4-H clubs and FFA chapters throughout central and southern Illinois will implement valuable improvement projects in their communities with help from grants provided by Farm Credit Illinois. FCI awarded $400 grants to 50 4-H clubs and FFA chapters to deliver projects that will make their local communities better places to live.

This is the 10th year FCI has funded community improvement grants; the total amount awarded is nearly $110,000. Examples of this year’s award-winning projects include managing community gardens, improving fairgrounds, and constructing roadside welcome signs.

“Farm Credit is grateful to team-up with youth organizations to invest in the health of their communities, fulfilling our mission to support Rural America and agriculture,” says Rod Stoll, vice president of marketplace engagement for FCI. “We congratulate the 2018 grant recipients and salute them for making positive, tangible contributions to their local communities.”

The following 4-H clubs and FFA chapters are 2018 community improvement grant recipients: 

• Liberty 4-H Club (Bond County): Enhance show rings, water hydrants, and benches along Midway at the Bond County Fairgrounds
• Old Ripley 4-H Club (Bond County): Landscape, plant vegetables and flowers, and clean-up at Old Ripley Church of Christ
• Hardin Busy Bees 4-H Club (Calhoun County): Build display stands for the Calhoun County Fair’s 4-H and Education Building
• Fantastic 4-Hers of Fisher 4-H Club (Champaign County): Build cedar planter boxes to beautify downtown Fisher
• Mahomet Happy Helpers 4-H Club (Champaign County): Plant flowers along Main Street in Mahomet
• Mahomet-Seymour FFA Chapter (Champaign County): Partner with local civic groups to improve the community landscapes at Barber Park
• Philo 4-H Friends (Champaign County): Create butterfly education and promotion exhibit for the public at Philo Library
• Sadorus All Stars 4-H Club (Champaign County): Improve East Side Park in Tolono with quality windbreak and shade trees
• Casey Achievers 4-H Club (Clark County): Install recycled benches and green trash barrels at Martinsville Fairgrounds
• Golden Star 4-H Club (Clark County): Improve Martinsville Fairgrounds
• 4-H Clovers and Cloverettes (Clinton County): Plant and maintain trees and create new pollinator garden at Germantown Veterans Park
• Carlyle FFA Chapter (Clinton County): Deliver a honeybee project in East Clinton County
• Clinton County 4-H Federation (Clinton County): Create flower farming area for honeybees in West Clinton County
• Springpoint Rebels 4-H Club (Cumberland County): Fix-up playground at Lillyville Church
• Edwards County FFA Chapter (Edwards County): Revive the flower bed in the visitor center parking lot at Beall Woods State Park
• Ellery Panthers 4-H Club (Edwards County): Complete beautification project at Little Prairie Christian Church
• Independent 4-Her’s (Franklin County): Complete beautification project within Whittington
• Carrollton FFA Chapter (Greene County): Grow flowers to plant around town square in Carrollton
• Greenfield FFA Chapter (Greene County): Plant a “Taste the Rainbow Garden” at Greenfield Elementary School
• Barbwire Gang 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Build “Barbwire Gang Gives Back” boxes at the Hamilton County GIFT Garden
• Hamilton County 4-H Federation (Hamilton County): Build a Farmers Market sign at Randolph and Jackson Streets
• Piopolis Busy Bees 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Assist with repairs to McCoy Memorial Library
• Corn Fed Clovers 4-H Club (Hardin County): Install recycled bench and expand Community Garden
• Cissna Park FFA Chapter (Iroquois County): Plant and maintain Community Garden at Cissna Park High School
• Milford FFA Chapter (Iroquois County): Deliver a recreational project at Milford Park
• Jackson County Wranglers 4-H Club (Jackson County): Help create new horse arena at the U of I Extension Center
• TRICO FFA Chapter (Jackson County): Build and maintain flower beds at TRICO High School
• Northwestern Green Machines 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Implement community recycling program at Northwestern Elementary School
• Athens FFA Chapter (Menard County): Build the Athens Warriors Food Garden Phase 3 Arboretum at Athens High School
• West Menarders Ag 4-H Club (Menard County): Host a work day at the Menard County Fairgrounds
• Agri-Stars 4-H Club (Morgan County): Plant and maintain a community garden for Morgan County at Hadden Farms
• Berea Ag 4-H Club (Morgan County): Provide community outreach at First Baptist Church
• East Side Jr’s 4-H Club (Morgan County): Construct shelves for cages in the new poultry building at the Morgan County Fairgrounds
• Sullivan FFA (Moultrie County): Install safe sturdy gates for Moultrie-Sullivan Fairgrounds
• Pope County Clover Crew 4-H Club (Pope County): Upgrade and continue the community garden at Coonhunter’s Club
• River Rats 4-H Club (Pope County): Provide new outdoor student seating at Pope County Elementary School
• Steeleville High School FFA Chapter (Randolph County): Host a beautification day at Steeleville High School
• Southern Smilers 4-H Club (Richland County): Beautify board building at Richland County Fair
• West Side 4-H Club (Sangamon County): Build community picnic tables for the Sangamon County Fairgrounds
• Williamsville FFA Chapter (Sangamon County): Plant and maintain a community garden at Williamsville High School
• Moweaqua Rustlers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Provide facelift to livestock barns at Shelby County 4-H and Junior Fairgrounds
• Shelbyville Cloverbuds 4-H Club (Shelby County): Beautify Shelby County Senior Center
• Stewardson-Strasburg FFA Chapter (Shelby County): Establish Mr. Wildman’s Memorial Garden at Stewardson-Strasburg High School
• Strasburg Tailtwisters 4-H Club (Shelby County): Plant trees at Shelby County 4-H and Junior Fairgrounds
• Lick Creek 4-H Club (Union County): Restore Ebenezer Hall Cemetery
• Wayne City FFA Chapter (Wayne County): Provide hands-on horticulture opportunities at Wayne City High School
• 76 Clovers of Norris City (White County): Clean-up trash cans in White County
• Centerville Ripsnorters 4-H Club (White County): Add landscaping to the front of the showers area at Burrell Woods
• Crossville Prizewinners 4-H Club (White County): Build portable poultry and rabbit judging tables at White County Fairgrounds
• Mad Hatters 4-H Club (White County): Build raised garden beds for senior living residents at Heritage Apartments