Farm Credit Illinois awarded 50 community improvement grants to FFA chapters & 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 tangible difference these FFA and 4-H members are making in their communities is truly inspiring," says Derek Weber, vice president of strategic marketing at FCI.  “We are honored to support these young leaders as they turn their passion into meaningful, local impact.”

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

• Agri-Stars 4-H (Morgan County): Plant community garden in Jacksonville
• All Around Gang 4-H (Clay County): Improve landscaping at Full Armor Christian Academy in Louisville
• Athens FFA/Athens Middle FFA (Menard County): Remodel and install raised strawberry beds at Athens High School
• Atwood-Hammond Prairie Dogs 4-H (Douglas County): Construct livestock pens at Moultrie-Douglas Fairgrounds
• Backyard Bandits 4-H Club (Monroe County): Construct blessing box at Monroe County Annex
• Barbwire Gang 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Paint pool house and add mural at McLeansboro Municipal Pool
• Berea Ag 4-H Club (Morgan County): Replace landscaping at Berea Christian Church in Ashland
• Blue Ridge FFA (DeWitt County): Renovate DeWitt County Fairgrounds office
• Bone Gap Cardinals 4-H Club (Edwards County): Maintain West Salem Community Garden
• Carrollton FFA Chapter (Greene County): Grow flowers around Carrollton town square
• Casey Achievers 4-H (Clark County): Clean up Martinsville Fairgrounds
• Champaign County Livestock 4-H (Champaign County): Make improvements at Champaign County Fairgrounds
• Clever Clovers 4-H (Lawrence County): Refresh paint at Lawrence County Fairgrounds
• Clover Cadets 4-H (Macoupin County): Provide weekend food packages to North Mac School students
• Country Roots 4-H (Montgomery County): Provide lunch at Montgomery County Fair livestock shows
• Creative Critters 4-H (Saint Clair County): Build raised vegetable garden beds at SIUE New Life Head Start in Lebanon
• Danforth Blue Ribbon 4-H Club (Iroquois County): Plant trees at Iroquois County Fairgrounds
• Du Quoin High School FFA (Perry County): Restore landscaping at St. John's Park in Du Quoin
• East Side Jrs 4-H (Morgan County): Construct display board for 4-H projects at Morgan County Fairgrounds
• Enterprisers 4-H Club (Wayne County): Provide landscaping at entrance to Wayne County Fairgrounds
• Fantastic 4-Hers of Fisher 4-H Club (Champaign County): Beautify Fisher with butterfly garden and flower plantings
• F.A.R 4-H Club (Shelby County): Plant flowers and mulch at Windsor welcome sign and uptown
• Funny Farmers 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Make improvements at Hamilton County Fairgrounds
• Grayville Go-Getters 4-H Club (White County): Grow a pollinator garden at Oak Grove Cemetery in Grayville
• Greenfield FFA Chapter (Greene County): Beautify Greenfield Community Square and Veterans Park
• Golden Eagles 4-H Club (Monroe County): Assemble Easter baskets for House of Neighborly Services in Waterloo
• Hamilton County 4-H Federation (Hamilton County): Make honor throws for Southern Illinois Veteran Honor Flight
• Hamilton County 4-H GIFT Garden Club (Hamilton County): Provide repairs and maintenance at Hamilton County GIFT Garden
• Inside Out 4-H Club (Effingham County): Construct canoe rack for Camp Wassatoga at Lake Sara in Effingham
• Mahomet Happy Helpers 4-H (Champaign County): Enhance pollinator garden at Mahomet Public Library
• Mansfield Clovers & Cloverbuds 4-H (Piatt County): Construct a Blessing Box for Mansfield residents
• Maroa Forsyth FFA (Macon County): Share mental health resources for the Macon County ag community
• Massac County FFA (Massac County): Create pizza gardens for local preschools in Massac County
• Mattoon FFA Chapter (Coles County): Construct glider chair for Willow Breeze Hospice House in Mattoon
• Nashville Eager Beavers 4-H (Washington County): Enhance butterfly garden at Nashville Memorial Park
• NCOE FFA (White County): Build concession stand at NCOE High School baseball field
• Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers (Washington County): Update signage and bench at Oakdale Park
• Patoka Panthers 4-H Club (Marion County): Create birthday cake kits for Patoka Food Pantry
• Pioneer Country Kids 4-H (Hamilton County): Build picnic tables for Prairie Disc Golf Course in McLeansboro
• Piopolis Busy Bees 4-H (Hamilton County): Provide patriotic presentations and flags to Hamilton County businesses
• Pope County FFA Chapter (Pope County): Establish outdoor learning lab at Pope County High School
• Royal Ag 4-H Club (Champaign County): Plant trees at Royal Community Building
• Shafter Friends 4-H Club (Fayette County): Install a memorial garden at Vandalia's Little Community Garden
• Shelby Sparklers 4-H (Shelby County): Maintain landscaping at Sigel Veterans Wall
• South Central FFA Chapter (Fayette County): Prepare appreciation packages for election judges in Marion and Fayette Counties
• Topper 4-H (Logan County): Provide landscaping at Mt. Pulaski State Historic Site
• Tri-City 4-H Club (Sangamon County): Spruce up Lanesville Town Hall
• Wayne City FFA (Wayne County): Complete service projects during Wayne City FFA anniversary celebration
• White County 4-H Federation (White County): Sew pillows for White County residents undergoing medical treatment
• Winchester FFA (Scott County): Create pollinator garden at Winchester District Garden