Rock Island County 4-H

07/24/2026

What a great week at the Rock Island County 4-H Fair! 🎉

Thank you to all of our members, volunteers, judges, superintendents, families, and fair board members who helped make this year a success. It was wonderful to see so much creativity, hard work, and learning on display.

Congratulations to everyone who participated, and best of luck to those representing Rock Island County at the Illinois State Fair! Here are just a few moments from the week.

07/13/2026

Reminder: State Fair livestock entries are due via ShoWorks on July 15. All exhibitors must have a current YQCA certification for entries to be approved. If you have not taken YQCA this year, you can do so online at

YQCA is a national quality assurance program for youth ages 8 to 21, with a focus on Food Safety, Animal Well-Being, and Character Development.

06/18/2026

Need help finishing your 4-H project before the General Project Show?

Join the Rock Island County Teen Federation for a fun Project Work Day on Wednesday, June 25, from 10:00 AM–Noon at the Milan Extension Office!

Bring your project and work alongside other 4-H members as you prepare for the General Project Show on July 11. Whether you're just getting started or putting the finishing touches on your exhibit, this is a great opportunity to make progress, ask questions, and gain confidence before judging day.

✨ Teen Federation members will be available to help and encourage younger members.
✨ Basic craft supplies will be provided.
✨ Tri-fold boards and foam boards will be available for purchase for $5.

Please bring any project materials, photos, notes, or supplies you'd like to use.

This event is free and open to all Rock Island County 4-H members ages 5–18.

We hope to see you there! 🍀

Register here:

06/12/2026

Looking for a fun way to kick off the weekend? Check out what is happening at Farm in the Park, today at 3:30- 6:00 PM in Aledo!

Come on out to Central Park in Aledo next Friday from 3:30pm to 6:00pm for Farm in the Park!

06/09/2026

Zuma Zippers 4-H Club is spreading Kindness in our community this summer! Be on the lookout for our hidden rocks and be sure to post what you find on QCRocks and tag us!

06/09/2026

Birdies for Charity Gifts Go to the Rock Island County 4-H Horse Program.
This year, the Rock Island County Extension & 4-H Education Foundation is directing all Birdies for Charity donations to 4-H Horse Program. These funds will help improve the horse barn and arena areas at the fairgrounds — creating a safer, more comfortable space for horses and youth during shows and events throughout the season.

The 4‑H Horse Program has already installed electricity so fans can keep the barns cooler this summer, and more improvements are planned.

If you’d like to chip in for the Horse Program, you can make a Birdies for Charity pledge using our charity number 1479.
Donate here: https://birdiesforcharity.com/donate #/charities

Thank you, and please share! All pledges and forms must be in by July 1st! Here's a pledge form you can download and print if that works better for you:https://birdiesforcharity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/2026-Pledge-Form-2.pdf

05/31/2026

The Fair Entry deadline for the Rock Island County 4-H Fair is tomorrow!

All 4‑H participants must submit their exhibit classes through Fair Entry by June 1 in order to exhibit at the 4-H Fair.

If you run into any problems over the weekend, don’t panic, additional classes can be added after Extension staff approve your submission.

Questions? Email [email protected]

05/26/2026

Reminder: The Fair Entry deadline for the Rock Island County 4-H Fair is 1 week away!

All 4‑H participants must submit their exhibit classes through Fair Entry in order to exhibit at the 4-H Fair.

Please follow the instructions carefully to avoid any issues or accidentally submitting your entries before everything is complete.

If you run into any problems, don’t panic, additional classes or members can be added after Extension staff approve your submission.

Questions? Email [email protected]

05/22/2026

In observance of Memorial Day, our offices will be closed Mon., May 25. Explore what’s ahead next week and throughout June. https://conta.cc/4wLFx5x

Email from University of Illinois Extension-Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark See what's being planned in your community 🇺🇸 Happy Memorial Day from Illinois Extension As we honor and remember those

05/21/2026

We love seeing the creativity and dedication our 4-H members bring to their projects! Carter’s incredible recycled art piece is a great example of turning everyday materials into something meaningful and inspiring.

We are back again with another…

Project Spotlight ✨

Teen Federation member Carter Tharp created this incredible piece entirely out of recycled magazine pages. Using over 300 rolled paper tubes and spending nearly 3 months on construction, Carter transformed everyday materials into a colorful and eye-catching work of art.

Carter says this became one of his favorite projects because he enjoyed watching small individual pieces come together into something much bigger and more impactful. He also loved finding creative ways to reuse materials that would normally be thrown away.

This project was exhibited at the Fair and earned a State Fair Delegation — an exciting accomplishment that reflects the creativity, patience, and dedication put into the piece!