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.

"Members of FFA and 4-H inspire Farm Credit through all they do to invest in and give back to their communities," says Rod Stoll, vice president of marketplace engagement for FCI.  “We are grateful to support youth who are so eager to create positive impacts in their communities.”

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

• Calhoun Appleseeds 4-H Club (Calhoun County): Improve Kampsville Community Park
• Philadelphia Ag 4-H Club (Cass County): Repaint wash racks and update landscaping at Cass County Fairgrounds
• Fantastic 4-Hers of Fisher 4-H Club (Champaign County): Plant trees and refresh planters in Fisher
• Heritage FFA Chapter (Champaign County): Repair Broadlands Park signage
• Royal Ag 4-H Club (Champaign County): Update landscaping at Royal Community Building
• Casey Acheivers 4-H Club (Clark County): Assist with remodeling of bathrooms at Martinsville Fairgrounds
• Casey Westfield FFA Chapter (Clark County): Install wooden trash receptacles at Casey Central Park
• Golden Star 4-H Club (Clark County): Paint grandstand and other buildings at Martinsville Fairgrounds
• All-Around Gang 4-H Club (Clay County): Add new landscaping and picnic table at Xenia Community Church
• Panther Creek Pioneers 4-H Club (Clay County): Improve flower beds at Effingham County Fairgrounds
• Springpoint Rebels 4-H Club (Cumberland County): Plant trees and remove weeds at Sacred Heart Lillyville Catholic Church in Effingham
• Blue Ridge FFA Chapter (DeWitt County): Renovate and repair garden at Schneider Elementary School
• Paris FFA Chapter (Edgar County): Install flower beds at Edgar County 4-H Association Grounds
• Stratton Junior Farmers 4-H Club (Edgar County): Create a memorial plot at Edgar County 4-H Fairgrounds
• Ellery Panthers 4-H Club (Edwards County): Restoration and preservation of Little Prairie Cemetery
• Walltown 4-H Club (Ford County): Upkeep and maintanence at Pells Park
• Carrollton FFA Chapter (Greene County): Color up Carrollton- Grow flowers to plant around town square
• Do It Yourself 4-H Club (Greene County): Build convertible bench/picnic table for Greene County Fairgrounds
• County Line Crew 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Tear out parking cables and paint pool house at McLeansboro Municipal Pool
• Funny Farmers 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Assist with renovations at McLeansboro Animal Shelter
• Hamilton County 4-H Federation (Hamilton County): Paint the BPOE McLeansboro Elk’s Lodge #1882 entrance and bathrooms
• Pioneer Country Kids 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Collect bottle caps to make raised garden beds at Hamilton County GIFT Garden
• Piopolis Busy Bees 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Make lap blankets for residents at Hamilton Memorial Rehabilitation Center
• Full STEAM 4-H Club (Iroquois County): Build container gardens at Watseka Park
• TRICO FFA Chapter (Jackson County): Replace garden beds at TRICO Grade School
• Hold Your Horses 4-H Club (Jefferson County): Paint fences at King City Saddle Club
• Quercus Grove 4-H Club (Madison County): Fix water line at community mission garden at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Edwardsville
• Athens FFA Chapter (Menard County): Expand raised garden beds at Athens Warriors Community Garden
• Backyard Bandits 4-H Club (Monroe County): Build a community donation box at the Monroe County Annex in Waterloo
• Clover Friends 4-H Club (Monroe County): Plant a community garden in Hecker
• Country Roots 4-H Club (Montgomery County): Provide food stand during livestock shows at Montgomery County Fair
• Berea Ag 4-H Club (Morgan County): Repair and upkeep at the Berea Christian Church
• Mansfield Clovers & Cloverbuds 4-H Club (Piatt County): Plant flowers and do activities with residents at Piatt County Nursing Home
• Pope County FFA Chapter (Pope County): Grow fruits and vegetables to donate to local families in need
• Pope-Hardin County 4-H Federation (Pope County): Build structure to provide shade for workers and harvested produce at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center
• Atkins’ Acres 4-H Junior Master Naturalist SPIN Club (St. Clair County): Build a sensory garden at the Millstadt Rocket Park
• Neighborhood Guys & Gals 4-H Club (Scott County): Paint bleachers and buildings at Scott County Fairgrounds
• F.A.R. 4-H Club (Shelby County): Assemble flower planters for downtown Windsor
• Rural Feeders 4-H Club (Shelby County): Refresh “Welcome to Assumption” signage
• Shelby County Clover Kids 4-H Club (Shelby County): Replace road sign at Shelby County Fairgrounds
• Shelby Showstoppers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Install landscaping at Shelby County Fairgrounds
• Shelby Sparklers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Plant flowers and decorate planters at Sigel Park
• Silver Spurs 4-H Club (Shelby County): Create pollinator garden at Tower Hill Park
• Hoyleton Boosters 4-H Club (Washington County): Make holiday signs to hang throughout Hoyleton
• Venedy Black Squirrels 4-H Club (Washington County): Refresh “Welcome to Venedy” sign
• Enterprisers 4-H Club (Wayne County): Update landscaping at Wayne County Extension Office
• Fairfield FFA Chapter (Wayne County): Install flower planters in downtown Fairfield
• Wayne County 4-H Federation (Wayne County): Build flower beds and plant flowers around the 4-H building at the Wayne County Fairgrounds
• Grayville Go-Getters 4-H Club (White County): Build raised flower beds at Grayville City Park
• Norris City-Omaha-Enfield FFA Chapter (White County): Install picnic tables at NCOE ball field

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