Learn More About The Community Improvement Program

Farm Credit Illinois awarded 50 community improvement grants to FFA chapters and 4-H clubs in central and southern Illinois.

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 better places to live.

“FFA and 4-H members inspire Farm Credit each year by eagerly serving their communities,” says Rod Stoll, vice president of marketplace engagement for FCI. “We are grateful to team-up with youth organizations investing in the future of their hometowns.”

The 4-H club and FFA chapter grant recipients (Listed by county) will complete the following projects:

• Old Ripley 4-H Club (Bond County): Plant flowers and construct raised beds at Old Ripley Church of Christ in Pocahontas
• Champaign Shamrocks 4-H Club (Champaign County): Plant pollinator garden at St. Matthew's Catholic Parish in Champaign
• Fantastic 4-Hers of Fisher (Champaign County): Construct picnic tables for Fisher Community Park
• Royal Ag 4-H Club (Champaign County): Install landscaping at the Royal Community Building
• Sadorus All-Stars 4-H Club (Champaign County): Enhance Tolono welcome signs and landscaping
• Unity FFA Chapter (Champaign County): Provide park improvements at West Side Park in Tolono
• Clarksville Co-eds 4-H Club (Clark County): Clarksville Kindness Project – Spruce up Clarksville Restaurant signage
• Martinsville FFA Chapter (Clark County): A Seat with a View – build picnic tables for The Woodlands in Martinsville
• Moriah Go-Getters 4-H Club (Clark County): Build signage for Casey Fairview Park
• Triple T 4-H Club (Clark County): Install raised flower beds at healthcare facilities in Marshall
• Central FFA Chaper (Clinton County): Construct wooden flower pots for Aviston Parks
• Ellery Panthers 4-H Club (Edwards County): Build therapy steps for Little Prairie Preschool in Albion
• Country Cousins 4-H Club (Effingham County): Construct all-weather resting bench for Effingham County Fairgrounds
• Teutopolis FFA Chapter (Effingham County): Greenhand Gardening – Create outdoor classroom at Teutopolis High School
• Heartland Pathfinders 4-H Club (Franklin County): Build accessible picnic tables for Benton Community Park
• Hilltoppers 4-H Club (Franklin County): Provide landscaping at Franklin County 4-H Fairgrounds
• Mulkeytown Panthers 4-H Club (Franklin County): Refresh community playground in Mulkeytown
• Carrollton FFA Chapter (Greene County): Color-up Carrollton – Grow and plant flowers around Carrollton town square
• Barbwire Gang 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Spruce up landscaping at the Big Red Barn in McLeansboro
• County Line Crew 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Help create bicentennial commemorative signage in McLeansboro
• Funny Farmers 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Build produce table for Hamilton County GIFT Garden
• Hamilton County 4-H Federation (Hamilton County): Paint crosswalks around McLeansboro Courthouse
• Pioneer Country Kids 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Refresh playground equipment at St. John the Baptist play area in McLeansboro
• Piopolis Busy Bees 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Plant fruit trees at Hamilton County GIFT Garden
• Donovan FFA Chapter (Iroquois County): Renovate Donovan Park concession stand
• Trailblazers 4-H Horse & Pony Club (Lawrence County): Make improvements to the horse barn at Lawrence County Fairgrounds
• Middletown 4-Hers (Logan County): Install resting benches at Middletown School and Community Park
• Northwestern FFA Chapter (Macoupin County): Construct community food shack for residents of Palmyra
• New Douglas Cloverbuds 4-H Club (Madison County): Little Hands, Big Hearts – Beautify New Douglas Rec Plex
• Quercus Grove 4-H Club (Madison County): Plant community mission garden at St. John's Methodist Church
• Athens FFA Chapter (Menard County): Construct trellises for Athens Warriors Food Garden
• Monroe County 4-H Teen Federation (Monroe County): Make improvements at Bellefontaine House in Waterloo
• Valmeyer FFA Chapter (Monroe County): Construct "The FFA Patio" at Valmeyer Community School
• East Side Jr's 4-H Club (Morgan County): Construct Jacksonville welcome sign and add landscaping to fairgrounds patio
• Moultrie-County Shining Stars 4-H Club (Moultrie County): Construct bench for Sullivan Elementary playground
• Cisco Clovers 4-H Club (Piatt County): Install bleachers in poultry and rabbit barn at Dewitt County 4-H Fairgrounds
• Pope County Clover Crew 4-H Club (Pope County): Build a resting bench for youth educational high tunnel at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center
• Pope-Hardin County 4-H Federation (Pope County): Construct potting table and work bench for youth educational tunnel at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center
• Creative Critters 4-H Club (Saint Clair County): Provide picnic table for Scheve Park in Mascoutah
• Carrier Mills-Stonefort FFA Chapter (Saline County): Plant a community garden at Carrier Mills-Stonefort High School
• Saline County 4-H Federation (Saline County): Capture photos for installation at Saline County nursing facilities
• Moweaqua Rustlers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Provide improvements to the goat barn at Shelby County Fairgrounds
• Shelby County Cloverbuds 4-H Club (Shelby County): Refresh community garden at HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital in Shelbyville
• Shelby Showstoppers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Spruce up Shelby County Fairgrounds show arena
• Shelby Sparklers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Beautify Veterans' Memorial at Sigel Park
• Salt Fork FFA Chapter (Vermilion County): Create a community garden at Catlin Township Library
• Mt. Carmel FFA Chapter (Wabash County): Build private outdoor patio at Safe Haven in Mt. Carmel
• Allendale Twisters 4-H Club (Wabash County): Construct shelving for Circle A Servolution in Allendale
• Enfield Blue Ribbon 4-H Club (White County): Make improvements at Willis Park in Enfield
• Grayville Go-Getters 4-H Club (White County): Welcoming Our Community – Beautify Grayville Park

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

# # #

 Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) is a farmer-owned and directed agricultural cooperative serving 16,000 farmer, rural landowner, and agribusiness voting stockholder members in the southern 60 counties of Illinois. Dedicated to Helping Farm Families Succeed, FCI provides competitive and flexible financing, crop insurance expertise, and Rural 1^st® country life lending. FCI manages a $4.8 billion loan portfolio, sells 1.4 million acres of crop insurance coverage, and employs 244 staff based in the Mahomet headquarters and 14 regional office locations. The Association delivers additional cooperative value by returning $40 million of 2020 earnings as cash patronage to member-owners in 2021. The U.S. Farm Credit System supports rural communities, farm families, and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services today and tomorrow.