by Mike Orso
Archery, horse care, pollinators and raising livestock represent just a small sampling of learning opportunities for McHenry County youngsters when participating in 4-H. McHenry County 4-H has a new program coordinator who wants to bring fresh enthusiasm to the youth development program and get it growing again.
Megan Eppel, 22, a Lindenhurst native, former 4-Her and member of the Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team, started as McHenry County 4-H coordinator in September.
“Everything that makes me, me, came from 4-H,” said Eppel. “I joined 4-H at 8-years old. Having leaders and volunteers that are encouraging those younger youth to take opportunities and grow in their public speaking skills, doing project demonstrations and mutual respect among 4-Hers as well, they all want you to be the best version of yourself.”
University of Illinois Extension runs the state 4-H program. It calls it the “largest out-of-school youth organization in Illinois, where youth learn by doing activities that teach skills youth can use now and in the future.” Community and special interest or “SPIN” clubs form, with meetings held to allow youngsters to learn and practice decision-making in group situations. McHenry County has both, with clubs in communities across the county and SPIN clubs, such as those focused on cooking, dogs, horses, livestock and poultry, shooting sports and technology.
Eppel succeeds Michele Aavang, 51, of Huntley, who now serves as 4-H Youth Development Educator for both Lake and McHenry Counties.
“I think what 4-H offers is that it can be as much or as little as you want it to be,” said Aavang, who previously served 8 years in the county 4-H coordinator role. “When you join a club, you might sign up for one project, you just want to do Legos. Another person in that same club might show beef, sheep, sew, take part in forestry and do cooking.”
Before taking on the program coordinator role, Aavang served a decade as a volunteer 4-H leader and a county 4-H foundation director. Her daughters Paige and Emma, now in their 20s, participated in 4-H, and her youngest daughter Lilly, 16, still participates. Aavang credits 4-H for benefitting all of her children, especially her daughter Emma, who experienced extreme shyness as a youngster.
“At 9 years old I convinced her to come into her sister’s club and in her first talking demonstration she came out of her shell,” said Aavang. “She had a leader that really encouraged her to do public presentations. Her last act as a 4-H member as she was leaving during the county fair was to give an interview with WGN-AM, with tens of thousands of listeners.”
Aavang and Eppel want to reach and exceed pre-COVID-19 levels of 4-H participation from youth across McHenry County. Close to 500 county youth, ages 5 to 18, participated last year in about 40 clubs. Enrollment for the 2024-25 program year started in early October. Parents can enroll children at the McHenry County 4-H page on the Illinois 4-H state website. No deadline exists to enroll, but if youth want to exhibit at next year’s McHenry County Fair, enrollment must take place by April 30, 2025. A $20/person annual membership fee exists. Families with four or more participants pay a one-time, $60 fee. 4-H clubs meet at least once per month.
“I always encourage families to visit a couple of different clubs,” said Aavang. “Find one that is a really good fit for your family. We do have club descriptions. Explore those.”
While Aavang has transitioned into her new bi-county 4-H role offering programming such as the 4-H social and emotional learning course Mindful Me (a 4-H primary mindfulness practices curriculum) and the career-focused Welcome to the Real World, Eppel will oversee day-to-day management of the McHenry County program. The new county coordinator graduated earlier this year from the University of Mississippi with a degree in integrated marketing communications.
“A big goal of mine is to connect youth with some state opportunities, to go beyond the county because I was on the state 4-H Youth Leadership Team, said Eppel. “Bringing those skills and knowledge that I learned to be able to run state events and bringing that to the youth in our county and offering them here locally is what I hope to do.”
A 2024 4H awards recognition event will be held at the McHenry County Fairgrounds in November. For information about that event, or anything related to McHenry County 4-H, you can contact Megan Eppel via email at meppel@illinois.edu.
Michele Aavang (left) and Megan Eppel in front of the Farm Bureau building that McHenry County 4-H operates from.