Volume 16, Number 3
February 18, 2016

 CURRENT EVENTS

Oil and Gas Issues for Rural Landowners Workshops Slated: In an effort to help rural landowners gain a better understanding of issues stemming from the oil and gas industry, specialists with the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and Oklahoma State University will be sharing information at two seminars in Woods and Alfalfa counties.
     Both of the Oil and Gas Issues for Rural Landowners seminars will take place Feb. 25. The first seminar will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Northwest Technology Center, 1801 S. 11^th St., Alva. The second will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Alfalfa County Fairgrounds, 520 W. 5^th St., Cherokee.
     Todd Halihan, a professor with OSU’s Department of Geology, will be a featured speaker at both seminars. His presentation, “Oklahoma Earthquakes: Discussing Science to Inform Policy,” will take a look at the science behind induced seismicity and injection wells, as well as illustrate some of the issues and decisions being made in an effort to reduce seismicity in the state.
     The seminars are free and open to the public. Contact the Woods County Extension Office at 580-327-2786, or the Alfalfa County Extension Office at 580-596-3131 for more information.

Horse Owner’s Workshop Slated: OSU’s Department of Animal Science will present the Horse Owner’s Workshop March 5. The classroom portion of the workshop will take place at McElroy Hall on the OSU campus. Hands-on break-out sessions will take place at the Totusek Arena west of campus. The workshop is geared toward all horse owners, as well as 4-H’ers ages 14-18, and will cover all aspects of horse care, including contagious diseases, fly control, mare and foul management, assessing the health of your horse, first aid and diagnosing internal parasites and strategic deworming. Registration is $40 per person for the all-day workshop which begins at 8:30 a.m. Lunch is included. For more information, please call 405-744-6060.

Oklahoma Irrigation Conference: The 2016 Oklahoma Irrigation Conference will take place March 8 at the Woodward County Event Center and Fairgrounds. Registration is $15 and due by March 4. A number of OSU specialists and other industry professionals will be on hand to share their knowledge. Conference topics will include irrigation scheduling, crop irrigation requirements, irrigation water quality, pump and system efficiency, maximizing groundwater value, plant water use and evapotranspiration, and much more. Online registration is available at www.oces.okstate.edu/woodward/oklahoma-irrigation-conference.

America’s Healthiest Campus^® Reminders: March 11 is the deadline to complete an application to receive the Certified Healthy Department designation. All counties are encouraged to apply this year. To apply,  click here. Certificates will be awarded during the OEAFCS annual conference April 21 in Oklahoma City. Let’s make the OCES shine along with all of the other OSU campuses this year.
     Also, make note on your calendar that April 29 is Sneaker Day. All campus employees are encouraged to wear sneakers to work, regardless of other attire you are wearing. Of course, if you have an important meeting, please bring appropriate shoes to change into. During the day, take advantage of wearing your sneakers and climb a few extra flights of stairs, park further away from your office, meetings, etc., and walk further than usual. Be creative in how you can fit more exercise into your day. Challenge coworkers to come up with ideas, too.
     Contact Rachel Shreffler, rachel.shreffler@okstate.edu; Mary Talley, mary.talley@okstate.edu; or Lani Vasconcellos, lani.vasconcellos@okstate.edu with any questions you have.

DHM Institute Slated June 27-30: FCS and 4-H Extension Educators, 4-H Youth who are 13 years old or older, and adult volunteers/project leaders are invited to participate in the Design, Housing, and Merchandising Design Institute June 27-30 at OSU. The institute will begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m. During these event-filled days, you will learn about the usefulness of sewing skills, understand clothing quality, and gain skill development for apparel design and production. In addition to learning about careers in the dynamic field of fashion, participants will obtain valuable life skills and enhance performance on 4-H textiles and sewing projects. We hope to initiate an Apparel Design Ambassador program, where participants will share their experience with others in their district and home county. The cost is $125 per person and the registration deadline is April 29. For additional information, please contact Mary Ruppert-Stroescu, State Extension Clothing Specialist and Assistant Professor in Design, Housing, and Merchandising, at 405-744-5035, and via email at mary.ruppert-stroescu@okstate.edu.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

New/Updated Publications on PODS: There are a number of new and updated publications available on the Print on Demand System at http://osufacts.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/HomePage. Updated publications include:

• PSS-2130 Managing Winter Canola

Congratulations to: Brenda Hill, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, Cleveland County, on the birth of her first grandchild. Grayson Michael Hill was born Feb. 3, weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces, and was 20 inches long.

