Marion County, Illinois 4-H

06/17/2026

Join us for our Seed to Salsa Workshop!

We will use produce grown from the Salem Community Garden and Junior Master Gardeners to make homemade salsa!

06/16/2026

4-H Day with the Thrilbillies!

06/15/2026

Deadlines Reminder!

06/12/2026

A Great Time Was Had at 4-H Cooking School 101!

Our young chefs had a fantastic experience during this year's 4-H Cooking School 101!

Day 1: Participants learned how to properly measure liquid and dry ingredients, practiced mixing techniques and cooking terminology, and made delicious Rice Cereal Bars.

Day 2: Participants learned how to safely crack an egg and properly use vegetable peelers, graters, and knives. They put their new skills to work by making Coffee Cake with Topping.

Day 3: Participants prepared Magic Fruit Salad and Jackpot Cookies. To celebrate their accomplishments, each participant received a Chef Certificate in recognition of successfully completing 4-H Cooking School 101.

Throughout the program, participants learned proper handwashing techniques and took responsibility for washing their own dishes, helping build important kitchen habits and independence.

A special thank you goes to 4-H parent and club volunteer Angela Britt and 4-H member Landon Britt for volunteering their time all three days. They arrived early each day to help with preparation and stayed afterward to assist with cleanup. Their dedication and support helped make this program a tremendous success.

We would also like to thank 4-H members Hallie Borcherding and Norah Cox for assisting on Day 1. Their help and encouragement contributed to a positive and successful learning experience for our participants.

Congratulations to all of our young chefs on a job well done! We are proud of all they learned and

06/12/2026

06/11/2026

Love houseplants?

Visit The Plant Pantry at the Bryan Bennett Library in Salem! Browse the selection of plant cuttings and take one home to grow your own collection. Have a plant you'd like to share? Bring a cutting from your personal collection and add it to the pantry for others to enjoy.

A special shoutout to 4-H member Levi Vandeveer, who handcrafted the tabletop propagation stations that make this community plant-sharing project possible, and to Chris Lueking, Ag and Natural Resources Extension Educator, for helping us get the station set up!

Stop by, share, and help our plant-loving community grow.

06/11/2026

In-Person YQCA Training
June 15, 10 am
Marion County Extension Office

06/10/2026

Deadline to sign up is June 19!

06/09/2026

Our Thyme After Thyme Hydroponics Workshop was a Great Success!

Participants had the opportunity to explore sustainable growing methods by setting up an aquaponics system and planting radish and wheatgrass microgreens.

During the workshop, each participant assembled a dual-growing container featuring both a hydroponic system and traditional soil. They planted a variety of herbs and launched an exciting experiment to compare plant growth in water versus soil. Over the coming weeks, participants will observe which method promotes faster growth, healthier plants, or whether both approaches perform similarly.

In addition, everyone created their own take-home pizza garden, planting tomatoes, peppers, and onions. As their gardens grow, participants will have the opportunity to harvest their ingredients and make homemade pizza sauce and fresh pizza toppings.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this engaging and educational experience. We look forward to hearing about the results of your herb-growing experiments and seeing how your pizza gardens flourish in the weeks ahead!

06/08/2026

Congratulations to all exhibitors who participated in this year's Jefferson/Marion Counties Cat, Dog, and Small Pets Show!

Small Pet Care

Grand Champion: Kayin Hampton
Reserve Champion: Elizabeth Shands

Cat Care

Grand Champion: Kayin Hampton
Reserve Champion: Josephine Kesterson

Dog Care

Grand Champion: Mason Hicks
Reserve Champion: Kayin Hampton

Rally Novice

Grand Champion: Kayin Hampton

Junior Showmanship

Grand Champion: Kayin Hampton
Reserve Champion: Abigail Tate

Senior Showmanship

Grand Champion: Elizabeth Shands
Reserve Champion: Mason Hicks

A special thank-you to Marion County Fair Queen and 4-H member Ella Douglas for assisting with ribbon and award presentations.

Congratulations to all of our exhibitors on their hard work and accomplishments!