Payne County OSU Extension

Join us for Payne County 4-H Cloverbud Funday!

Calling all Payne County youth ages 5–8!

Come enjoy a fun-filled day of hands-on activities, games, crafts, learning and new friendships at the Payne County 4-H Cloverbud Funday! This exciting event is designed especially for young learners to explore, create and experience the fun of 4-H in a welcoming environment. 🍀

Details:
• 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
• June 24, 2026
• The Botanic Garden at OSU | Education Center
• Lunch is provided
• Open to the public for all youth ages 5–8

Cost:
• 4-H Members: $10
• Non-4-H Members: $15
• Registration Deadline: June 17

Make Cloverbud Funday part of your summer fun plans! We can’t wait to see you there! ☀️

Click below to register:
4-H Member Registration Link (must be logged into ZSuite):
https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/49506

Non 4-H Member Registration Link (must be logged out of ZSuite):
https://4h.zsuite.org/external-event-registration/49506

Looking for a drought forecast? The Oklahoma Mesonet is a valuable resource for producers. Timely weather and climate information helps us make better decisions from the garden to the field and on the ranch. Take a look, Payne County producers.

Are things fixing to (Okie to English translation: "about to") get interesting around here? Drought relief on the way? We hope so! https://ticker.mesonet.org/

New World screwworm has been confirmed in Texas. Learn more below.

New World screwworm has been confirmed in Texas, making awareness and early detection more important than ever for livestock owners, veterinarians and animal health professionals.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is monitoring the situation and has information available for Oklahoma producers.
🔗: https://ag.ok.gov/new-world-screwworm-confirmed-in-texas/

Find New World screwworm resources and educational materials from OSU Extension.
🔗: https://screwworm.okstate.edu

The 2026 Payne County OHCE Food Festival was a sweet success! 🥖🍰🥧

More than 100 home-baked breads, cakes and pies were entered in this year's competition, and more than $500 was raised for the Gloria Hesser Scholarship through sales of extra entries.

Congratulations to our group competition winners:
1st – Floral Valley OHCE
2nd – Cimarron Valley OHCE
3rd – Elm Grove OHCE
4th – Cherokee OHCE
5th – Lunch Bunch OHCE
6th – Rising Star OHCE

Champion honors went to:
Bread Division – Mary Hoppe, Elm Grove OHCE
Cake Division – Bernadean Lilly, Floral Valley OHCE
Pie Division – Nola Ellington, Floral Valley OHCE

Reserve Champions:
Bread Division - Beverly Hollingsworth, Cimarron Valley OHCE
Cake Division - Paula Shryock, Floral Valley OHCE
Pie Division - Kay Moore, Cherokee OHCE

Best of Class in each division were:
Quick Bread - Pat McNally, Cherokee OHCE
Cinnamon Rolls - Michelle Rieff, Elm Grove OHCE
Other Specialty Yeast Bread - Connie Walker, Elm Grove OHCE
Sweet Specialty Yeast Bread - Pat Kerns, Lunch Bunch OHCE
Angel Food Cake - Carol Flowers, Floral Valley OHCE
Chocolate Cake - Karen Kersey, Elm Grove OHCE
Italian Cream Cake - Donna Cook, Cimarron Valley OHCE
German Chocolate Cake - Bernadean Lilly, Floral Valley OHCE
Cookies or Bar Cookies - Gayle Harris, Cimarron Valley OHCE

Thank you to all participants, volunteers and supporters who helped make this event possible. The Food Festival supports the Gloria Hesser Scholarship Fund and provides local OHCE groups with opportunities to fund community projects.

Interested in joining OHCE? Contact the Payne County OSU Extension Office at 405-747-8320 for more information.

🐂 Hoof to Hook | Beef Fabrication Workshop 🐂

On May 29, we hosted a Hoof to Hook Beef Fabrication Workshop at OSU's FAPC. During the workshop, participants got an in-depth learning experience on the beef production process beyond the live animal! Attendees learned about carcass fabrication, primal cuts, meat identification, yield and quality evaluation, and how to work through cut sheets.

This interactive experience also covered practical knowledge in meat selection, preparation and consumer decision-making, and a taste test to compare cuts and flavors firsthand!

We extend our sincere appreciation to Dr. Megan Eckhardt and the FAPC team for organizing this event and sharing their time and expertise with Payne County youth. We would also like to thank the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee for its generous sponsorship of the meal provided during the workshop.

Paul Beck, OSU Extension beef cattle specialist, explains how producers can manage Old World bluestem to improve forage quality and support cattle nutrition. Learn practical grazing and forage management strategies to get more value from Old World bluestem pastures and enhance beef cattle production.

How to Turn Old World Bluestem Into High-Quality Forage (May 16, 2026) Paul Beck, OSU Extension beef cattle specialist, explains how producers can manage Old World bluestem to improve forage quality and support ca...

Practice your baking skills before the fair! 🍞

The Payne County 4-H Food Show Contest is coming up, and you don't want to miss it! It's a great opportunity for those who like to bake, have a food science project or want to practice baking their fair entry.

Details:
8 a.m.-10 a.m.
June 17, 2026
Payne County Expo Center | Community Building
Registration Deadline: June 10

This event welcomes participation from both Cloverbuds and enrolled 4-H members in Payne County. There is no cost to participate in this event.

Register here today: https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/49507