4-H Cookbooks are available from the Illinois 4-H Foundation through the end of the year. They are a compilation of 50 years of 4-H foods manuals full of tried and true recipes. These would make great Christmas gifts and are available at the Extension office for $15 each.

The new 2009 Christian County Plat book is now available at a cost of $35. Funding from this project will be used to help defray the 4-H programming fee mandated by the State 4-H office to begin in 2009.

Operation Safe Santa was successful with several adults and six 4-Her's sewing, cutting and even ironing these neat Christmas stockings for our troops.

This was an exciting evening where adults and young people interacted to try to sew over 200 stockings the first week in November. The Lads & Lassies 4-H Club and the New Vision 4-H Club took time at their club meetings to write cards to go with the stockings hoping to brighten the day of someone away from home at the holidays protecting our country.

There are countless resources available on the internet to support your 4-H projects? Take time and explore some of the opportunities and information available. Type in the link below and see where it can take you. http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state4h/members/.

Much of the county 4-H information is available on our website at www.extension.uiuc.edu/christian.

Great job to the window displays set up during 4-H Week! First place went to the Green Wolves 4-H Club and a tie for second went to the Warriors 4-H Club and the Christian County 4-H Federation.

Approximately 100 4-H members and their families attended 4-H Achievement Night on Friday, October 9, 2009. Each year, 4-H members and clubs are encouraged to fill out and submit county 4-H records for judging. Through this process, members earn various awards.

4-H Club officers were recognized. HISTORIAN: Alec Myers of the Edinburg Warriors 4-H Club, REPORTER: Quintin Tippitt of the Green Wolves 4-H Club; SECRETARY: Hannah Cornell and Henry Barnes of the Go-Getters 4-H Club, TREASURER: Brandon Butcher of the Mt. Auburn Rustlers 4-H Club. The OUTSTANDING FIRST YEAR 4-H MEMBER was awarded to Brooke Bates, New Vision 4-H Club.

Rebecca Kindermann of the New Vision 4-H Club and Naomi Brookens of the Owaneco Indians & Maidens 4-H Club were recognized for their invaluable assistance during their reign as 2009 4-H AMBASSADORS.

2009 4-H Foundation Scholarship Winners were Garrett Brockelsby of the Warriors 4-H Club, son of Theresa Brockelsby; Sean Brokaw of the Mt. Auburn Rustlers 4-H Club, son of Mike & Kelly Brokaw; Kenzie Reber of the Green Wolves 4-H Club, daughter of Joe & Kara Reber; Katheryn Schmedeke of the Lads & Lassies 4-H Club, daughter of Dan & Amy Schmedeke; Katie & Kayla Stephens of the Warriors 4-H Club, daughters of Mike and Chris Stephens; Chris Waddell of the Blue Ribbon 4-H Club; son of Kenny and Linda Waddell; and Garrett Wilson of the New Vision 4-H Club, son of R. Bruce & Karen Wilson. Each scholarship winner received a $1,000 check to continue their education.

Christian County 4-H Federation members enjoyed another educational fun community service event on October 17. Six youth and 4 adults traveled to the Dollinger Farm near Channahon, IL to assist in the Civil War Re-enactment. Departure from Taylorville at 6:00 a.m. allowed for a 9:30 arrival to view the events of the day. The 2:00 p.m. battle is the highlight of the day with over 400 re-enactors participating. As soon as the battle was completed, our group went to work assisting to feed the 600+ re-enactors on the grounds for the weekend. Plans are to offer this trip again in 2010.

Soda is liquid candy. It's a sweet treat to be enjoyed occasionally, but many people drink a soda or two throughout the day.

A 20-ounce bottle contains as much as 16 teaspoons of sugar, which is more sugar than you should consume in one day.

Kids who drink soda on a regular basis take in more calories and are more likely to be overweight. Calories you drink don't seem to register as well as the calories you eat from solid food. So when you add a soda to your lunch, you probably won't make up for it later by eating fewer calories of solid food.

A healthier choice is to drink low-fat milk or 100% fruit juice with your meals. Milk and juice give your body important nutrients like calcium and vitamin C.

Twenty years ago, boys and girls drank twice as much milk as soda. Today, kids drink twice as much soda as milk.

Just for Fun . . .

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims

What key has legs and can't open doors? A turkey

What happened when the turkey got into a fight? He got the stuffing knocked out of him

Why did the turkey play drums in his band? Because he already had drumsticks

What type of music did the Pilgrims like? Plymouth Rock

Whole Grain Stuffing

1 cup diced celery

1 cup chopped onion

1 Tablespoon dried parsley flakes

2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

1/2 teaspoon ground sage

11 slices whole wheat bread, cubed

3 cups oats (quick or old fashioned), uncooked

1 can (10-3/4 oz.) chicken broth

Instructions

Combine celery and onion in a large bowl.

Sprinkle with parsley flakes, poultry seasoning, and sage.

Stir until blended.

Add bread cubes and oats, mix well.

Add broth mixture. Mix until evenly moist.

Place in greased, shallow casserole dish. Cover. Bake in 325 degree oven for about 1 hour.