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.

"The dedication of FFA and 4-H members to invest in and improve their communities is inspiring to Farm Credit Illinois," says Derek Weber, vice president of strategic marketing at FCI. “We are honored to support these passionate young leaders creating a positive difference in their communities.”

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

• All Around Gang 4-H Club (Clay County): Beautify the entrance to Charley Brown Park
• Dismal Creek Critters 4-H Club (Clay County): Install sunshades at Clay County Fairgrounds
• Little Wabash Deer & Fawn (Clay County): Plant trees and provide landscaping at Clay County Fairgrounds
• Pixley Pride 4-H Club (Clay County): Grow and share pumpkins in Clay County
• Mahomet Happy Helpers 4-H Club (Champaign County): Create pollinator garden at Mahomet Public Library
• Mahomet Seymour FFA Chapter (Champaign County): Create pollinator garden at Mahomet Public Library
• Royal Ag 4-H Club (Champaign County): Plant trees at Royal Community Building
• Fantastic 4-Hers of Fisher 4-H Club (Champaign County): Beautify Fisher Fairgrounds entrance
• Champaign County Livestock Club (Champaign County): Provide improvements at Champaign County Fairgrounds barns
• Fisher FFA (Champaign County): Construct picnic tables for Fisher Fairgrounds
• Golden Star 4-H Club (Clark County): Construct picnic tables for Marshall Fairgrounds
• Aviston 4-H Aces & St. Rose Clover Crew (Clinton County): Assemble soup meal kits for local food pantries
• Bone Gap Cardinals 4-H Club (Edwards County): Plant a community garden in West Salem
• Shumway Eagles 4-H Club (Effingham County): Provide enhancements at Walker and Rosie Memorial Fun Park in Beecher City
• Beecher City FFA (Effingham County): Landscape at Walker & Rosie Memorial Fun Park in Beecher City
• Greenfield FFA (Greene County): Construct raised garden beds at Greenfield FFA Farm
• Show and Grow 4-H Club (Greene County): Plant flowers at the Veterans Memorial in Carrollton
• Hamilton County Federation 4-H (Hamilton County): Make improvements to the Hamilton County Fairgrounds food stand
• Barbwire Gang 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Paint bleachers at Hamilton County Fairgrounds 
• Hamilton County GIFT Garden 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Make improvements at Hamilton County GIFT Garden
• Pioneer Country Kids 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Make improvements at Hamilton County Fairgrounds
• Piopolis Busy Bees 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Patriotic presentations at Hamilton County courthouse and businesses
• Funny Farmers 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Make honor throws for veterans on Southern Illinois Honor Flight
• Danforth Blue Ribbon 4-H Club (Iroquois County): Plant trees at the Iroquois County Fairgrounds
• Woodlawn FFA (Jefferson County): Grow seedlings for Woodlawn community
• Southwestern Hoof N Horn 4-H Club (Jersey County): Design and install livestock barn signage at Jersey County Fairgrounds
• Crazy Clovers 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Beautify Macoupin County Fairgrounds
• Stauntoneers 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Construct picnic tables and benches for the Macoupin County Fairgrounds
• Quercus Grove 4-H Club (Madison County): Grow produce at St. John's Community Mission Garden in Edwardsville
• Greenview Boosters 4-H Club (Menard County): Plant trees in Petersburg
• Backyard Bandits 4-H Club (Monroe County): Build and install blessing box in Waterloo
• Golden Eagles 4-H Club (Monroe County): Add landscaping at Baebler Educational Farm in Waterloo
• Country Roots 4-H Club (Montgomery County): Manage food stand at Montgomery County Fair
• Chester FFA (Randolph County): Beautify gardens at Chester schools
• Hilltoppers 4-H Club (Richland County): Improve landscaping at Olney City Park
• Creative Critters 4-H Club (Saint Clair County): Build letterpress at Mascoutah Heritage Museum
• Auburn FFA (Sangamon County): Enhance front entrance of Auburn High/Middle School
• Winchester FFA (Scott County): Refresh landscaping in Winchester
• Moweaqua Rustlers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Beautify downtown Moweaqua and food pantry
• Shelby Sparklers 4-H Club (Shelby County): Beautify veterans memorial & fire department in Sigel
• Shelbyville FFA Chapter (Shelby County): Install native plants and pollinator signage at Lake Shelbyville
• Coldspring Copperheads 4-H Club (Shelby County): Provide improvements to Wallace-Carroll Park in Herrick
• Lick Creek Home Grown Leaders 4-H Club (Union County): Build and install blessing box in Anna
• Shawnee Teen Leaders 4-H Club (Union County): Design and build Welcome to Wolf Lake sign
• Union County Robotics 4-H Club (Union County): Build and install bat houses in Union County
• Country Clovers 4-H Club (Washington County): Provide enhancements at Village of Radom Park
• Okawville FFA (Washington County): Build raised beds for Okawville Community Garden
• Grayville Go-Getters 4-H Club (White County): Create pollinator landscape at Grayville Jr. & Sr. High School
• White County 4-H Federation (White County): Expand the White County 4-H GIFT Garden
• Enfield Blue Ribbon 4-H Club (White County): Beautify Booth Community Center