Nearly 180 people joined together at the Montrose Bible Conference Center to celebrate the accomplishments of 4-H members during 2011 at the annual 4-H Achievement Night. This year the Susquehanna County 4-H program combined Achievement Night with the annual spring Leader Recognition Event, so leaders were also recognized and thanked for their service to the 4-H program.

Following a delicious covered dish dinner, Michelle Kowalewski, emcee for the event, welcomed everyone and introduced special guests. One special guest who joined the group was former 4-H Extension Educator Joe Fuller. 4-H leader and former member Elaine Mackey shared memories of Joe with stories about traveling with members to State 4-H Achievement Days and also traveling to Capitol Days in Harrisburg.

During 2011, 391 youth ages 5 to 18 participated in 4-H; these 4-hers are guided by 95 volunteer leaders and completed 754 projects at various 4-H roundups this year including dairy roundup, horse roundup, dog obedience roundup, livestock roundup and the general 4-H roundup held in conjunction with the Harford Fair. More than 70 4-hers and clubs were recognized for their accomplishments. The awards program highlighted members’ accomplishments in several areas including dairy and livestock project book work, horsemanship skills awards, horse sponsorship awards, project diversity, outstanding news reporter, club spirit award winner, and blue ribbon club winners.

The Blue Ribbon 4-H Club winner was the Blue Ribbon Driven 4-H Horse and Pony Club. Pictured (l-r) above are members Olivia Vosburg, Makayla Mack, Kelly Oliver, Kelsey Mitchell, Kyleigh Kline and Dana Nunemacher.

The Susquehanna County 4-H Dairy Leaders selected Eric Giangrieco as the outstanding 4-H dairy member. Eric is a ten year member of the North Jackson Ag 4-H Club and has shown dairy animals throughout his 4-H career and has also been part of the dairy judging team. The Susquehanna County 4-Horse Leaders selected Olivia Mitchell as the 4-H Horse Scholarship recipient. Olivia has been involved in several 4-H clubs during her career, and taken numerous 4-H projects and served in various club offices. Giangrieco and Mitchell were also named the 2011 Susquehanna County Outstanding 4-H Members.

2011 Outstanding 4-H members, Eric Giangrieco and Olivia Mitchell.

The Susquehanna County 4-H Program was pleased to award six academic scholarships to graduating seniors. The scholarship recipients were Shawn Carey, North Jackson Ag 4-H Club; Eric Giangrieco, North Jackson Ag 4-H Club; Sarah Johnson, Elk Mountain Community 4-H Club; Katie Klim, North Jackson Ag 4-H Club; Olivia Mitchell, Franklin Hill Community 4-H Club; and Nathaniel Suchnick, Deckertown 4-H Club.

30 year 4-H volunteers, Walter and Marilyn Race.

Susquehanna County 4-H has an awesome network of volunteer leaders who bring a vast skill set to the table when working with youth in our county. At this year’s 4-H Achievement Night the 4-H program was honored to recognize those leaders who have reach momentous years of service to our organization.

The following leaders were honored for their first year of service: Lori Bonavita, Tammy Frisbie, Michelle Kowalewski, Adele Kryger, Elaine Mackey, Daisy Matulevich, Diane Mooney, Connie Oliver, Ann Marie Shevchuk, Amy Wood, and Brittany Zembrowski. The following leaders have served the 4-H program for five years of service: Connie Chisek, Jim Cook, Betty Eichelberger, Beth Everitt, Mike Kowalewski, Denise Kraynak, Abby Onyon, and Robert Supancik. Joann Cronk, Danette Fuller, and Karen Moyer have reached ten years of volunteer service to 4-H. Marking fifteen years of service were Ann Corbin, Frida Giangrieco, Michael Hardisky, and Joan Webster. The highest honor of the evening was given to Walter and Marilyn Race for thirty years of service as a 4-H Leaders.

