Thirty-nine outstanding 4-H members from across Illinois have been selected to serve on Illinois 4-H's ambassador teams, recognizing their dedication, leadership, and excellence within the program. The overarching ambassador team program encompasses seven specialty teams.
Selection to a state team is a significant achievement in the Illinois 4-H program. Members go through a competitive application and interview process that highlights their knowledge, communication skills, leadership experiences, and commitment to growth. Those chosen will serve as ambassadors for the program throughout their terms.
The following new team members have been selected:
Creative and Cultural Arts Ambassadors include Grace Laubscher of Johnson County, Laila Garay of Cook County, and Resmiranda Small of Shelby County. The Illinois 4-H Creative Collective Art Ambassador Team is a dynamic group of youth ages 14–18 who demonstrate strong visual or performing arts skills and a commitment to leadership in the arts. Members serve two-year terms and participate in statewide events and activities. Responsibilities include contributing to program planning, attending trainings, and supporting arts programming in local communities. The program provides opportunities to develop leadership and life skills, advance artistic abilities, and collaborate with peers who share a passion for the arts.
Healthy Living Ambassadors include Brooke Simanis of Will County, Evelyn Jenkins of McLean County, Jilly Stoks of St. Clair County, Mallory Kocher of Richland County, and Rainn Connor of McHenry County. The Healthy Living Ambassadors are Illinois 4-H youth leaders who are passionate about promoting and developing health initiatives across the state. Members expand their leadership skills and deepen their knowledge of healthy living topics as they serve as youth experts and advocates within their communities and statewide. The team plans and leads programs and events designed to improve health outcomes for youth and families in Illinois.
The Livestock Ambassador Team includes Addison Tebbe of Clinton County, Annsley Healy of White County, Carter Joiner of Macoupin County, Faustina Krysciak of Kendall County, Grace Kaisner of Livingston County, Isabel Stohlquist of Kane County, Johanna Zieren of White County, Lily Evoy of Sangamon County, Madyson Harms of Woodford County, and Natalie Finke of Monroe County. Members serve Illinois 4-H by helping inform others about the importance of livestock production and the opportunities available through 4-H. The team focuses on developing leadership skills while serving as role models who advocate for the livestock industry and the Illinois 4-H program. Ambassadors plan, implement, teach, and evaluate events for younger 4-H members that reflect their ideas and experiences.
STEM Ambassadors include Bonnie Russell of Johnson County, Claire Lu of Jackson County, Rohan Grover of DuPage County, Ryne Bubela of LaSalle County, Simon Smith of DuPage County, Soumya Boyina of McLean County, and Vikhyath Chatrathi of McLean County. Youth involved in the Illinois 4-H STEM Ambassador program help define, develop, and refine statewide experiences such as the State Robotics Competition and Esports Competition. Members also participate in sponsored initiatives like the Apple Community Education Program and the AT&T Digital Ambassadors program. In addition, youth have opportunities to design and test new curriculum and activities before they are shared statewide and nationally.
The Youth Leadership Team includes Alyssa Elliott of Madison County, Andrew Todd of Champaign County, Daniel Surowka of Vermilion County, Emma Steiger of Rock Island County, Heather Marquis of McLean County, Lydia Zanger of Adams County, Myracle Johnson of LaSalle County, Sydney Molander of Boone County, and Therese Krysciak of Kendall County. From planning and leading the Illinois 4-H Junior Leadership Conference to walking the halls of the Illinois State Capitol to speak with legislators, members of the Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team represent Illinois 4-H at state and national events throughout the year. The team provides an invaluable youth voice to the University of Illinois Extension State 4-H program.
New members of the Illinois 4-H Youth Influencer Team include Katie Grove of Woodford County and Katelyn Garner of White County. The Youth Influencer Team empowers high school–age youth to build skills in content creation, storytelling, and leadership while representing 4-H across social media platforms. Members work to inspire and engage the 4-H community by sharing authentic experiences, fostering connections, and celebrating achievements.
Food Advocacy Team members include Disha Rai of McLean County, Ellie Wrage of Logan County, Ishaan Shukla of McLean County, and Mariah Mintle of Adams County. The Illinois 4-H Food Ambassadors program is the only statewide youth leadership team in Illinois dedicated to strengthening leadership as advocates for food access in local communities. Members connect with food advocacy professionals, academic experts, and other young leaders from across the state, region, and country. Youth also explore issues related to food security and community health while working toward their personal leadership goals.
State team members will participate in state-level advanced ambassador training, leadership development opportunities, and statewide events. They will also assist with workshops, conferences, and outreach efforts while helping younger 4-H members grow in their own project areas.
The next statewide ambassador application period will open in late fall 2026. To learn more about leadership opportunities in your county, contact your local Extension office.
Writer: Sophia Schneider, Illinois 4-H Communications Intern
Media Contact: Carissa Nelson, Illinois 4-H Media Communications Manager, carissa7@illinois.edu
About 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
About Extension: University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.
