Tara Oberg, Jasmine Hamilton & Isabell Sheets participating in the Archery Contest.

Jasmine Hamilton & Amanda Mote showing their pigs in the Market Swine Class.

Jasmine Hamilton showing her lamb in the Market Lamb Class.

Amanda Mote with her award for the Junior Livestock Judging Contest.

Rylie Adams showing her dog in the Junior Dog Showmanship.

Trenton Troopers 2011!

Hello again Trenton Troopers! Is everyone ready for Christmas break? Let's try to have our first meeting in January. Any suggestions on how to kick off the new 4-H year? Bowling party? Baking party (and donate the baked goods to the low income housing residents or nursing home)? Let us know what you'd like to do.

Before our first meeting there are a few things:
1. What projects are you interested in doing as a club this year? Last year we did Design Decisions and Tree Identification.

2. What do you want to do this year for Community Service? Last year we participated in the Nebraska Wheat Boards Bake and Take days and we cleaned up the courtyard at the El Dorado Manor.

If you have any questions, call Pam at the office 334-5666.

Way to go Isabel on your 3rd place finish at the Hayes County 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest! Tara, Laynee, Wes and Jasmine were just a few points shy of receiving a ribbon. With the extensive training you had to prepare for the contest (the Hamilton Crash Course), everyone did very well. This contest will help prepare everyone for the Livestock Judging during the Hitchcock County Fair.

Healthy Body Healthy Mind

Congratulations to everyone that participated in the Hitchcock County Elementary track meet on Friday. Everyone did a terrific job! Physical activity is good for your body and mind. Research shows that physical activity can prevent at least 6 diseases: Heart Disease, high-blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and depression. Physical activity will also help you feel better and maintain a healthy weight. At least 30 minutes a day of physical activity - such as walking, biking or swimming - can help you live longer and healthier.

Eating healthy is another way to maintain a healthy body and mind. Fresh fruits contain vitamins A and C. Our eyes need Vitamin A to see colors. It also helps our bones and skin. Vitamin C helps keep our immune systems strong and it helps keep our joints flexible. Milk contains calcium which keeps our bones strong and prevents osteoporosis. Vitamin D help our bones absorb or "soak up" the calcium. Eating healthy is a great way to fill up on these nutrients, have healthy skin, healthy hair and fit bodies.

Here are a few healthy after school snacks:
1. A smoothie made with fresh fruit and low-fat yogurt
2. Dried Fruit - raisins, apricots and nuts
3. Fresh Fruit - strawberries, bananas and grapes
4. Pretzels
5. Cheese and crackers
6. Apples and peanut butter
7. English muffin pizza's
8. Milk and graham crackers
9. 100% fruit juice
10. Kettle corn

Skip these foods and drinks after school:
1. Cocktail fruit juice - its loaded with sugar and calories
2. Potato chips
3. Little Debbie's or snack cakes
4. Milk and cookies
5. Double butter popcorn

Again, congratulations to everyone!

Upcoming Events! Hayes County Livestock Juding Contest

Thursday, May 13 at the Hayes County Fairgrounds is the Hayes 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest. There are 5 age divisions, Clover Kids, Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Adults. A meal is provided for all participants and there are no entry fees. Ribbons will be awarded to the top 10 indviduals and plaques will be awarded to the top individuals in each division. Clover Kids will receive rainbow ribbons. Livestock classes include beef, sheep and swine. Last year Jasmine placed 5th in the Junior division. If you have any quesitons, call Pam at the Extension Office in Trenton. 334-5666.

Trenton Troopers, the first week in May is Teacher Appreciation Week. Be sure to tell your teacher how much you appreciate all the hard work they do. A great way to show appreciation is a baked gift, such as muffins or cookies. Oatmeal Drop Cookies are easy and delicious. This recipe is from the Clover Kids project book Road to Good Cooking.



Oatmeal Drop Cookies (makes about 5 dozen)

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups rolled oats
optional - 1/2 cup raisins


1. Pre-heat over to 375.
2. Grease cookie sheets with shortening or non-stick spray.
3. Measure flour, baking soda and salt into a medium mixing bowl.
4. Cream shortening in a separate mixing bowl, gradually add brown and granulated sugars and beat until light and fluffy.
5. Add the egg to the shortening-sugar mixture and beat until well mixed.
6. Add milk and vanilla and beat until well mixed.