To learn more about the Susquehanna County 4-H program call the Penn State Extension office in Montrose at 278-1158.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It's getting tougher all the time to be a farmer, and managers of small agricultural operations have to be increasingly efficient, clever and resourceful just to stay profitable.

But the concept of "agritainment" - any form of farm-based tourism operation that provides economic benefit to the farm owner and offers entertainment, activities or product for the visitor - may help farmers improve their bottom lines, according to agricultural business experts in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

"Agritainment creates the opportunity for farm owners to entice visitors to their farm, provide education about agriculture and increase their overall profits," said Lynn Kime, senior extension associate in agricultural economics. "The concept offers hope for small, struggling farms."

In a country that once prided itself on the agricultural productivity of the family farm, increasing taxes, high production costs and competition from large corporations has forced smaller farms to die off by the thousands each year, Kime pointed out. And some of these failing farms have been in families for generations.

"To offset the loss of traditional farm income, many farms are taking advantage of their unique nostalgic, rural, family and outdoor appeal by developing entertainment attractions as additional sources of income," he said.

"These options range from such strategies as pick-your-own produce, petting zoos, hay rides, children's play areas and children's discovery farms to corn mazes, pumpkin patches, fall festivals, Halloween attractions, cut-your-own Christmas tree operations, dairy tours, school field trips, and farm markets and restaurants."

Running a farm is a 365-days-a-year job of management, manual labor, hard work and sacrifice, Kime noted. While it is extra work and start-up costs are involved, agritainment has grown widely popular over the years as a business venture.

When starting a new business - especially in the field of entertainment - there are many benefits and costs to consider, said Jayson Harper, professor of agricultural economics. "First, some of the benefits of an agritainment business are increased income, the opportunity to show off other businesses on the same farm and, of course, the sheer joy of providing entertainment and an educational experience to the public.

"Some pitfalls, however, are regulations, liability risks, start-up costs and extra maintenance costs."

For an agritainment business to do well, the service or activities a landowner chooses to provide to the public should be creative and different in one way or another, Harper cautioned.

"After all, the point of providing the service is to provide something the public cannot find somewhere else in that area," he said. "Providing a fun and educational experience with good value for the money is essential for long-term success."

Farmers generally choose to focus on education, vacation, direct sales or recreation when starting an agritainment business, Harper noted, adding that within each enterprise is a multitude of possible ideas.

"There are many different forms an agritainment business can take, depending on the type and the amount of land available, resources available and preferences of the landowner," he said.

"Pick-your-own or cut-your-own operations are a great way to get a labor force that pays for working on the farm," he explained. "While you have the public at your farm, offering other activities will keep them on the farm and expand the income potential for the operation."

A farmer can choose to incorporate more than one focus in his choice of service. Providing an area for an educational movie on the history of the farm, for example, while providing a direct-sales service, such as a pick-your-own activity, will expand the enterprise and income.

"Because the majority of the population is now one or more generations removed from the farm, some of the customers may never have visited a farm, and the agricultural experience will be very new to them," Harper said. "Focus on an important crop on the farm, and highlight how the crop is produced, why it is produced by that particular method, and the steps involved in getting that crop to the grocery store.

"With the right business tools, creativity and drive, agritainment can be a very successful endeavor," he said. "While the economy still may be struggling, it is certainly an area of focus worth looking into."

A six-page publication, Agritainment, coauthored by Kime and Harper, is available online at http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/ee0008.pdf. Part of the popular Agricultural Alternatives series, it provides information about different forms of agricultural entertainment and advises on marketing, advertising and risk management.

Single copies of Agritainment can be obtained free of charge by Pennsylvania residents through county Penn State Extension offices, or by contacting the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Distribution Center at (814) 865-6713 or by email at AgPubsDist@psu.edu.

Harrisburg, PA - Too many eye injuries happen to children around the holidays due to unsafe use of toys, but the vast majority of these injuries can be prevented. December is Safe Toys and Celebrations Month and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology (PAO) reminds parents of the dangers that toys may pose to children’s eyes.

