Winnebago County 4-H Foundation celebrates 50 years

    On June 12, the Winnebago County 4-H and Extension Foundation celebrated their 50th Anniversary. That is 50 years of partnership providing financial support for Winnebago County 4-H and other University of Illinois Extension programs in the county.

    The Foundation will continue the celebration into county fair season and at their Annual Dinner Auction on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Rockford.

    For those that are 4-H alumni or a current or past participant in Extension programs, the Foundation will see them all at the Winnebago County Fair running Aug. 14-18 and the Dinner Auction on Oct. 1.

    For more information on the dinner auction, contact the foundation at [email protected] or check their Facebook page.

    To commemorate the 50th Anniversary, a couple of board members, who are the daughter and granddaughter of a founding member, have designed an anniversary quilt. A raffle is under way for it and the quilt winner will be announced at the Oct. 1 auction.

    The Foundation was started by dedicated community leaders with the idea of meeting the needs of the 4-H Program in Winnebago County. The Foundation, whose board has consistently been comprised throughout the years of 4-H club leaders and alums, raises, secures and manages funds, diligently meets its fiduciary duties, and dedicates countless volunteer hours to serve the local community within Winnebago County.

    4-H in Winnebago County grows today’s youth and prepares tomorrow’s leaders. For over 100 years, youth have completed hands-on projects in agriculture, health, science, and civic engagement in a positive environment and have been encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles. The values of “Head, Heart, Hands, and Health” are the four H’s in 4-H.

    Master Gardeners share unbiased, reliable, research-based information with home landscapers and gardeners, and encourage young people to enjoy the pleasures of flower and vegetable growing. Call the Extension Office helpline at 815-986-4357 with any gardening or horticulture questions. The Local Foods and Small Farms program provides resources to help consumers and producers better understand their role and responsibilities within the local food movement. Community and Economic Development programming helps community leaders, residents, and communities build capacity to make timely and effective decisions, to use information wisely, and to engage the entire community in working together better.

    To learn more about 4-H and Extension programs Extension programs, please visit extension.illinois.edu/jsw.

    Winnebago County 4-H and Extension Foundation, Inc. is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization, and donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. Please contact them at [email protected] to contribute. Employees and companies may also review their profile and contribute through Benevity.com.