Tara Brown, Jefferson County OSU Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences and 4-H Youth Development, provided the Tuesday, April 24 After School Program for Ringling Elementary After School participants.  23 Elementary students, 2 adults and 5 teen helpers enjoyed making their own Fruit and Cheese Kabobs as a Nutrition Education and Snack.  Most were excited and enthused to cut the fruit and cheese into smaller pieces to put on their pretzel sticks and dip into a Yogurt with cinnamon Fruit dip and eat; although there were a few that were not as excited to try some of the fruits.

Fruits included Gala Apple, Seedless grapes, fresh strawberries, banana and canned Pineapple tidbits in 100% natural pineapple juice. Mild Cheddar Cheese and Monterey Jack cheese were the cheeses available; the Fruit dip was made with Vanilla Yogurt sprinkled with Cinnamon and stirred to make a Cinnamon Vanilla Yogurt Fruit Dip.

The students learned to properly wash their hands prior to handling their foods; they also learned how to properly hold a Plastic Knife so they could cut their fruit pieces.  Mrs. Brown also discussed various nutrients in the fruit and cheese. Each participant received a bookmark “Veggie Challenge – Fruit Challenge” and Mrs. Brown challenged all to try different fruits and vegetables.

Thank you Ringling Elementary School for allowing Tara Brown an opportunity to provide a program to your students!

News relating to Family and Consumer Sciences:

Co-Parenting Classes:  This class, offered monthly, is informative for Parents, Grandparents and other relatives of minor children living with parents who are going through a separation or divorce. The next class is scheduled for 1 pm Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the Jefferson County OSU Extension Conference Room. Other dates may be scheduled as time allows. 

Oklahoma law mandates divorcing parents of minor children to take a Co-Parenting Class. To register for a class, contact Jefferson County OSU Extension office at 580-228-2332.  Pre-registration is required and there is a cost for this class. Contact Tara Brown at 580-228-2332 for additional information.  

Jefferson County Oklahoma Home and Community Education (OHCE) hosts monthly programs the 3rd Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m.; these programs include research-based educational topics.  These programs are open to the public.  

January 17: “Planting the Path for Pollinators”

February 17: “Risk of Type 2 Diabetes” presented by Dr. Megan Monteith, West District South Area Specialist Health & Wellness 

March 21:  No meeting as we will attend West District South OHCE meeting at Quartz Mountain Lodge on March 21.

A class for Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance will be scheduled and is open to all ages.  If interested, or know someone who will be interested, let Tara Brown know so adequate supplies can be made available.

Jefferson County 4-H and Youth Development News:

West District 4-H Has Talent is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2023.  Entries are due to Jefferson County OSU Extension office by 3 p.m. Wednesday, January 11, 2023.

West District South Region Public Speaking (Speeches, Illustrated Presentations, and Demonstrations) contest will be Saturday, February 11, 2023, at the Pleasant View Mennonite Church in Hydro, Oklahoma.  The contest will begin at 9 am and end by noon.  There will also be a Volunteer Conference in the afternoon for those enrolled as a 4-H Volunteer.  Contact Tara Brown for the link to register for the contest.

Shooting Sports – Next practice will be scheduled. 

West District Duds to Dazzle is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Clinton, OK. More details will be coming.

West District South Culinary Days is scheduled for Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Stephens Food Showdown.

To participate in 4-H Events and Contests, members must be actively enrolled.  If you need assistance, contact Linda Whitsett or Tara Brown at Jefferson County OSU Extension 580-228-2332.

Emails and information about upcoming 4-H events will be emailed to your email address you used when signing up on 4h.zsuite.org

Volunteers are important for our 4-H program.  We appreciate Emily Smith volunteering to be trained as a Certified Shooting Sports Coach for Air Rifle. She has taken time to meet with 4-H members to practice Shooting Sports safety and firing Air Rifles at targets.  She took a group to the West District Shooting Sports Contest to participate in the Air Rifle discipline in Fairview, OK, Saturday, December 10.  We look forward to a successful year with her guidance!  Thank you, Emily, for stepping up to assist with this program.