“The holidays should be a time of happiness and family festivities,” said Joanna Fisher, MD, the PAO Secretary of Public and Professional Information. “A serious eye injury can ruin your celebration and, more seriously, leave your child with permanent vision loss.”

Children receive all types of potentially unsafe presents during the holidays, including BB, pellet and paintball guns and darts. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were more than 235,000 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2008; nearly three quarters of those injured were children under age 15.

With so many toys being recalled or having the potential to cause injuries, many parents are wondering what toys are safe. “It’s important for parents to choose a toy that is appropriate for their child's age, abilities and maturity and the parent’s willingness to supervise use of the toy,” says Dr. Fisher.

“Avoid purchasing toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts,” said Dr. Fisher. “This includes innocent-appearing toys such as a popgun or a paddleball set.” Children should have appropriate supervision when playing with potentially hazardous toys or games.”

Consumers also need to remember that sports equipment, a popular gift, should also include appropriate protective eyewear. Sports-related eye injuries account for about 40,000 eye injuries annually and can cause permanent vision loss. “If you plan to give sports equipment, provide appropriate protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses,” said Dr. Fisher. Parents can check with their Eye M.D. to learn about protective gear recommended for their child's sport.

For more information about eye safety and eye injuries, go to www.geteyesmart.org. Find an Eye M.D. in your area by visiting www.paeyemds.org.

For many years, the battle between those who call chocolate milk a threat to children’s health and those who call it a delicious substitute for the white milk product has raged. But, with recent studies conducted by the National Dairy Council, parents, teachers and students can rest assured that flavored milk products such as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry varieties are not only as nutritious as an equally sized serving of low fat white milk, but perhaps have even more to offer.

Milk provides nutrients essential for a child’s health, particularly in the areas of strong bones, healthy teeth, and increased muscle mass. It has been proven that children between the ages of 5 and 15 are more likely to consume milk if flavored varieties are available to them in the lunch line. These flavored milks contain the exact same nine essential nutrients as white milk and are most certainly a healthy alternative to soft drinks and some acidic, fruit based juices. Drinking low fat or fat free white or flavored milk helps kids get the three daily servings of milk products recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and provides three of five “nutrients of concern” that children throughout the nation are deficient in consumption wise - calcium, potassium, magnesium, and of course, vitamin D.

With calcium and eight other essential nutrients, flavored milk offers the same great nutrient-rich package as white milk and can help improve overall diets. Kids today are in a calcium crisis, with more than half of children ages 2-8 and three-quarters of children ages 9-19 not getting the recommended daily servings of low-fat or fat-free milk or milk products in the United States alone. Flavored milk can help close the gap because children prefer it and will drink more milk when it's flavored.

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, along with whole grains, fruits and vegetables, are among the Food Groups to Encourage, as they provide key nutrients that are low in American's diets. Flavored milk, just like white milk, provides children with three of the five nutrients that fall short in children's diets: calcium, potassium and magnesium.

While there are some added sugars, flavored milk drinkers don't have higher intakes of added sugars or total fats than children who do not consume flavored milk. And, because they are more inclined to consume it, they have higher intakes of calcium. Furthermore, the DGA’s recognize that small amounts of sugar added to nutrient-dense foods, such as reduced-fat milk products, may increase a person's intake of such foods by enhancing palatability of these products, thus improving nutrient intake without contributing excessive calories.

If you’re looking for a way to add tasty, flavorful dairy products into your diet, try recipes found at whymilk.com.

My name is Allison Kiefer and I am the Susquehanna County Dairy Princess. On November 7 Dairy Ambassador, Mariah Tompkins and I traveled to the Harford Congregational Church to meet with Daisy Troop 777 and Brownie Troop 067, and their leader Pat Hunter. Mariah and I played Dairy Plinko with the 20 girls ranging from kindergarten to 3rd grade. As they played the game we talked to the girls about how important it is to have 3 servings of dairy every day which contains 9 essential nutrients that will help their bodies grow and help their bones get stronger. We also passed out milk and cookies for their snack.

