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 a positive impact in their communities.”

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

• Champaign County Livestock 4-H (Champaign County): Champaign County Fairgrounds updates
• Mahomet Happy Helpers 4-H (Champaign County): Mahomet's Brent Johnson Park tree planting
• Royal Ag 4-H (Champaign County): Royal Community Building tree planting
• Heritage FFA (Champaign County): Broadlands' Main Street beautification
• Fantastic 4-Hers of Fisher 4-H (Champaign County): Fisher's Heritage Pond little free library and rest area construction
• Martinsville FFA (Clark County): Martinsville Ag Fair seating areas addition
• Willow Creek 4-H (Clark County): Martinsville Agriculture Fairgrounds picnic table construction
• TTT 4-H (Clark County): Clark County Fairgrounds' 4-H Livestock Education signs creation
• Casey Achievers 4-H (Clark County): Casey welcome sign improvements
• All Around Gang 4-H (Clay County): Xenia community park and building beautification
• Little Wabash Deer and Fawn 4-H (Clay County): Clay County Fairgrounds improvements
• Purple Ribbon Riders 4-H (Douglas County): Arcola's Tourist Information Center soil plot learning
• Kansas FFA (Edgar County): Kansas CUSD#3 new beekeeping operation
• Ellery Panthers 4-H (Edwards County): Little Prairie Cemetery restorations in Albion
• Bone Gap Cardinals 4-H (Edwards County): West Salem Community Garden vegetable growing
• Teutopolis FFA (Effingham County): Teutopolis FFA plot improvements
• Odin FFA (Effingham County): Odin students' action packs building
• Gallatin County FFA (Gallatin County): Gallatin County School tree grove and walking path improvements
• Greenfield FFA (Greene County): Greenfield Lake bench construction
• Carrollton FFA (Greene County): Color up Carrollton -- growing flowers for town square
• Hamilton County 4-H Federation (Hamilton County): Hamilton County Gift Garden lady bug repainting and rock spreading
• Funny Farmers 4-H (Hamilton County): Lap blankets production for the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois
• Barbwire Gang 4-H (Hamilton County): Hamilton County Fairgrounds announcer stand improvements
• GIFT Garden 4-H (Hamilton County): GIFT Garden signs replacement in McLeansboro
• Pioneer County Kids 4-H (Hamilton County): Hamilton Fairgrounds improvements
• Danforth Blue Ribbon 4-H (Iroquois County): Iroquois County Fairgrounds tree planting
• Maroa Livestock 4-H (Macon County): Dewitt County Fair sheep barn facility improvements
• Maroa Forsyth FFA (Macon County): Maroa city pond landscaping
• Clover Cadets 4-H (Macoupin County): North Mac Middle School hygiene kits assembly
• Quercus Grove 4-H (Madison County): St. John's Community Mission Garden in Edwardsville
• Athens JH/HS FFA (Menard County): Warriors' food garden fencing construction in Athens
• Waterloo FFA (Monroe County): Monroe County Farmers Market demonstration area improvements
• Golden Eagles 4-H (Monroe County): Monroe County Fairgrounds flag pole and flowerbed revitalization
• Country Roots 4-H (Montgomery County): Montgomery County Fair food service provisions
• Clover Crew 4-H (Pope County): Dixon Springs Ag Center's raised beds irrigation system addition
• Meridian FFA (Pulaski County): Mounds plant pollinator garden
• Emerald Clovers 4-H (Saint Clair County): Grange Memorial butterfly garden creation in Lebanon
• Carrier Mills-Stonefort FFA (Saline County): Carrier Mills Community Garden fresh produce production and distribution
• Talkington 4-H (Sangamon County): Waverly baseball field improvements
• Winchester FFA (Scott County): Winchester High School landscape beds design & installation
• FAR 4-H (Shelby County): Windsor business district beautification
• Silver Spurs 4-H (Shelby County): Shelby County Senior Center landscaping
• Moweaqua Rustlers 4-H (Shelby County): Moweaqua downtown and food pantry beautification
• Shelby Sparklers 4-H (Shelby County): Sigel's veterans memorial and fire department beautification
• Lick Creek 4-H (Union County): Choate Cemetery restorations in Anna
• Town and Country 4-H (Wabash County): Mt. Carmel Mabel Courter Youth Center beautification
• Nashville Eager Beavers 4-H (Washington County): Nashville City welcome signs beautification
• Country Clovers 4-H (Washington County): Village of Radom welcome sign construction
• Enfield Blue Ribbon 4-H (White County): Enfield Beautification Project: Butterfly and Bee Garden
• Grayville Go-Getters 4-H (White County): Crossville Animal Shelter updates