University of Illinois Extension- Clark, Crawford, Edgar Counties

06/11/2026

On May 19, University of Illinois Extension, along with the iCREATE program, hosted its Shark Tank experience for approximately 80 Marshall 5th-grade students.

Working in teams, students identified a social problem on a figurative planet, developed an innovative solution, created a 3-D printed prototype, and designed a presentation to showcase their work. While Extension staff facilitated two days of hands-on learning focused on design thinking, entrepreneurship, and STEM concepts, classroom teachers supported students over several weeks as they refined their ideas and presentation skills.

During the culminating Shark Tank event, students presented their solutions to community judges, teachers, Extension staff, and peers, strengthening their communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and public speaking abilities.

The winning team, the Daybreakers, was awarded the traveling Golden Shark trophy, which will remain in the teacher’s classroom throughout the next school year. Special thanks to community judges Hanna and Heather, owners of Henhouse Bakery & Books, for sharing their time and expertise to encourage the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

06/04/2026

UPDATE: Our phone and internet have been restored!

06/04/2026

We are currently experiencing an unplanned phone and internet outage at our Clark office.

For assistance, please send us a message on here or call one of our other offices.

Crawford 618-546-1549

Edgar 217-465-8585

06/03/2026

Mark your calendars!

Join University of Illinois Extension and the Marshall Public Library this July for a four-part series designed to help you safely preserve the flavors of summer!

Whether you're brand new to canning or a seasoned home preserver looking for a refresher, these free educational watch parties will provide up-to-date, research-based information from Illinois Extension food preservation experts.

📅 July 10 | Canning Foods at Home
Learn the basics of safe home canning, including the difference between pressure canning and water bath canning, recommended equipment, and how to choose safe, tested recipes.

📅 July 17 | Canning with Confidence: Boiling Water Bath Canners
Discover how to safely preserve high-acid foods such as jams, jellies, pickles, salsa, and pie filling using water bath canning methods.

📅 July 24 | Canning with Confidence: Pressure Canners
Take the mystery out of pressure canning and learn the only safe method for preserving low-acid foods like green beans, meats, soups, and broths.

📅 July 31 | Processing Tomatoes at Home
Got tomatoes? Learn the best methods for canning, freezing, and dehydrating tomatoes, plus tips for safely making salsa and tomato products at home.

🕥 Time: 10:30–11:30 a.m.

Registration is recommended. Please register here:
https://tinyurl.com/MPL2026SavingtheSeason

06/03/2026

Thinking about becoming a cottage food seller in Illinois?
Our updated Cottage Food Guide is here to help you understand the rules, requirements, and opportunities for home‑based food businesses.

Created in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, and additional statewide partners, this comprehensive resource walks you through everything you need to know to operate safely and legally.

✨ New for 2026:
We’ve released an Addendum outlining what has changed in the latest update.
Both the full Guide and the Addendum are available in English and Spanish.
https://extension.illinois.edu/cottage-food

05/25/2026

Our offices are closed in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday.

05/22/2026

  Off-road vehicle accidents send more than 100,000 people to the emergency room each year in the U.S., with an average of 500-700 lives lost annually. Many of these accidents involve …

05/19/2026

05/18/2026

The 7th-grade iDream/iCreate program centers on social entrepreneurship, empowering students to identify needs within their community and develop meaningful, service-driven solutions. As part of the program, students completed a personality assessment to better understand their individual strengths and how to effectively collaborate within a team setting.

Using these insights, students were placed into groups and challenged to design a social entrepreneurship project that could be realistically implemented with little to no startup funding. This hands-on experience encouraged creativity, problem-solving, and a strong sense of community responsibility.

The winning team proposed an impactful and sustainable idea: collecting bottle caps and community donations to create a commemorative bench in honor of iDream/iCreate curriculum founder, Tiffany Macke. This project not only reflects innovation and teamwork but also serves as a lasting tribute to the program’s legacy.

Bottle caps are currently being collected at all schools, and monetary donations can be made at Marshall Jr. High School (please include “Tiffany Macke” in the memo line). Community support is essential to bringing this meaningful project to life.