Remember it isn’t just children that need 3 servings of dairy every day, adults need those 3 servings every day as well to support bone health, make red blood cells and to maintain good vision and healthy skin. The next time you’re traveling down the aisle in your local grocery store make sure to check out all of those great dairy products, not only milk, but cheese, yogurt and even ice cream and stock up so you can get 3 everyday of dairy!

On Saturday, November 12, Order of the Eastern Star (OES) members and visitors competed in the regional level of a best home cooking Chili Bowl Cook Off and cupcake contest held at Prosperity Chapter, Hop Bottom.

Organizing the contest for the eastern region were Kathy Whitney of Hallstead and Region 11B representative Linda Dimino of Factoryville.

Pictured (l-r) above: Rep Linda Dimino; winners Karen Crown, Gail Fair and Kathy Roe; Chair Kathy Whitney.

The contestants must win the contest in their local chapters in order to advance to Region 11B, Eastern Region and Grand Chapter levels of competition.

With surprise, and undisclosed secret ingredients, Kathy Roe of Hallstead won the Region 11B best chili cook off contest. This chili has been taste tested by several members of OES and they agreed, it is definitely a winner!

In the cupcake contest, Karen Crown of Newark Valley, NY won the most decorative and Gail Fair of Montrose won for having the tastiest.

Regional winners will continue in the competition on Saturday, February 4, at the Irem Country Club, Dallas, PA.

Participating OES Chapters were Arbutus Chapter #29, Hop Bottom; Prosperity Chapter #83, Harford; Sunshine Chapter #258, Thompson; Gill Chapter No. 12, Hallstead; Montrose Chapter #151; and Tunkhannock Chapter No. 74.

OES members are proud of the Grand Chapter’s state wide fundraising Caring and Sharing Committee. By year’s end, the proceeds will net nearly forty thousand dollars that will extend the Fraternal Fund and provide for Sisters and Brothers in need.

Members of the Silver Lake Rod & Gun Club recently made a generous donation to the Susquehanna County 4-H Shooting Sports Program. In 2002, Roger Everitt, a longtime member of the club passed away. In 2003 in honor of Roger’s memory several club members decided to host an annual two day trap shoot called the “Roger Everitt Memorial Shoot.”

Silver Lake Rod & Gun Club Vice President, Todd Everitt, LouAnn Kiefer, and Penn State Extension representative and Committee Member, Fred Guyette at the check presentation ceremony held at the Silver Lake Rod & Gun Club.

Memorial Shoot Committee members, Robert Kuhn, Fred Guyette, Norm MacPherson and Jack Legg have been instrumental throughout the years organizing the “Roger Everitt Memorial Shoot,” which is held the first weekend in June. The first day features an open trap shoot for anyone who would like to participate. The second day consists of an ATA registered trap shoot where shooters must be a member of the ATA to compete. Throughout the weekend raffles are held featuring unique items from local businesses and supporters. A highlight is a delicious chicken barbeque.

Since the inception of the “Roger Everitt Memorial Shoot” the club has donated a portion of the proceeds from this two day event to the 4-H Shooting Sports program. Over the years the 4-H program has used these funds to purchase shooting equipment such as air rifles, air pistols and archery equipment. They have also used part of these funds to sponsor a fun day event and have even purchased a gun safe to store shooting equipment in, which the Rod & Gun Club house at their facility for 4-H. Some of the funds have also been used directly by the members of 4-H as they have traveled to State and National competitions through the 4-H shooting sports program.

The Silver Lake Rod & Gun club has been a huge supporter of the 4-H program not only through their generous donation but also personally as they open their club to members of the Arrows & Clays 4-H Club who practice shooting both trap and skeet at the club. They have also hosted the State Shotgun Team practices at their facility as the team prepares for competition at State Achievement Days every summer.

Thanks are extended to the Silver Lake Rod & Gun Club for their generous support over the years, as it is through their generosity that the shooting sports program here in our county continues to be such a viable program.