever Clovers 4-H Club.

4-H was an integral part of Jan's life. She says she learned life skills by giving talks and demonstrations, decorating booths at the county and state fairs, building 4-H floats, attending 4-H camp, and attending the Ohio State Teen Conference, where she performed as part of a quartet that won the regional talent competition.

In 1997, Jan began her role as the assistant dean and director of 4-H for Illinois Extension. Under her leadership, youth participation in 4-H increased from 209,000 to more than 412,000 youth and adult volunteers.

She created the 4-H Legislative Connection where youth engaged with Illinois lawmakers. She gained support for increased funding for 4-H Extension youth development staff, and an endowment with the Illinois 4-H Foundation focused on character development projects bears her name.

Seitz’s professional 4-H involvement extended beyond Illinois. She chaired a taskforce responsible for protecting the 4-H name and emblem, co-chaired the national committee which hosted the 4-H centennial festivities, and led the team which presented the National 4-H Centennial Report to the U.S. Speaker of the House, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and congressional members. She served two terms on the National 4-H Foundation Board of Directors and four years on the National 4-H Congress Board of Directors.

Congratulations, Jan and thank you for everything you have done to shape Illinois 4-H!

Only one week left to apply for a summer 2021 internship with the Illinois 4-H Foundation!

Looking for a summer 2021 internship? We are hiring! Currently looking for a summer intern to join us May-August 2021. Deadline to apply is January 15, 2021.

Check out the attached for more details.

Looking for a summer 2021 internship? We are hiring! Currently looking for a summer intern to join us May-August 2021. Deadline to apply is January 15, 2021.

Check out the attached for more details.

The Illinois 4-H Foundation is proud to work with Prairie Farms to award these deserving dairy scholarships!