Virtual Photography Contest
This annual virtual contest invites 4-H participants to explore their creativity and storytelling skills through the art of photography!
Each year, from June through August, a designated theme encourages youth to reflect on meaningful experiences, places, or perspectives. Youth will snap one to two high-resolution photographs, then electronically submit them for a chance at prizes and themed honors.
Illinois 4-H Building Brick Challenge Series
Channel your creativity and construction skills by competing in our statewide virutal Building Brick Challenge Series each fall!
Each month, from October to December, we’ll offer a new build challenge that aligns with our Creating with Building Bricks 4-H project. Youth complete their own original builds following each month’s theme and size limits, then electronically submit info on their build, along with photos of the build, for a chance at fun prizes.
Camp Kaleido
Camp Kaleido is a full-day art immersion experience where youth, ages 8-12, explore the spectrum of creative expression through hands-on workshops, collaborative projects, and experimentation. Led by the 4-H Creative Collective Art Ambassador Team, campers rotate through stations that highlight visual, performing, and interdisciplinary arts, each designed to spark imagination, build skills, and celebrate individuality.
Why “Kaleido”? Inspired by the ever-shifting patterns of a kaleidoscope, the camp reflects the diversity of artistic forms and the unique perspectives each participant brings.
Fashion Revue
4-H youth will showcase their skills in clothing construction, fashion design, and personal presentation in two competition levels: Junior (ages 8-13) and Senior (ages 14-18). Through interviews with judges and a public fashion show, youth build confidence, express individuality, and foster career exploration.
Cake It 'Til You Make It Cake Decorating Competition
In this high-energy, live cake decorating competition, youth will engage in a creative, hands-on experience that fosters artistic expression, builds confidence, and promotes life skills such as planning, time management, and public presentation. In two competition levels, beginner and intermediate/advanced, youth will compete in timed rounds to transform plain cakes into themed masterpieces.
State 4-H Food Challenge
The State Food Challenge brings together middle through high school youth, who compete in teams to prepare a culinary creation for the judges before time runs out! Teams are challenged to create a dish that is nutritious and visually appealing, while also including mystery ingredients that are revealed just before the competition begins. When time is up, the teams show off their dishes to the judges with a presentation, incorporating their knowledge of cooking techniques, kitchen safety, and nutrition. Youth always have fun at this high energy event and gain important life skills in teamwork, planning, problem-solving, public-speaking, and of course, cooking.
4-H Can Make a Difference State Fair Food Drive
The 4-H Can Make a Difference Food Drive is back at the Illinois State Fair! This initiative began over 25 years ago and represents the power of Illinois counties pulling together to create a larger change and takes place annually.
Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame Recognition
The Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame recognizes 4-H volunteers that have a track record of exemplary service to 4-H or outstanding career and community achievement and are nominated by either county University of Illinois Extension staff or by the Illinois 4-H Foundation Board.
Illini Summer Academies
Discover your potential at Illini Summer Academies, a life-changing personal development experience hosted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for high school students to explore their potential and broaden their horizons. This immersive experience combines hands-on activities, expert-led workshops, and engaging discussions to inspire curiosity and build practical skills. Whether you’re passionate about science, technology, the arts, or social sciences, Illini Summer Academies connects you with like-minded peers and top university resources. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights, develop your talents, and take a step toward your future—all while experiencing life on a world-class university campus!
Junior Livestock Conference
How do you increase livestock productivity? How do you keep your herd healthy? What traits do you want in your breeding stock? How do you successfully run your farm business? This conference is open to members in 7th, 8th & 9th grades and provides hands-on opportunity built around the science and disciplines of livestock production and exhibition. The conference is held every other year.
Junior Leadership Conference
The Junior Leadership Conference is for 4-H members in 7th and 8th grade. This event is organized and conducted by the State 4-H Youth Leadership Team. Workshops help participants develop leadership skills, learn about 4-H opportunities, and explore 4-H project areas.
State Shoots
Illinois 4-H State Shoots in air rifle, archery, and shotgun are intended to provide an opportunity for teenage 4-H members to compete with those with like interests from throughout Illinois.
Illinois 4-H Poultry Judging Contest
With more than 76.5 billion eggs consumed in the U.S. each year, you might be thinking of a career in the poultry industry. We know that judging contests help kids improve their decision-making skills and teaches them to defend those decisions by giving voice to their reasoning. Poultry judging teaches standards of poultry and egg production to ensure a safe and nutritious consumer product. Learn what makes a good egg as you compete for prizes in the Illinois 4-H State Poultry Judging Contest.
Illinois 4-H Livestock Judging Contest
Illinois 4-H Livestock Judging Contest
(Beef, Sheep, Swine & Meat Goats Judging Contest)
About the Program
The Illinois 4-H livestock judging program teaches youth to identify livestock breeds and evaluate traits that improve local herds. The annual contest is held on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana.
Read more about the impact of livestock judging in this blog article.
4-H Food Action Summit
The Illinois 4-H Food Action Summit is where leaders meet to be inspired and share a vision for food security, food access, and food justice in Illinois. University of Illinois researchers, non-profit professionals, food advocates, and civic leaders will be present to lead workshops designed to empower young people with the knowledge, confidence, and resources they need to strengthen their leadership as they work to create food security in their communities.
Stay tuned for more information on the 2024 event!