Condolences to: David Nowlin, Extension Educator, Agriculture, and CED, Caddo County, on the death of his father. Alvin Nowlin passed away Feb. 8. Funeral services took place Feb. 11 at the Anadarko First United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. Cards may be sent to David and his wife, Tracy, at 3110 Shady Lane Dr., Anadarko, 73005.

Condolences to: Ed Henderson, retired Northeast District Rural Development Specialist, on the death of his wife. Roberta Faye Henderson passed away Feb. 10. She was a long-time member of the Muskogee County OHCE. Funeral services took place Feb. 13 at the Ft. Gibson First United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made in Roberta’s name to Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 204, Muskogee, OK  74402-0204, or Fort Gibson First United Methodist Church, 302 Beauregard, P.O. Box 370, Fort Gibson, OK  74434.

Condolences to: Kevin Hackett, retired 4-H Program Leader, Northwest District, on the death of his mother. Katherine Hackett Whitman passed away Feb. 13. Funeral service took place Feb. 16 at the First Baptist Church in Blackwell. Memorials may be made in Katherine’s name to the First Baptist Church of Blackwell Roofing Fund or the Next Generations Falls Creek Cabin Campaign of First Baptist Church, c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, OK  74631. Cards may be sent to Kevin at 3924 W. Rupe, Enid, OK  73703.

AWARDS

Group Receives Publication Award: Jen Olson, Eric Rebek, Gayle Hiner, and Mike Schnelle recently received a Blue Ribbon Extension Publication Award from the Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science Meetings. The award was presented Feb. 6 during the group’s meeting in San Antonio, Texas. The award was in recognition of their Extension publication, Rose Rosette Disease, EPP-7329.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

Appointments

Morgan Stamper, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Kay County, effective 2-8-16

Melissa Koesler, Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Garvin County, effective 2-22-16

Title Changes/Transfers

None to report

Separations/Retirements

None to report

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Family and Consumer Sciences

Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, Mayes County

Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, Nowata County

4-H Youth Development 

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Creek County

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Texas County (3/4 time)

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Washita County

Agriculture

Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Grady County

Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Jefferson County

Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Washita County

Area Positions

Area Extension Agronomy Specialist, Southeast District, (Ada)

Area Extension Agronomy Specialist, Northwest District, (Enid)

Area Agriculture Economics Specialist, Southwest District, (Duncan)

Internal Applicants Only

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Canadian County

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, McClain County

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Oklahoma County

Extension Educator, Horticulture/4-H Youth Development, Oklahoma County

COMING EVENTS

February 25: Oil and Gas Issues for Rural Landowners (Alva)
February 25: Oil and Gas Issues for Rural Landowners (Cherokee)
February 26: 4-H Century III – Chapter 2 (Adobe Connect)
February 28: 4-H Ambassador Spring Training (Stillwater)
February 28: 4-H Day at the Capitol Training (Stillwater)
March 1: 4-H Ambassador Applications Due (Stillwater)
March 4: Basic Sewing Techniques I (Stillwater)
March 5: 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Certification Training (Stillwater)
March 6: Horse Owner’s Workshop (Stillwater)
March 8: Oklahoma Irrigation Conference (Woodward)
March 8: Southeast District OHCE Annual Meeting (Sulphur)
March 19: 4-H State Hunting and Wildlife Contest (Canton)
March 24: Northwest District OHCE Meeting (Woodward)
March 25: 4-H Century III, Chapter 3 (Adobe Connect)
March 25: 4-H Zoo Snooze (Oklahoma City)
March 26: Oklahoma 4-H Archery FUN Shoot (Stillwater)
March 29: Northeast District OHCE Meeting (Muskogee)
March 31: Southeast District Public Speaking Contest (Muskogee)