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Awards
PERSONAL GROWTH ILLINOIS 4-H STATE AWARD
Recipients received a $1,000 scholarship awarded in each of the following nine areas.
ANIMAL SCIENCES
This award recognizes youth who have demonstrated and maintained a high standard of 4-H excellence and mastery in their animal science project.
Sponsors: Dee Murray, George Obernagel, Keith and Lissa Parr, Mark and Lee Ann Gossett.
Katelyn Engel, Knox County Lauren Mohr, McLean County Skye Schumaker, McLean County Delaney Smith, Champaign County Sara Timm, Marion County
This award recognizes youth that have focused on personal growth through participating in the 4-H program.
Sponsors: Pat Clickener, Dave and Lisa McMurtry, Dr. Janice Seitz
Justin Irwin, Boone County Kendall Knodle, Montgomery County Reagan Parks, McLean County Ruthie Ruhl, Logan County Averhy Sanborn, Champaign County
STEM AND ROBOTICS
This award recognizes youth who have focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Sponsors: Lisa Woessner Memorial 4-H Science and Technology Endowment, Donna Mueller, Dee Murray, Landon Frye
Julian Heidrich, Kendall County Nickole Ryan, Boone County Evan Schmitz, Champaign County Willem Vandermeij, Kane County Michelle Wang, Jackson County CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND GLOBAL LIVING
This award recognizes youth that have focused on 4-H work in service to or for others.
Sponsors: Nann Armstrong, Tim and Belinda Carey, Kevin Carey and Kari Murphy, Ron and Melanie Warfield.
Caroline Ahrends, Logan County Brayden Caraynoff-Huber, Kendall County Megan Eppel, Lake County Annabelle Schaffnit, Adams County Emma Seiboldt, Knox County
CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
This award recognizes youth that have focused their 4-H work in the arts and art of communicating with others.
Sponsors: Dee Murray, Dr. Janice Seitz.
Emily Reppy, Kendall County Sydney Reppy, Kendall County Leah Rossi, Grundy County Natalie Nelson, Knox County Grace Schumacher, Effingham County
“This was a year that none of us could have imagined and these young men and women did not allow even a global pandemic to get in the way of achieving their goals. In fact, we saw the opposite. These 4-H youth pivoted, innovated, and rose to the occasion in a way that surpassed any and all of our expectations." FOOD SYSTEMS
This award recognizes youth who have focused on food production, processing, distribution and access.
Sponsors: Dee Murray, Evelyn Brandt Thomas, Dr. Larry Hageman, Ray and Patricia Brownfield.
Elaan Bader, Montgomery County Emma Salverson, Peoria County Sarah Stevens, Peoria County Blake Twenhafel, Clinton County Dylan Zwilling, Champaign County
HEALTHY LIVING AND NUTRITION
This award recognizes youth who have focused on make healthy decisions and lead healthy lifestyles.
Sponsors: Pat Clickener, Donna Mueller, Kevin Rhoades.
Lauren Shae Jackson, Shelby County Erin Kistner, Montgomery County Audra Spielman, Will County Aiden Stahl, Tazewell County Logan Wheeler, Whiteside County
LEADERSHIP
This award recognizes youth that have focused on the development of leadership skills, including offices held, committees served on, programs lead, and public presentations given on behalf of 4-H.
Sponsors: Pat Clickener, Donna Mueller, Brian and Kristin Devermann, Dan Kelley.
Aja Capel, Champaign County Carina Engst, McLean County Braylee Gilmore, Macoupin County Sheridan Hank, Mercer County Savannah Meadows, Massac County
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
This award recognizes youth who have focused on environmental stewardship.
Sponsors: Dee Murray, Sharon and Art Tenhouse, Mark and Mary Kaufman, Walter Lynn, Colleen Callahan-Burns.
DJ Cain, Knox County Saulius Malik, Cook County Cavit Schempp, Logan County Dalton Wachter, JoDaviess County Victoria Zwilling, Richland County
WE MAKE MORE HAPPEN.
There are few things as exciting to watch as when a young person finds a spark that lights his or her imagination on fire. There are wide eyes, rapid questions, a desire to try, to learn, to try again. That SPARK is the start of an amazing future.
Illinois 4-H Foundation donors help provide these SPARKS. Through philanthropic contributions, new programs are given life, resources are made available, and youth have new experiences. Your gifts help ignite the imagination of youth across the state.
I hope you have seen and felt the many SPARKS through the stories highlighted in this year’s CloverSeed. If you are a donor to the Illinois 4-H Foundation—we thank you. If you have not yet personally felt the excitement of being a part of the Illinois 4-H SPARK, I hope you will consider making a gift.
ANGIE H. BARNARD Illinois 4-H Foundation Executive Director
The Illinois 4-H Foundation would like to thank the many individuals, businesses, trade associations, and organizations that provide financial support for our 4-H programs. Your financial support is the reason we can continue to fund outstanding 4-H opportunities in Illinois.
