4-H & Youth Development

Traditional community 4-H clubs

• 326 4-H members in 16 clubs (ages 8-19) led by 68 adult volunteers
• 52 Cloverbud members in 5 clubs (ages 5-7) led by 6 adult volunteers

4-H School Enrichment Programs

• 8,357 total youth contacts

Events & Number Participating

• 4-H Project Pool: 63 youth, 32 volunteers, 29 workshops on 20 topics
• 4-H Camp: 48 campers, 12 counselors from Lee County
• Lee County 4-H Fair & Jr. Show: 257 4-H members (80% of membership) and 41 Cloverbuds (80% of membership) exhibited; Total: 2,400 exhibits
• Earth Day is Everyday: 1,300 youth
• Character College for Kids: 117 students from 9 schools; 881 students at Reagan School, Dixon
• 4-H Food Bowl: 38 youth representing 8 teams from 6 clubs
• Health Fairs: 1,404 youth
• Embryology: 9 classrooms from 5 schools (225 youth)

Focus on: Ag Expo

The first Ag Expo brought 300 Lee County fifth and sixth grade students to the Lee County 4-H Center & Fairgrounds in April 27.

The goal of the event was to make agriculture relevant to today's youth through discussion of science, technology and careers as it relates to bringing food and fiber into consumers' homes.

Thirteen presenters from local agri-businesses, agencies and farms were on hand to discuss topics ranging from livestock to agricultural technology in the form of global positioning systems and modern farm equipment. Other presentations included soybeans, corn, beneficial insects (pictured above), agriculture careers and soil conservation.

Sponsoring agencies included University of Illinois Extension - Lee County, Lee County Farm Bureau, USDA - Natural Resource Conservation Service, Lee County Soil & Water Conservation District, and Lee County Ag in the Classroom.

Focus On: Science Siesta

Science is made fun at the annual Science Siesta held at the Discovery Center & Burpee Museum in Rockford. One hundred sixty fourth, fifth and sixth grade girls got together for an educational slumber party. Joined by professionals like a pharmacist, ornithologist, genetic counselor, engineer, veterinarian, clinical lab scientist, botanists, geologist and physical therapist, the girls learned much about careers in science. In addition, they toured the museums and enjoyed the usual slumber party games and pizza. Pictured left is one of many scientific experiments the girls conducted.

June 26-27, 40 seventh and eighth grade girls attended the Advanced Science Siesta at the University of Illinois campus in Champaign. The participants began their two-day event in the Department of Animal Sciences. Here they worked with Dr. Matthew Wheeler and his staff testing animal feed samples for bovine proteins, using microscopes to conduct swine in-vitro fertilizations, seeing how robotics improve lab techniques, and learning about DNA sampling. Participants also worked with the College of Engineering in a lesson about engineering bone scaffolding for bone development and repair. Pictured above a participant explores the world of cells through a microscope.