Springfield, IL (CHAMBANA TODAY) – The Illinois State Fairgrounds were abuzz last Friday morning as more than 1,000 4-H youth and their families gathered to celebrate Ag Day, a highlight of the annual fair and a capstone event for Illinois 4-H members.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leadership joined the celebration, emphasizing the university’s commitment to youth development, agricultural education, and community impact.
Chancellor Charles Lee Isbell Jr. was expected to attend alongside Germán Bollero, Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), and Kevin Carey, Interim Assistant Dean and Director of Illinois 4-H.
The day began with a breakfast on the Director’s Lawn, where university leaders met with media, legislators, and community stakeholders to share how the state’s flagship land-grant institution is shaping the future of food, agriculture, and human sciences across Illinois.
“This is more than a celebration,” said Dean Bollero. “It’s a testament to the power of education, hands-on learning, and the leadership our youth are already demonstrating across the state.”
Illinois 4-H, the university’s premier youth development program, engages nearly 200,000 young people annually in every county of the state. On display during Ag Day were projects across hundreds of categories — from robotics and engineering to livestock and nutrition — showcasing the diverse talents and interests of 4-H members.
Later in the morning, legislators and members of the media toured the 4-H exhibit space at the Orr Building alongside the Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team, gaining a firsthand look at the work of tomorrow’s innovators and community leaders.
The event also highlighted the university’s growing educational footprint, including a surge in enrollment — with the largest incoming freshman class in 50 years — and expanding opportunities for adult learners seeking careers in agriculture and environmental sciences.
“This is what land-grant universities were built for,” said Carey. “To educate, to empower, and to serve communities. And that’s exactly what’s happening here today.”
Ag Day served as both a celebration and a reaffirmation of the University of Illinois’s ongoing investment in youth, education, and the future of agriculture in the state.