If you have an interest in a project and are willing to share your interest with our youth and become a 4-H volunteer, contact OSU Extension at 580-228-2332 for information.

Jefferson County Jr. Livestock Show is scheduled for Thursday, February 23-Saturday, February 25, 2023.  Entries are due by 4 p.m. Friday, December 16, 2022.

Master Gardener Classes (6 – Week program) will begin January 17, 2023, and jointly offered by Comanche, Cotton and Stephens Counties OSU Extension. If interested, registration is due January 10 to Kimbreley Davis, Cotton County OSU Extension at 580-875-3136.

 Jefferson County 4-H held their first Cupcake Wars on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the Jefferson County OSU Extension office.

Three Beginners (grades 3-5) Hannah Williams, Heather Poage and Beau Combs competed for the 1st place award while Alicen Williams, Intermediate (grades 6-8) and Haley Poage, Senior (grades 9-12) had no competition in their levels.

Our judges complimented the creativeness of each competitor’s cupcakes.

Winners were:  Beginners: Hannah Williams, 1st; Heather Poage, 2nd and Beau Combs, 3rd. 

Intermediates:  Alicen Williams and Seniors: Haley Poage.

A huge thank you to our judges: Shirley Cephur, Sharon Duncan and Gail Prentice and Jr. Judge Abby Davis who said the choices were difficult to decide the winners.  Also, a big thank you to those who participated.  Just wait and see what next year brings!!

Presley Reid, Loco, Oklahoma was selected to receive the Jefferson County’s E.C. Joachim Scholarship award.  This scholarship is made available by the family of E.C. Joachim a true Extension supporter in Love, Jefferson and Cotton Counties.  The family chose to continue his love and support for 4-H particularly in these counties where he served in Extension for many years, by providing scholarships to graduating Seniors who have been active in their county 4-H.  Tara Brown, Jefferson County OSU Extension Educator, FCS/4-H Youth Development presents Presley with the award.

Presley stated “My whole life has been spent farming and ranching with family and friends. I love to play sports.  I have always been active in softball, basketball and rodeo. As I have grown into my high school years, my teammates and I have been very successful on the field and the court.  We own horses that we use on the farm, ranch and rodeo…. I have to give credit to our 4H program for all this success.  Whether I really knew it or not, 4H has always been a huge part of my life and has made a big impact on me…. 4H has helped me gain knowledge and leadership skills that I will need in the future… I personally believe every kid needs to be involved in 4H, not just the show kids.”

Jefferson County OHCE (Oklahoma Home and Community Education) meet the 3rd Tuesdays in the Waurika Sr. Citizens Center unless otherwise noted.  Dr. Lynn Null, Extension Educator, FCS/4-H Youth Development, CED Comanche County presented “10 Minutes to the Table” to OHCE members at the Jefferson County OSU Fairgrounds; she prepared a delicious dish of Chicken Enchiladas Verde.  Membership to OHCE is open to any individual. Call 580-228-2332 for additional information. 

Upcoming lessons:  Tuesday, June 19: “Home Invasion/Self Defense” 

Upcoming events:    July 8-10: 83rd Annual OHCE meeting

Co-Parenting for Resilience:  Divorce or separation is not an easy or favorable decision, especially when minor children are in the home.  A class for divorcing or separating parents with minor children living in the home is available monthly. Our next class is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Pre-registration is required. Call Jefferson County OSU Extension Office at 580-228-2332 for registration information.  This class is mandatory by law in Oklahoma and is also valuable for Grandparents and other relatives of minor children going through a divorce or separation.

Information is available on our website oces.okstate.edu/Jefferson and on our Facebook pages JeffersonCounty Fourh and JeffersonCounty Osu Extension.