Illinois 4-H Dog Show
4-H members who excel in the 4-H Dog project are encouraged to compete at the local 4-H dog obedience contest for a chance to advance to the Illinois 4-H Dog Show. Competition in both obedience and showmanship are held. The Illinois State 4-H Dog Show uses the American Kennel Club regulations as a guideline. CLICK HERE to download the AKC Rules and Regulations.
Illinois 4-H Legislative Connection
4-H Legislative Connection provides 4-H members a unique opportunity to learn about the state legislative process and meet with elected officials. Participants include members of the Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team and those members who have completed Speaking for Illinois 4-H training.
Illinois 4-H Horse Bowl Contests
Demonstrate your knowledge of equine related subject matter in a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail. The contest operates very similar to scholastic bowls at school except all the questions relate to horses! Participants do not need to have horses or be enrolled in the horse project to participate.
Illinois 4-H Hippology Contest
The primary objective of the Hippology Contest is to provide, in a friendly but competitive setting, an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H to demonstrate the breadth of their knowledge and understanding of equine science, and in particular the practical application of this knowledge and skill. Participants do not need to have horses or be enrolled in the horse project to participate.
Speaking for Illinois 4-H Training
You love 4-H. We need you to help tell that story to the public. 4-H members received advanced training in public speaking at Speaking for Illinois 4-H trainings held throughout the state. That training prepares you to meet with county and state elected officials, potential donors, civic groups, and new volunteers. You'll also be the state 4-H programs voice at state legislative events, such as 4-H Legislative Connection where 4-H members visit state legislators to tell their 4-H stories and educate the legislators about the benefits of 4-H and University of Illinois Extension.
Illinois 4-H Horse Speaking Contest
4-H Horse Speaking contests help youth gain self-confidence, courage and persuasiveness; share ideas with others; and develop the ability to speak in public to inform others about horse-related subjects and the 4-H Horse project.
Illinois 4-H State Robotics Competition
It’s one thing to program and build a robot; it’s another thing to do it as a team. This statewide event is an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H robotics to demonstrate their learning, celebrate their accomplishments, and interact with others who share an interest in robotics. Robotics clubs may compete as a team in the annual State 4-H Robotics Competition. The contest tests a club’s ability to work together creatively to solve a set of tasks.
4-H Green Communities Tree Program
Hands-on community service, conservation, and environmental education are key components the 4-H Green Communities Tree Program. Illinois 4-H is partnering with the Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Forestry Committee to address the decline of native oak savannas by providing 25 oak seedlings (in containers) to Illinois counties!
Did you know that Illinois once held 14 million acres of trees, but that number has dropped to 5 million due to modern development practices? Illinois 4-H has partnered with Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts to help turn the tide by planting 1,075 oak trees in 43 counties across Illinois this
spring and we need YOUR help! Contact your local Extension office to find out if your county is participating or support the program by heading to our crowdfunding page.
Give 4-H youth the ability to plant these fire-resistant, native oak species in public spaces where the community can enjoy the benefits. These 25-tree savannas will help rebuild our native ecosystems, .75 acre at a time.
4-H Hooks Us Together Fishing Tournament
Youth from across Illinois can head into the great outdoors to participate in the statewide 4-H Hooks Us Together Virtual Fishing Challenge each spring!
While competition is the focus, participating youth take away much more from the experience. The intention of this contest is to advance the interest, or spark, of fishing passions to a higher level. There are over 100,000 less fishing licenses sold now than 20 years ago and we hope these contests will help show more youth the benefits of the sport. The full contest flier is linked here.
Illinois 4-H Public Speaking Contest
4-H excels in preparing youth to speak confidently. The Illinois State 4-H Public Presentation Contest allows youth to highlight their exceptional presentation abilities in a supportive environment.
Illinois 4-H Horse Judging Contest
Aside from the obvious benefits of learning about horses, horse judging also provides the opportunity for 4-Hers to learn life skills such as objective reasoning, decision making, public speaking, and learning how to work on a team.
4-H Dairy Judging
Held annually in August at the State Fair, participants demonstrate their knowledge of the dairy industry by ranking classes of dairy cattle. The top winners represent Illinois in national competition.
4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl
Held annually, members compete in an academic-like quiz bowl while they demonstrate their knowledge of the dairy industry. 4-H members do not need to be a dairy project member to be eligible. The top winners represent Illinois in national competition. More information on the 2024 Quiz Bowl will be posted as it is released.
4-H Camps
Make new friends and have a summer “getaway” at 4-H camp! Experience cabin living in a beautiful outdoor setting for a very special week of learning and fun. Campers participate in lots of hands-on projects, such as rocketry, conservation, cooking, performing arts, sports, and crafts. It also wouldn’t be camp without hikes, campfires, rock climbing, boating, fishing, and swimming! To find more information about camps and programs at 4-H Memorial Camp, head to: go.illinois.edu/4Hcamp.
Illinois State Fair
If you want to see what 4-H is all about, make sure to visit the Illinois State Fair. Award-winning 4-H members display their general project work during three amazing days of the Illinois State Fair at the Orr Building. Check out the 4-H members exhibiting in the state fair junior livestock show as they compete for grand champion honors in sheep, goats, swine, dairy, and beef. The Illinois State Fair Junior show welcomes people to the fair early to watch a full week of horse shows. There's never a dull moment during the Illinois State Fair. Make plans to join us!
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