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 by investing in their rural communities,” says Rod Stoll, vice president of marketplace engagement for FCI. “We are grateful to support youth so eager to create constructive and tangible impacts in their hometowns.”

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

• Liberty 4-H Club (Bond County): Improve curb appeal of Pleasant Mound Community Center in Smithboro
• Pocahontas Dreamcatchers 4-H Club (Bond County): Grow community garden for Pocahontas residents
• Fantastic 4-Hers of Fisher (Champaign County): Build picnic table for Heritage neighborhood pond in Fisher
• Philo 4-H Friends (Champaign County): Make improvements to multi-purpose room in Philo Township Hall
• Royal Ag 4-H Club (Champaign County): Install water bottle filling station at Royal Community Building
• Sadorus All Stars 4-H Club (Champaign County): Improve livestock gates at Champaign County Fair
• Casey Achievers 4-H Club (Clark County): Build a reading nook outside of Casey Township Library
• Triple T 4-H Club (Clark County): Install an accessible entrance at Martinsville Ag Fair office
• St. Rose Clover Crew 4-H Club (Clinton County): Build gaga ball court at St. Rose Park
• Coles County 4-H Club (Coles County): Create a community garden program at Douglas-Hart Nature Center in Mattoon
• Farmer City Cloverbuds 4-H Club (DeWitt County): Plant sunflower garden in Farmer City square
• Blue Ribbon 4-H Club (Edwards County): Beautify Edwards County Fairgrounds
• Bone Gap Cardinals 4-H Club (Edwards County): Create a community garden in West Salem
• Carrollton FFA Chapter (Greene County): Color up Carrollton – plant flowers around town square
• Greenfield FFA Chapter (Greene County): Revitalize the Greenfield square flowerpots
• Barbwire Gang 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Repair and stain benches on courthouse lawn in McLeansboro
• Funny Farmers 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Make repairs and paint at Kids Kingdom in McLeansboro
• Hamilton County 4-H Federation (Hamilton County): Build flower boxes and refresh paint at the Elks Lodge in McLeansboro
• Pioneer Country Kids 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Paint and fill 30 flower pots around the McLeansboro square
• Piopolis Busy Bees 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Plant fruit bearing plants and butterfly habitat at GIFT Garden in McLeansboro
• TRICO FFA Chapter (Jackson County): Create a farm-to-plate garden for TRICO High School
• Waltonville FFA Chapter (Jefferson County): Install landscaping at Waltonville High School
• Trailblazers 4-H Horse & Pony Club (Lawrence County): Install a horse wash rack at Lawrence County Fairgrounds
• Cloverdale 4-H Club (Logan County): Install landscaping at Hope Grows Neighborhood Center in Lincoln
• Scream 4-H Club (Macon County): Plant pollinator garden at Macon County Extension office
• Clover Cadets 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Provide hygiene kits at North Mac schools
• Macoupin County Hunger Ambassadors 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Provide extended break meal packages for Macoupin County neighbors
• Northwestern Green Machines 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Beautify basketball court area at Scottville Park
• Alhambra Garden 4-H Club (Madison County): Refurbish community garden at Alhambra Primary School
• Willoughby Wanderers 4-H Club (Madison County): Create ADA-accessible community garden at Collinsville Faith in Action
• Joppa FFA Chapter (Massac County): Update courtyard at Joppa High School
• Athens FFA Chapter (Menard County): Build wood duck houses for Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area
• Backyard Bandits 4-H Club (Monroe County): Install a community blessing box at Monroe County Annex in Waterloo
• Country Roots 4-H Club (Montgomery County): Host a food stand for 4-H and livestock shows at Montgomery County Fair
• Berea Ag 4-H Club (Morgan County): Update landscaping at Berea Christian Church
• Buckeyes 4-H Club (Perry County): Repair bleachers at Perry County Fairgrounds
• Cisco Clovers 4-H Club (Piatt County): Refresh paint at Dewitt-Macon-Piatt Fairgrounds
• Pope-Hardin County 4-H Federation (Pope County): Build community blessing boxes at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center
• West Side 4-H Club (Sangamon County): Add activities at the HAYLOFT at Sangamon County Fairgrounds
• Neighborhood Guys and Gals 4-H Club (Scott County): Spruce up the shelter at Scott County Nursing Center
• Shelby County Cloverbuds 4-H Club (Shelby County): Plant community garden at HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital in Shelbyville
• Shelby Sparklers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Beautify veterans memorial in Sigel Park
• Windsor FFA Chapter (Shelby County): Make improvements at Windsor Community Park
• Allendale Twisters 4-H Club (Wabash County): Gravel the food pantry parking lot in St. Francisville
• Wabash County 4-H Livestock Judging Team (Wabash County): Landscape around barns at Wabash County Fairgrounds
• Okawville FFA Chapter (Washington County): Update landscaping in downtown Okawville
• Grayville Go-Getters 4-H Club (White County): Establish community blessing boxes in Grayville
• Mad Hatters 4-H Club (White County): Build "Little Free Food Pantry" in Carmi
• Norris City-Omaha-Enfield FFA Chapter (White County): Establish a quail habitat outside Carmi
• White County 4-H Federation (White County): Expand White County 4-H GIFT Garden

Pictured above: Shelbyville Cloverbuds, 2021 Farm Credit Illinois grant recipients