Behind the Clover: Real 4-H Talk with Real 4-H Pros

University of Illinois Extension
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Education
  • Updated Monthly

Join us each month as we invite experienced staff from Illinois 4-H and beyond to share their stories, experiences, and insights about the world of 4-H.

  1. 05/23/2025

    All Things Leadership with Katie Duitsman (Part 2)

    Learn more about our "alphabet soup" of county, unit, and statewide leadership teams, with Leadership Specialist Katie Duitsman. Discover how to get your local youth engaged in state opportunities, and get practical tips to improve your own local leadership programs!

    29 min

  2. 05/09/2025

    All Things Leadership with Katie Duitsman (Part 1)

    Get to know Illinois 4-H State Leadership Specialist, Katie Duitsman, and learn about her background in and out of 4-H, what car mishaps she's gotten into, her reading habits, and the day to day of her work. Explore how Katie can help staff start new leadership teams, improve existing ones, deal with leadership challenges, and help engage folks all over the state with resources and guest presenters.

    36 min

  3. 04/25/2025

    Federation with Katie Turkal (Part 2)

    Learn more about how Katie Turkal's Federation youth leadership team functions and get tips for starting or improving your local leadership teams.

    29 min

  4. 04/11/2025

    Federation with Katie Turkal (Part 1)

    Get to know Katie Turkal, Extension Program Coordinator in Jasper County, and learn about her 4-H experience as a kid, and then how she came to work for Extension. Learn about Katie and the hosts nostalgia triggers and food habits as kids. Then learn about what Katie finds most rewarding in her work and get an introduction to her local Federation teen leadership program.

    33 min

  5. 03/28/2025

    Ambassadors with Michele Aavang (Part 2)

    Get to know Michele Aavang, youth development educator in Lake and McHenry counties, and learn all about her Ambassadors youth leadership team. Hear her favorite 4-H moments, how her ambassador team is structured, what curriculum she uses to help build her team's skills, and her tips for starting or reinvigorating your own local leadership team!

    37 min

  6. 03/14/2025

    Ambassadors with Michele Aavang (Part 1)

    Meet Michele Aavang, youth development educator in Lake and McHenry counties, and get the scoop on how she found 4-H, and went from parent, to volunteer, to program coordinator, to educator! Get updates on what the crew has been up to, what jobs they'd do if they didn't need to worry about money, and what Microsoft Office product they are.

    36 min

  7. 02/28/2025

    Emerging Leaders with Sara Seyfert (Part 2)

    Join us for the second half of our interview with Extension Program Coordinator Sara Seyfert about her work with her Emerging Leaders Program. Learn more about how the program works and who it reaches, what types of events the group helps support, and how she uses youth voice to make choices in her county! Hear about some cool events their county runs including "Meet the Projects" and "Welcome to the Fair" and get Sara's take on how to help start or reinvigorate your local leadership program.

    29 min

  8. 02/14/2025

    Emerging Leaders with Sara Seyfert (Part 1)

    Get to know Extension Program Coordinator Sara Seyfert, from her favorite book, to what she does to decompress! Learn how she found her way to 4-H from the culinary world and how she created her Emerging Leaders youth leadership program in her counties!

    36 min
See All (26)

About

Join us each month as we invite experienced staff from Illinois 4-H and beyond to share their stories, experiences, and insights about the world of 4-H.

Information

  • Creator
    University of Illinois Extension
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 University of Illinois Extension