Co-Parenting for Resilience is a class for divorcing or separating parents with minor children living in the home. It is mandatory by law in Oklahoma and is also valuable for Grandparents and other relatives of minor children going through divorce or separation.  My next class is 1 p.m. Tuesday, Tuesday, August 13, 2019; pre-registration is required.  Call Jefferson County OSU Extension Office at 580-228-2332 for registration information.

Jefferson County Free Fair – Wednesday, September 4 – Saturday, September 7, 2019.  Get your canning, baked items, crafts, hobbies, Quilts and other sewing projects, plants and other items ready to bring to show at the fair!  Other activities are being planned and include Home Made Ice Cream contest; come hear Bill Baker and his band! It is ‘Time’ to finish your projects for the Fair! 

Line dance is a good active-type of exercise.  We will begin a Line Dance Class Tuesday, August 6, 2019 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.  Angie Nash will lead our classes.  

Jefferson County OHCE (Oklahoma Home and Community Education) 

Our group’s meeting includes an educational program; our August meeting will be Tuesday, August 20 – UFO (Unfinished Fair Objects) – bring your unfinished item and complete it to enter it/them into the fair!  Contact Tara Brown for more information.  OHCE is open to anyone interested in meeting and receiving research-based educational information and enjoying fellowship!

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Services  For us, it’s personal. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service county educators and area, district and state specialists develop science-based educational programs to help Oklahomans solve local issues and concerns, promote leadership and manage resources wisely. Programs focus on:

• Increasing opportunities for agricultural enterprises

• Natural resources and environmental management

• Food, nutrition, health and safety education

• Youth, family and community development

Your Jefferson County OSU Extension Services office is open 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday, excluding holidays recognized by our county offices.  Leland McDaniel, AG/4-H Youth Development and CED, Tara Brown, Family & Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development and Linda Whitsett, Administrative Support Specialist are staff members ready to assist you at 580-228-2332.

 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!!

Open House:  Jefferson County Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Services is scheduled for Friday, May 18 from 11 a.m.  – 2 p.m.  Come meet your County Extension staff who are ready and willing to assist you with your questions concerning livestock, soil, forage, Food and Nutrition and more! Food will be available and names will be drawn for Door Prizes. Our OSU Extension office is located at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 802 East D. Street, Waurika, OK. Information is available on our website oces.okstate.edu/Jefferson and on our Facebook pages JeffersonCounty Fourh and JeffersonCounty Osu Extension.

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.

OHCE Week was May 6-12, 2018

Jefferson County OHCE Group provided Cookies and Homemade Banana Pecan Muffins to the County Commissioners and County Officers to show appreciation for their services. The group ended OHCE week by honoring Orbie Smith, member of Jefferson County OHCE for 68 years. She was presented with a certificate and bouquet of flowers for her achievement.

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, 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.

Jefferson County OHCE (Oklahoma Home and Community Education) meet the 3rd Tuesdays in the Waurika Sr. Citizens Center unless otherwise noted.   Each month we have lessons which are open to anyone interested in attending.  Our February meeting will be Tuesday, February 20 at 12 noon at the Waurika Sr. Citizens Center.  Brenda Gandy-Jones, Extension Educator, FCS/4-H Youth Development, CED for Stephens County will present the lesson on “Caregiving 101”.  Our March meeting will be Tuesday and Wednesday (March 20 and 21) 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day; Pamela Varner, Extension Educator, FCS/4-H Youth Development, CED for Cotton County will lead us making “Crazy Quilt Jacket”.  Contact Tara Brown for additional information.

During the upcoming Jr. Livestock show, Jefferson County OHCE will sell pies Thursday, March 1 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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 or as scheduled.  Our next class is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 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.

Early trailblazers helped ensure Extension serves all Oklahomans

STILLWATER, Okla. – For more than 100 years, the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service has been fulfilling its mission of enhancing the lives of all Oklahomans.    Annie Peters Hunter, Extension’s first federally appointed black female home demonstration agent, operated in Okfuskee and Seminole counties. Beginning in 1912, she served Oklahomans as an agent for more than 12 years.    Along the way, the organization has made history in some important ways with Annie Peters Hunter, the nation’s first federally appointed black female home demonstration agent, and John Russell Council, the first black Extension agent hired in Oklahoma.    As the nation pauses to celebrate Black History Month, it is worthwhile to recognize the contributions of both Hunter and Council.  “Extension is called to help Oklahomans of all ages and backgrounds. That’s a mission we take seriously and we remain fully committed to it,” said James Trapp, associate director of Extension. “We’re proud of our strong and ongoing tradition of service to our state and all its residents.”

Not much is known about Hunter and Council, but the few known details are significant.

Hunter, a native of Alabama, settled in Boley, Oklahoma, with her husband in the early 1900s. More than two years before the Smith-Lever Act formally created the national Cooperative Extension Service in 1914, she was putting the organization’s mission into action in Oklahoma.

Tanya Finchum, professor and oral history librarian at Oklahoma State University, partnered with Jan Scholl, associate professor at Pennsylvania State University, to write and publish an article in 2012 about Hunter in the e-journal “Forum for Family and Consumer Issues.”

According to Finchum and Scholl, Hunter was appointed as a home demonstration agent Jan. 23, 1912, as part of an effort to bolster the prosperity of black farm families. Not too unlike today’s Extension educators, early home demonstration agents were charged with helping families to conserve resources, create a little income, and safely raise and preserve food for survival from growing season to growing season.

Primarily operating in Seminole and Okfuskee counties, she served as the only black home demonstration agent within a 50-mile radius.

The researchers discovered part of her efforts included working with girls through canning clubs. There also is strong evidence her canning instructions remained popular through the 1940s and were used in homes, churches and schools.

Finchum called Hunter a visionary, dedicated leader.

“With being the first to hold any newly created position comes many responsibilities, including demonstrating that the work is necessary and beneficial,” Finchum said. “Annie served as an agent for more than 12 years, and when she vacated the position, it was immediately filled allowing the work she had begun to continue. That’s part of Annie’s legacy as an Extension worker.”

As for Council, his tenure with Extension actually predates Hunter’s by about three years. According to Donald E. Green’s “Centennial Histories Series: A History of the Oklahoma State University Division of Agriculture,” after arriving in Boley in 1908, Council petitioned and was granted an appointment with Extension in December of the following year.

As part of one of the agent’s successes highlighted by Green’s book, over the course of about three years, one of the producers with which Council worked closely rapidly advanced from a tenant farmer living in a log cabin to owning a 120-acre farm, two mules, a horse and a two-story house.

Council was originally from Tennessee and attended Tuskegee Institute in 1906-07.