Co-Parenting for Resilience Divorce or separation is not an easy or favorable decision, especially when minor children are in the home.  A class is available for divorcing or separating parents with minor children living in the home.  My next class will be 1 p.m. Tuesday May 14, 2019. Pre-registration is required. Call Jefferson County OSU Extension Office at 580-228-2332 for registration information.  This class is mandatory by law in Oklahoma and is also valuable for Grandparents and other relatives of minor children going through a divorce or separation.

Tai chi: Moving for Better Balance: Mondays 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Ringling Community Building, Gleason Memorial Library

Jefferson County OHCE (Oklahoma Home and Community Education) 

May 6-10, 2019 is OHCE Week.  Our next meeting will be Tuesday, May 21 with a lesson on “History of OHCE and OCES”.  Come hear the history of Oklahoma Home and Community Education and Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Services.

4-H:  Jefferson County Kids Cooking in the Kitchen:  This is open to all children interested in cooking or learning to cook!  Jefferson County Cupcake Wars has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18 here in Jefferson County OSU Extension office. Registration is now due Monday, May 13 BY 3 p.m.  Call our office for registration form and details.

State 4-H Roundup will be July 23-26, 2019. 

Must have completed the 7th grade to attend. Watch for details in next week’s article!

News relating to Family and Consumer Sciences:

Co-Parenting Classes:  This class, offered monthly, is informative for Parents, Grandparents and other relatives of minor children living with parents who are going through a separation or divorce. The next class is scheduled for 1 pm Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at the Jefferson County OSU Extension Conference Room. Other dates may be scheduled as time allows. 

Oklahoma law mandates divorcing parents of minor children to take a Co-Parenting Class. To register for a class, contact Jefferson County OSU Extension office at 580-228-2332.  Pre-registration is required and there is a cost for this class. Contact Tara Brown at 580-228-2332 for additional information.  

Jefferson County Oklahoma Home and Community Education (OHCE) hosts monthly programs the 3rd Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m.; these programs include research-based educational topics.  These programs are open to the public.  

Our December meeting will be “Holiday Tea” – Tuesday, December 20, 2022.

A class for Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance will be scheduled and will be open to all ages.  If interested, or know someone who will be interested, let Tara Brown know so adequate supplies can be made available.

Jefferson County 4-H and Youth Development News:

Enrollment for 2022-2023 began August 1st through 4h.zsuite.org.  To enroll, students must be 8 years of age and in the 3rd grade (or older).  To participate in 4-H Events and Contest, members must be actively enrolled.  If you need assistance, contact Linda Whitsett or Tara Brown at Jefferson County OSU Extension 580-228-2332.

Emails and information about upcoming 4-H events will be emailed to your email address you used when signing up on 4h.zsuite.org

West District 4-H Has Talent is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2023.  Entries are due to Jefferson County OSU Extension office by 3 p.m. Wednesday, January 11, 2023.

West District South Region Public Speaking (Speeches, Illustrated Presentations, and Demonstrations) contest will be Saturday, February 11, 2023, at the Pleasant View Mennonite Church in Hydro, Oklahoma.  The contest will begin at 9 am and end by noon.  There will also be a Volunteer Conference in the afternoon for those enrolled as a 4-H Volunteer.  Contact Tara Brown for the link to register for the contest.

Shooting Sports – our next session will be 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 6, 2022.  We meet in the Jefferson County Fair Building.  Must be enrolled in 4-H. 

 Jefferson County Jr. Livestock Show is scheduled for Thursday, February 23-Saturday, February 25, 2023.  Entries are due by 4 p.m. Friday, December 16, 2022.

West District Duds to Dazzle is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Clinton, OK. More details will be coming.

West District South Culinary Days is scheduled for Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Stephens County Fairgrounds.

We are seeking responsible adults to become 4-H volunteers, contact OSU Extension at 580-228-2332 for information.