It's 4-H Week and local youth leaders are making it a special week for participants.

Lindsey Burden is the youth educator for the University of Illinois Extension in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties. She says if you make your way to Tractor Supply in Clinton or businesses in DeWitt County, the efforts of local youth in 4-H will be front and center.

Next weekend in Farmer City, on the square there will be several kids with livestock, robotics demonstrations and so much more highlighting all the things you can do in 4-H.

Robotics and shooting sports are a few of the programs that have grown significantly in recent years. Burden indicates now is the best time to join those programs. 

Burden says shooting sports has an interesting challenge because it is very popular but it is hard to market. She notes while it is wildly popular, there are still lots of people that still don't know they have it.

Additionally, the new 4-H year is about a month old but it's still not too late to join. Get more information about 4-H by contact Burden in DeWitt County at 217-935-5764.