2018 4-H Day at the Capitol

OKLAHOMA 4-H FAST FACTS

4-H ALUMNI

House Members: Rep. John Bennett Rep. Brad Boles Rep. Dennis Casey Rep. Josh Cockroft Rep. Donnie Condit Rep. Jeff Coody Rep. Steve Kouplen

Rep. Mark McBride Rep. Carl Newton Rep. Leslie Osborn Rep. Scooter Park Rep. David Perryman Rep. John Pfeiffer Rep. Brian Renegar

Senate Members: Rep. Mike Ritze Rep. Todd Russ Rep. Mike Sanders Rep. Johnny Tadlock Rep. Josh West Rep. Harold Wright

Sen. Kim David Sen. Eddie Fields Sen. AJ Griffin Sen. Darcy Jech Sen. Chris Kidd Sen. Casey Murdock Sen. Lonnie Paxton

Sen. Roland Pederson Sen. Marty Quinn Sen. Paul Scott Sen. Mike Schulz Sen. John Sparks

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity, 408 Whitehurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; Phone 405-744-5371; email: eeo@okstate.edu has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator 405-744-9154. This publication is printed and issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Vice President of the Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources and has been prepared and distributed at a cost of $521.98 for 500 copies.

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MAKING THE BEST BETTER SPARKING CREATIVITY The Oklahoma 4-H Music Corps provides a creative platform for hands-on, experiential learning for members to combine their talents, create original music and learn life skills such as responsibility, cooperation, time management and teamwork. There is more for youth to experience than just playing music. The group learns about all aspects of music performance while developing leadership skills.

“I’ve learned how to play new instruments, gained hands-on experience setting up and tearing down a stage and learned how to effectively share music with others,” said Trent Gibbs, Stephens County 4-H’er.

WORKING TOGETHER In May 2017, the Langston 4-H and 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology clubs joined forces with Logan County Extension and the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust to plan, construct and maintain a community produce garden. 4-H’ers received handson experience building the raised beds, learned about a variety of produce and gained a better understanding of where their food comes from. Plans are slated for additional community gardens through the initiative of Langston 4-H’ers.

“Through all of these generous efforts, we were able to unite in the construction of a beautiful community garden,” said Sheila Stevenson, Extension specialist at Langston University.

HELPING OTHERS For 15 years, 4-H’ers in Cleveland County have partnered with Meals on Wheels to help provide pet food to clients who are pet owners after a local driver delivering meals discovered some of the recipients were feeding part of their meals to their pets. The 4-H’ers get together monthly and bag donated pet food in gallon zipper bags, which are easier for the meal recipients to handle. With the 4-H club’s help, about 1,000 pounds of pet food are delivered every month. Cleveland County 4-H’er Tim Whitehead said he enjoys this joint community service project.

“It’s important for us 4-H’ers to step up and help when we see a need,” Tim said.

FINDING PASSIONS Bryan County 4-H’er Doree Brashier is helping the agricultural industry through her unique 4-H project: bee keeping. Doree has about a quarter of a million bees in the hives she keeps. She enjoys sharing the message of how bees are involved in every part of agriculture. She is aware the bee population is declining, and her project is one way she can help combat that problem. Not only has Doree learned more about bees and their importance to the agricultural industry, but also her project has helped her learn the importance of time management and responsibility.

“Bees are so important to agriculture because they pollinate crops,” she said. “Without bees, we can’t live.”

EXPANDING REACH Members of the Calvin 4-H Club in Hughes County are turning pillow cases into dresses and donating them to young girls at the Neema Children’s Home in Kisumu, Kenya. Hughes County 4-H’er Adryn Ingle and his family had gone on mission trips to Kenya and he became aware of the needs at the Neema Children’s Home.

“Last summer I was able to take about 15 dresses with me that our club made,” Adryn said. “The little girls were so excited to wear them because they wear the same clothes about every day.”

Adryn and the rest of the Calvin 4-H Club have since encouraged other clubs across the state to take part in this project and plan on delivering more dresses to the Neema Children’s Home.

MAKING AN IMPACT When wildfires erupted in northwest Oklahoma in March 2017, about 400,000 of acres of farmland were consumed by flames.

Pawnee County 4-H’er Tristan Fields had a steer she was showing at the Oklahoma Youth Expo. During OYE, she decided to donate her steer at a special auction and give the all of the proceeds to help 4-H and FFA youth who were affected by the fires. The steer brought in $60,000.

“My grandpa and my uncle have been affected by wildfires in the past,” Tristan said. “I just remember how hard it was for them to replace everything. We just wanted to help because these people have lost everything. They needed it more than me.”

We are Oklahoma. We are 4-H.