Mark your calendar for the Ewing Field Agronomy Tour on Thursday, June 12, at 9 a.m. More details will be available in the coming weeks on the U of I Extension website, www.extension.uiuc.edu.

22^nd Year for Focus on "You"th

The 22^nd annual Focus on "You"th Conference for eighth graders was held this week with over 400 students from Franklin County attending. It was again a successful day, and, as always, the evaluations indicate the participants learned a lot. This has been a long time effort of Extension, and one that we feel is very important.

Extension staff members would like to thank all the schools for their interest in participating as well as the teachers and bus drivers who bring the students to Rend Lake College. We sincerely appreciate the availability of the College facilities! The speakers who share their time and expertise with the students are also critically important. And we have a loyal group of volunteers who help pull everything together. Thank you to everyone who helped make this program happen. We are looking forward to next year!

Strawberries—Spring Delight

Strawberries are a delicious spring fruit enjoyed by young and old alike. According to Jananne Finck, University of Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness educator, strawberries not only taste delicious, but are good for us. One cup of strawberries is a great source of Vitamin C. It gives 88 milligrams of ascorbic acid, which is 150 percent of the Vitamin C needed daily. Plus, one cup of strawberries is only 55 calories, contains only one milligram of sodium and has less than one gram of fat.

Fresh strawberries need careful handling to preserve their food value and quality. If you pick your own berries, avoid placing them in the sun any longer than necessary. Also, don't stack too deeply in the container. Cool strawberries as soon as possible after picking.

When you get them home, sort the strawberries, but don't clean until ready to use. If you don't plan to use them right away, refrigerate uncovered in a shallow container. Generally, strawberries keep fresh in the refrigerator for one or more days, depending on the initial quality of the berry and the handling process.

When ready to use, wash berries quickly in very cold water. Let the water drain away from the fruit. A colander is helpful, or you can lift them gently from the wash water and drain well before hulling. Don't let the fruit soak in water.

Strawberries combine nicely with dry cereal and milk for breakfast or with custards, puddings, tapioca and other desserts made from milk. They also get your meal off to a bright and appetizing start when you create mini-fruit kabobs with bananas and grapes. For a special boost of calcium, add small cheese cubes.

When Measuring Strawberries

1½ pounds = 2 pints or 1 quart
1 small basket = 1 pint
1 pint = 3¼ cups whole berries
1 pint = 2¼ cups sliced berries
1 pint - 1⅔ cup pureed berries
1 cup = about 4 ounces

The Business of Babysitting

The Business of Babysitting Clinic will be offered June 12, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. for students ages 12 and older. We will learn how to care for children of all ages. Discipline, safety, how to bathe a baby, what to charge, and many more topics will be covered. Lunch will be prepared by students and some simple crafts that can be used with children will be taught.

Participants will leave with more confidence and understanding of the business of babysitting. Register for class by calling the Extension office at 439-3178 by June 9. Cost will be $10. This covers lunch, crafts and booklet. The teacher will be Alice Hunt.