Hello my name is Owen Sanford and I am a Life Scout in Troop 121 from Auburn. I am currently working with Turn Back Time for my Eagle Project. Turn Back Time is a school and a summer camp located on a farm. I went there when I was younger and it had a great impact on starting my love of animals. Ever since then I knew I wanted to work with animals. Their mission is to help people recognize nature’s ability to teach and heal with a commitment to offering programs to underserved populations. Their mission pairs well with scouting's mission to help prepare young people for life. This is why when it came to choosing an Eagle Project, I knew I wanted to partner with them.

My project is to construct a feeding trough that horses, goats, and mini horses can use. The trough will cover the food from rain, protecting it from spoiling. All four walls will have removable panels so that animals of different heights can use it. The trough will also be on skids and have eye-bolts so a tractor will easily be able to move it. Currently food just goes in a specific corner, but gets walked on and urinated on by the animals. This results in the animals not wanting to eat it and the food is wasted. The current solution is also difficult to clean so with this in mind my trough will have a removable side so that it can easily be cleaned and refilled by the caretakers.

My project will be beneficial because it saves money since food won't go to waste from the animals soiling it. A designated feeding area is also easier to clean and will look better to public viewing. Keeping the food in a trough will help prevent the food from being soiled and will help keep food nutritious longer. The saved money can go toward the farm purchasing things that it needs or that could help its programing. This project will also improve animal health by keeping the food clean and safe. The trough will also make feeding and cleaning easier for the staff because it is higher up and they won't have to bend down the place and pick up food.

Any funds left over after the project is complete will be donated to Turn Back Time.