U of I Extension covering 4-H enrollment fee’s for youth in Central Illinois

Posted on July 27, 2021
The University of Illinois Extension Office is offering to wave enrollment fee’s starting Sept. 1. (Photo courtesy: 4-H/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – The University of Illinois Extension is offering to cover 4-H enrollment fees for youth in Central Illinois to get kids involved in activities during the summer months.

Katie Buckley, 4-H Youth Development educator in McLean County, said this provides kids in Livingston, McLean, and Woodford Counties an opportunity to get involved in various projects.

“Our office here are waiving 4-H fees to allow youth that may be interested in 4-H or families that are not part of our at-need families but still want to try out 4-H. This gives them an opportunity to see what 4-H is all about and hopefully become a part of the 4-H family.”

While the public usually view’s 4-H as an agricultural business, Buckley says the organization is much more than crops and animals.

“We have a lot of different project areas such as woodworking, welding, clothing, lots of visual arts opportunities, theater, leadership, civic engagement. And then some of our newer areas are drones, maker and esports so a lot of different choices for projects for 4-H.”

The 4-H new year begins for local clubs on Sept. 1 for all youth ages 8-18.

Registration for 4-H can be made at https://extension.illinois.edu/lmw/4-h-mclean-county

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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