Illinois 4-H

Members are required to take Quality Assurance and Ethics training when they sign up for horse, dog, cats, rabbits, and poultry projects.

Members enrolled in dairy and beef cattle, swine, sheep, and goats must take the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals certification annually. All 4-H exhibitors of these animals will be required to certify in the YQCA program each year starting for the 2022 show season. To view State 4-H Events, including Animal Sciences, visit our State Events Page.

Ensuring that our communities have access to nutritious and culturally relevant foods is a challenge that has motivated young     4-H leaders to get more involved in growing, distributing, and sharing food across the state of Illinois. In 2023-24 alone, 250 Illinois 4-H youth leaders reached over 5,000 Illinois families with gardening and food access service projects. Through small and large-scale food production, coupled with effective advocacy and engagement in their communities' civic life, Illinois 4-H youth are rising to the occasion and helping to create resilient and inclusive food systems. 

"I learned that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. People are willing to help! They just need someone to organize the community around something that matters to them." 4-H Youth Leader, White County, IL

Welcome to Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports! Illinois offers shooting disciplines of archery, rifle (air and small-bore), shotgun, pistol, and outdoor hunting skills. Each local program is guided by a Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator. The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program is part of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Program which sets the standards and guides the curriculum.  The focus of all 4-H programs is the development of youth as individuals and as responsible, productive citizens. The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program stands out as an example. Youth learn marksmanship, the safe and responsible use of firearms, the principles of shooting and much more. The activities of the program and support of caring adult leaders provide young people with opportunities to develop life skills, self-worth and conservation ethics.

Learn about science, technology, engineering and math with these fun, hands-on programs. We have proof that youth who take 4-H STEM projects believe science helps solve life's problems. 4-Hers are twice as likely as other youth to want a career related to science and see science as exciting. Even better... 4-H members are twice as likely to say they're 'good at' science compared to their peers.