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 $500 grants to 50 4-H clubs and FFA chapters to deliver projects that will make their local communities a better place to live.

This is the 12^th year FCI has funded community improvement grants; the total amount awarded is nearly $160,000. Examples of this year’s award-winning projects include managing community gardens, sprucing up fairgrounds and community parks, and constructing resting benches.

“Farm Credit is grateful to team-up with youth organizations and invest in the health of rural communities,” says Rod Stoll, vice president of marketplace engagement for FCI. “We are impressed by the passion and commitment of 4-H and FFA members for providing positive, tangible changes in their hometowns.”

The following 4-H clubs and FFA chapters are 2020 community improvement grant recipients:

• Pulaski/Alexander 4-H Federation (Alexander County): Construct and install fencing at Cairo Community Garden
• Old Ripley 4-H Club (Bond County): Provide landscaping and build raised beds at Old Ripley Church of Christ in Pocahontas
• Calhoun Busy Bees 4-H Club (Calhoun County): Provide landscaping at Calhoun County Courthouse
• Calhoun County Appleseeds 4-H Club (Calhoun County): Establish a rock garden at Calhoun Pool
• Champaign County Livestock 4-H Club (Champaign County): Construct benches and landscape around Champaign County fairgrounds livestock buildings
• Fantastic 4-Hers of Fisher (Champaign County): Construct picnic tables for Fisher Community Building
• Sadorus All-Stars 4-H Club (Champaign County): Improve the toddler playground at West Side Park in Tolono
• Clover 4-H Club (Christian County): Educate and help recover and replant damaged trees in Christian County
• Boosters 4-H Club (Clark County): Clean-up cemeteries in Marshall and Westfield
• Casey Achievers 4-H Club (Clark County): Install new flag pole at Casey welcome sign
• Casey Westfield FFA Chapter (Clark County): Just a swinging: Construct swings for Casey Main Street
• Clarksville Co-Eds 4-H Club (Clark County): Plant daffodils along 1-70 exit ramps in Clark County
• Barnstormers 4-H Club (Coles County): Repair and paint barn gates at Coles County fairgrounds
• Coles County Federation 4-H Club (Coles County): Beautify Coles County fairgrounds
• Mattoon FFA Chapter (Coles County): Install garden and walking path in former ag plot in Mattoon
• Edwards County FFA Chapter (Edwards County): Provide Earth Day education to students in Edwards County
• Ellery Panthers 4-H Club (Edwards County): Build therapy steps for Little Prairie Christian Church Preschool in Albion
• Vandalia FFA Chapter (Fayette County): Establish an outdoor learning garden at Okaw Vocational School
• Paxton-Buckley-Loda FFA Chapter (Ford County): Provide resting benches at Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School
• Carrollton FFA Chapter (Greene County): Color up Carrollton: Grow and plant flowers for the town square
• Greenfield FFA Chapter (Greene County): Enhance Greenfield FFA community garden
• Show and Grow 4-H Club (Greene County): Make blankets for St. Louis Children's Hospital patients
• County Line Crew 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Renovate kitchenette at the historic Izaak Walton Cabin in McLeansboro
• Funny Farmers 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Replace and repair raised beds at GIFT Garden in Dahlgren
• Pioneer Country Kids 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Make repairs and improvements to Kids Kingdom play structures in McLeansboro
• Piopolis Busy Bees 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Install new sign and landscaping at Old McLeansboro Cemetery
• TRICO FFA Chapter (Jackson County): Build benches and update landscaping at TRICO High School's Pioneer Park
• Waltonville FFA Chapter (Jefferson County): Construct outdoor classroom at Waltonville High School
• All American Clovers 4-H Club (Jersey County): Beautify Jersey County Courthouse and Sheriff's office
• Cloverdale 4-H Club (Logan County): Create a butterfly habitat at Lincoln College Outdoor Center
• Clover Cadets 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Assemble first aid kits for Girard and Virden families
• Northwestern FFA Chapter (Macoupin County): Renovate and refresh Northwestern School District sign
• Northwestern Green Machines 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Beautify Palmyra Park
• Joppa FFA Chapter (Massac County): Provide improvements to Joppa High School community garden
• Massac County 4-H Federation Club (Massac County): Plant a row, watch COPE grow: Construct garden fencing
• Athens FFA Chapter (Menard County): Expand Athens Warriors food garden at Athens High School
• West Menarders Ag 4-H Club (Menard County): Spruce up Menard County fairgrounds
• Sunny Side Flea Flickers 4-H Club (Moultrie County): Spruce up Bethany Main Street, Marrowbone Cemetery, and American Legion
• Monticello FFA Chapter (Piatt County): Plant a children's pizza garden at Kirby Hospital in Monticello
• Pope-Hardin 4-H Federation (Pope County): Construct community garden youth tunnel at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in Simpson
• Steeleville FFA Chapter (Randolph County): Build raised beds and plant fruit trees near Steeleville FFA greenhouse
• West Side 4-H Club (Sangamon County): Make improvements at Sangamon County fairgrounds
• Moweaqua Rustlers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Plant trees at Shelby County fairgrounds
• Shelby County Cloverbuds 4-H Club (Shelby County): Provide landscaping at Shelby County 4-H Center
• Shelby Showstoppers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Plant trees and a pollinator garden at Shelby County fairgrounds
• Silver Spurs 4-H Club (Shelby County): Build new gates for goat barn at Shelby County fairgrounds
• Town & Country 4-H'ers (Wabash County): Improve horse arena and flower beds at Mabel Courter Youth Center in Mt. Carmel
• Nashville Eager Beavers 4-H Club (Washington County): Create barn quilts at Washington County fairgrounds livestock barns
• Grayville Go-Getters 4-H Club (White County): Fostering multi-generational friendships: Install elevated raised beds at Meadowood Nursing Home
• Mad Hatters 4-H Club (White County): Plant trees at Wabash Christian Village in Carmi

Projects may be delayed or subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.