7. Stir in flour mixture until evenly mixed.
8. Add the rolled oats and stir until just mixed.
9. If you are using raisins, add them to the bowl and stir until they are evenly distributed.
10. Drop cookie dough by rounded teaspoonsful onto the cookie sheet, about 3 inches apart. Push dough from the spoon with a rubber spatula or another teaspoon. Make each cookie a smooth mound of dough and about the same size so they will bake evenly.
11. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until done. Cookies are done when they are light brown around the edges.
12. Using pot holders, remove cookie sheet from oven. Place it on a cooling rack.
13. Remove cookies from sheet with a pancake turner. Place cookies on cooling racks or paper towels.

Enjoy making these delicious cookies. Be sure to ask your parents for help. And don't forget to show your appreciation to your teachers!

Trenton Troopers you did a GREAT! job Friday afternoon planting flowers at El Dorado Manor. The residents will sure enjoy the many colors in their flower beds. The residents also enjoyed seeing kids work so hard to make their courtyard beautiful.

Community Service is such a great gift you can give to your community. Great job, Trenton Troopers, you make your community very proud.

We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.~~ Winston Churchill

Earth Day! April 22, 2010. Be Green!

Happy Earth Day Troopers! Today is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Did you know more than one billion people in 190 countries that are taking action for Earth Day? Ukraine, Venezuela, Philippines, Spain, United Kingdom and Canada also celebrate Earth Day.

There are many ways you can be "green" too. Every little thing you do helps, no matter how small!! Here are 10 simple ways to begin helping the environment:
1. Turn off your computer at night - save 40 hour-watts of energy per night.
2. Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth - save up to 5 gallons of H20 a day.
3. Print double-sided whenever possible - you can even default this setting to cut your paper usage in half.
4. Don't use plastic grocery bags - many stores have very cheap, stylish reusable bages...leave some in your trunk so you never forget them.
5. Choose natural cleaners - prevent chemicals from harming the environment & yourself.
6. Save energy & money - turn your heat down by 2 degrees & your AC up by 2 degrees.
7. Unplug your chargers when they're not in use - chargers continue to drain energy from outlets.
8. Invest in a BPA-free bottle & a reusable coffee cup - Why buy water when you can refill & get it for free? Prevent plastic bottles and styrofoam cups from ending up in landfills by reusing cups.
9. Replace your old lightbulbs with CFL bulbs - 1 bulb reduces CO2 by 1000 lbs & saves money on energy.
10. Recycle used ink cartridges - save the earth & save money!

Have a great Earth Day everyone. And remember, every little bit counts.

The next Trenton Trooper 4-H Club meeting will be on April 30th right after school. We will be cleaning and planting flowers in the courtyard at El Dorado Nursing Home. Please bring a rake, shovel, gardening gloves or leaf trash bags for yard work. Each family also needs to bring one 6-pack of flowers to plant. It might be a good idea to wear clothes that are alright to get dirty.

If anyone is interested in attending the State 4-H camp "Summer Fun" in Halsey (Camp #405), Jasmine Hamilton, Tara Oberg and April Wagner are planning to attend. The dates are from June 21-23. This camp is 3 days and 2 nights. The cost is $175.

April 29th at 6:30 pm at the park in Culbertson, Pam Hamilton will be helping a few kids from the Twin Rivers 4-H Club train their dogs. Any Troopers interested in learning to train their dog should attend. This is a great way for you and your family to improve your relationship with your 4-legged family member.

Upcoming events:
Hayes 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest- May 13, registration starts at 4:30pm
Youth Animal Science Field Day- Curtis May 27

4-H Bowling Contest

Congratulations to everyone that attended the 4-H Bowling Contest, 8 Troopers attended. Our Clover Kids, Aimee Merrill and Aaron Oberg, received rainbow ribbons. There were six Troopers in the Juniors division: Laynee Merrill, Wes Merrill, Booke Scott and Kyleigh Scott received Blue ribbons; Jasmine Hamilton received a purple; Tara Oberg received Reserve Champion. Great job everyone!!