$843,230
TOTAL GIFTS TO THE FOUNDATION 7/1/20-6/30/21
$104,991
4-H ANNUAL FUND (12.4%)
$212,190
4-H PROGRAM SPECIFIC (25.2%)
$339,111
COUNTY-SPECIFIC SUPORT (40.2%)
$186,938
ENDOWMENTS (22.2%) ABOUT OUR DONORS
2,036
DONORS GAVE
2,648
GIFTS
60
ENDOWMENTS VALUED AT $7.69 MILLION
WITH ANNUAL INTEREST OF $238,800.
A Pledge To Build Skills and Leaders of Tomorrow
Jerry and Jill Hicks of New Berlin, Illinois have pledged their heads, hearts, hands and health over the years, and now they are pledging their resources! The couple recently committed $30,000 over three years to support areas of greatest needs within the Illinois 4-H program. When making the decision to provide this gift to Illinois 4-H Foundation Jerry said, “It’s a give back to 4-H for me. 4-H helped me develop my public speaking skills from an early age. As a terribly shy boy, project reports and demonstrations helped me overcome those fears. These skills have helped me in my career and actually every day of my life. This is a way for me to say THANK YOU to 4-H!”
Both Jerry and Jill are former 4-H alumni. Jerry currently serves on the Illinois 4-H Foundation Board of Directors and is the immediate past chair. They understand the impact that 4-H can have on a youth and want to continue to support innovative programs across the state. “4-H has been a part of my life from 8 years old to today. A ten-year member, a 24-year leader and Chairman of Extension Partners and the Illinois 4-H Foundation board of directors, show the passion I have for this organization. Our three children have benefitted and grown through their experiences as well. “Learn by doing” is such a great reason for parents and leaders to work alongside young members to build skills and leaders of tomorrow,” Jerry commented.
The support Jerry and Jill are providing through their general fund creates opportunities for youth to contribute to their communities, develop as leaders, prepare for careers, build relationships and explore their interest through hundreds of project areas.
Ida Mae Jackson’s 4-H Legacy is Honored by 4-H Foundation
The Family Spirit Award recognizes Illinois families who have benefited from 4-H and continue to advocate for the Illinois 4-H program over multiple generations.
As a young girl living through the Depression, the late Ida Mae Jackson faced many challenges, but her mother and 4-H were constants in her life. For four generations, the values of 4-H and family still guide the Jackson Family. Their legacy is honored as the 2021 Illinois 4-H Foundation Family Spirit Award recipients. Ida Mae was an only child and, from the age of 9, was raised by her widowed mother. Together, they worked the farm which remains in the family today. Although opportunities were limited, Ida Mae joined a 4-H club where she learned to sew and preserve food.
She later married Henry Jackson, and the two built a home on the same family farm, raising cattle, swine, chickens, and grain. Their four children were all 10-year members of 4-H in Jefferson County. Nine grandchildren were born, and all nine were 4-H members. Two of Ida Mae’s seven great-grandchildren are 4-H members. In total, the family has 146 years of 4-H membership and another 111 years as 4-H volunteers.
Though they traveled different paths, 4-H was their compass, a family spokesperson says, and influenced many of their career paths.
Extraordinary volunteers inducted into 2021 Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame
Illinois 4-H volunteers empower and prepare youth for success as the program relies on its more than 15,000 volunteers to fill key leadership and mentoring roles. Longtime volunteers and former staff members were recently honored by the Illinois 4-H Foundation for their selfless dedication to the University of Illinois Extension 4-H youth development program.
