Coles County 4-H

03/18/2026

Calling all Little Roots participants, this one is just for you! 🌱

If you’re registered for the Little Roots Gardening Program, get ready for a fun and hands-on workshop designed to help you grow with confidence before your kit arrives next month. Youth will learn everything they need to know about starting seeds, what plants need to thrive, and how to care for their garden.

Participants will also enjoy an exclusive tour of the Master Gardeners greenhouse and take part in two engaging, hands-on activities creating items to take home and use in their own gardening journey.

Best of all, the cost of this workshop is already included with your Little Roots kit, so all you need is to get registered at https://go.illinois.edu/littlerootsworkshop to dig in and get growing!

03/17/2026

Coles County 4-H Federation members recently stepped in front of the camera for a special segment on WEIU TV to promote the upcoming Coles County 4-H BBQ and they did an outstanding job representing our program!

The BBQ will be held on Saturday, March 28, and tickets are selling quickly. Tickets are $15 each and will not be sold at the door, so be sure to purchase yours in advance at Coles County Farm Bureau in Charleston or the Coles County Extension Office in Mattoon.

Join us for a great meal while supporting the youth of Coles County 4-H—you won’t want to miss it.🍀

03/16/2026

Calling all young artists!🎨 Registration is now open for Camp Kaleido. Join other members on May 9 at 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello for a full day of imagination, learning, and artistic expression! Spots are limited, so be sure to register by April 20 at go.illinois.edu/CampKaleido or by going to Zsuite!

Registration is officially open for Camp Kaleido!

Camp Kaleido is a full-day art immersion experience where youth, ages 8-12, explore the spectrum of creative expression through hands-on workshops, collaborative projects, and experimentation. Led by the 4-H Creative Collective Art Ambassador Team, campers rotate through stations that highlight visual, performing, and interdisciplinary arts, each designed to spark imagination, build skills, and celebrate individuality.

• Date: May 9
• Age: 8–12
• Location: 4-H Memorial Camp, Monticello
• Cost: $50 (lunch included)
• Registration Window: March 2 – April 20
• Registration Link: go.illinois.edu/CampKaleido

If you need reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact the State 4-H Office.

03/10/2026

🍀 4-H in Action: Hands to Larger Service! 🍀
Members of the Kickapoo Ramblers 4-H Club recently came together to pack 330 food bags for the Food 4 Kids Program! This incredible program partners with area schools and the PTA to support CUSD #1 students from Pre-K through high school by providing bags of food to take home each Friday. Each bag includes easy-to-prepare meals and snacks, helping ensure students have meals over the weekend.

We are so proud of these 4-H members for stepping up to serve their community and make a difference for local families. Way to live out the 4-H pledge and truly put “Hands to Larger Service” into action!

03/09/2026

📖🍀 2026 Coles County 4-H Fair Book 🍀📖

The 2026 Coles County 4-H Fair Book will be available online for easy access anytime! However, if you would like to receive a printed hard copy, please be sure to request one using the link below by Thursday, March 19.

This helps us print the right number of books and reduce unnecessary waste.

👉 Request your hard copy at https://form.jotform.com/260676102546052

We’re looking forward to another great fair and can’t wait to see all the amazing projects our 4-H youth bring this year!

03/09/2026

Check out this months newsletter to stay in the know and see all the upcoming events at https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/04/561421104.html 🍀

03/07/2026

Register to attend RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award), a three-day weekend camp held at Allerton Park 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello, Illinois, from April 17-19.

The camp is designed for Central Illinois Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors to develop leadership, teamwork, and confidence-building skills in a fun and supportive atmosphere.

The camp fee is covered by the Central Illinois Rotary Clubs, including all activities, lodging, and meals.

Register at go.illinois.edu/rylacamp.

03/05/2026

Multi-County Livestock Workshop
Location: Show Arena, Shelby County 4-H & Junior Fairgrounds, Shelbyville
Date: Saturday, April 18
Check-in: 8:30-8:55 a.m.
Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Ready to level up your livestock skills? Join us for a hands-on, fun, and educational workshop designed for 4-H members who want to learn more about selecting, feeding, grooming, and showing their animals. 🐮🐷🐑🐐

What to expect:
Kickoff Session
•Hear from Dylan Segrist from Kent Feed about feed basics and how to help your animals grow and perform their best.

Led by Lake Land College Livestock Judging members:
Hands-on Learning Rotations
You’ll rotate through two interactive sessions focused on:
• Choosing the right show animal
• Grooming techniques
• Showmanship tips
• Real, hands-on practice with beef, goats, swine, and sheep

Livestock Skillathon
Test your knowledge with stations covering:
• Feed samples
• Breeds
• Equipment

Lunch & Prizes
• Lunch provided - Pizza
• Door prizes
• Awards for the Top 3 Skillathon winners in each age division (8–13 and 14–18)

Who Can Attend - All 4-H members ages 8–18 interested in livestock projects.

Register here: https://go.illinois.edu/MultiCountyLivestockClinic

Don’t miss this chance to sharpen your skills, meet other 4-H’ers, and get ready for a great show season

03/04/2026

Today we celebrate and thank an incredible Coles County 4-H volunteer that has retired after 25 years of dedicated service to Coles County 4-H.

For more than two decades, Mark Cox's leadership as Beef Superintendent helped shape generations of young exhibitors, teaching responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship, and pride in their work. The countless hours spent organizing shows, mentoring youth, and ensuring everything ran smoothly made a lasting difference in our 4-H program and in the lives of so many young people.

The time, heart, and commitment has left a legacy that will continue to impact Coles County 4-H for years to come. We are deeply grateful for all Mark has poured into this program and the youth of our community.

Thank you for being such an important part of the Coles County 4-H story! 🍀

03/04/2026

03/03/2026

🎤 Ready to Take the Stage? 🎤

The 2026 Multi-County 4-H Public Speaking Contest is right around the corner!

Event Details:
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Check-In: 9:45 AM
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Sarah Bush Lincoln Lumpkin Family Education Center
1000 Health Center Dr, Mattoon, IL- Use Entrance C (north side of the hospital)

IMPORTANT DEADLINE:
All entries must be submitted through fairentry.com
by Friday, March 6, 2026 — don’t wait! ⏰

Need help preparing? Be sure to check out the official score sheets and category details here: https://4h.extension.illinois.edu/events/state-events/illinois-4-h-public-speaking-contest

🚫 Reminder: No live animals may be used in speeches.

Public speaking is one of the BEST ways to build confidence, leadership, and communication skills that last a lifetime. Who’s ready to step up to the mic?

Tag a 4-H’er who should enter and start practicing today!✨