Nicole Schaffnit, Adams County Ron Ramos, Boone County Gail Gallaher, Brown County Jill Frueh, Bureau County Darci Francque, Carrol County Loretta Stoerger, Champaign County Wm. Lee Meteer, Christian County Mike Smallwood, Clark County Kelly Elias, Clinton County Debbie Tedford, Crawford County Lori Walk & the late Philip Walk, Cumberland County Sherry Young, Dewitt County Theresa Angela Carso, DuPage County Penny Peterson, Edgar County Derra Williams, Edwards County Larry and JoAnn Ring, Effingham County Leanne Wright, Ford County Thomas Newbury, Franklin County Bob and Velynna Spangler, Fulton County Deborah Campbell, Greene County Theodora Warmack, Grundy County Cinda K. Brodie, Hancock County Kimberly Halverson, Kane County Jeff Nakaerts, Kendall County Jeanne A. Gardner, Knox County Heather Arbet, LaSalle County Jane Inyart, Lawrence County Christine R. Klein, Lee County Roberta M. Maubach, Livingston County Richanne Nicolai, McHenry County Linda Faye White, McLean County Jim Mayhew, Mercer County Hank Marquardt, Monroe County Clem and Doris Huber, Montgomery County Vickie L. Smith, Ogle County Bob Forney, Peoria County Kristi Pyatt, Piatt County Christine Hogendobler, Pulaski County Melinda Simpson, Rock Island County Jessica Erickson, St. Clair County Kelly Westlake, Schuyler County Annette Sims, Shelby County Madonna Weese, State 4-H Kristi Krahmer, Stephenson County Kathy Meier, Tazewell County Karen Rene Collier, Union County Denise Lambert, Vermilion County Mike Wilson, Wabash County Carol Hanson, Warren County Terry L. Fox, Washington County Bill and Pam Robbins, Wayne County Mallory Thompson, White County Nancy Dykstra, Whiteside County Tim McPherson, Will County Neva I. Ramos, Winnebago County Bill Royer, Woodford County Karen Elaine Davis, Henderson County John Fulton, Logan, Menard, & Sangamon Counties Roxanne Reeves Adsit, Iroquois County Nick and Jody Milliman, Jasper County Carla S. Chesnek, Jefferson County Tom and Sandy Moore, Jersey County Valerie Brudi, Jo Daviess County Alicia Goines, Johnson County Karen King, Macoupin County Margaret Weis, Madison County Greg Branch, Marion County Lisa M. Palm, Marshall County Marilyn Blakeley, Mason County Brandy Meadows, Massac County
We gratefully recognize our Illinois 4-H Project Partners for collaborating with us as we engage young people in service, hands-on learning, and addressing current issues in Illinois.
ILLINOIS 4-H FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Those who serve on the Illinois 4-H Foundation Board of Directors do so because they believe in what 4-H is teaching and want to build networks that generate financial resources for our state program. We give our thanks to the following individuals for their time, advocacy, and support of the Illinois 4-H program.
Karl Barnhart, Sangamon County Kevin Carey, McLean County Heather Hampton+Knodle, Montgomery County Jerry Hicks, Sangamon County Dan Kelley, McLean County Nic Koester, Cook County George Obernagel, Monroe County Dave Randall, Indiana Jan Sibley, Wisconsin Sharon Tenhouse, Adams County Louise Rogers, Champaign County Heather Thompson, Champaign County Janine Heidtke, McHenry County Maddie Heidtke, McHenry County, Youth Representative Emma Coursey, Warren County, Youth Representative Anthony Joiner, Macoupin County, Youth Representative Jenny Webb, McLean County Brian Deverman, Menard County Lila Jeanne Eichelberger, Champaign County, Emeritus Dr. Shelly Nickols-Richardson, Ex-Officio Dr. Lisa Bouillion-Diaz, Ex-Officio Kimberly Meenen, Ex-Officio
If you are interested in service as a director on the board, please email illinois4hfoundation@illinois.edu or call 217- 333-9295.
IDEAS FOR GIVING
• Donate stock or mutual fund shares: Donating appreciated securities, such as stock or mutual funds, can be a tax-wise way to support 4-H
• Avoid federal and state tax on the capital gain Receive an income tax deduction (federal and most states) for the full market value of the gift if you itemize deductions on your tax return and have held assets one year or longer
• IRA charitable gift: Distributions from your traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are considered taxable income. A charitable distribution from your IRA directly to the Illinois 4-H Foundation helps you avoid that increase in taxable income and makes a lasting difference in the lives of young people.
Include this language with your estate-planning attorney in your will or trust: "I leave (e.g. % of estate, $ amount, residue) to the University of Illinois Foundation, an Illinois nonprofit corporation (37-6006007), for the benefit of the Illinois 4-H Foundation supporting the Illinois 4-H Youth Development Program.”
Illinois 4-H is one of six states chosen for the Ag Innovators Experience grant, a collaboration between National 4-H Council and Bayer that provides 6,000 youth in six (6) selected states, from urban, suburban and rural backgrounds, the opportunity to develop the workforce skills to feed the planet while driving interest in agricultural careers and innovation.
This grant will help support Illinois youth in learning about how technologies are used to help farmers produce more food, and more importantly how advancing technologies in each part of the food chain will be necessary to feed a world population of 9.3 billion by 2050.
Illinois youth ready to help feed the world
KATIE BUCKLEY
McLean County 4-H Youth Development Educator Grant Lead
University of Illinois Extension is housed within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Issued in furtherance of
Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Shelly Nickols-
Richardson, Director of University of Illinois Extension. Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. 42 University of Illinois | College of ACES | Illinois Extension | 4-H | 4-H Foundation
WHAT DOES 4-H ALLOW YOU TO BE?
Someday you're going to need our: Technical Skills Leadership Problem-Solving Organizational Skills Determination Compassion
We promise we'll be there when you need us. TODAY WE NEED YOU.
Become a partner in Illinois 4-H's future!
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