Bryan County Commissioners Scott Goad, Justin Boone and Brandon Carr approved a proclamation last week that declared May 3 through 9 Oklahoma Home & Community Education Week.
“We’ve only got 25 members but our members, they’re very active in the county and their communities that they live in,” Tommie James, family & consumer science and 4-H youth development educator, said during the meeting. “They do a lot of community service projects. Each year, our OHCE members, they present two $700 scholarships to a high school student or an adult that can help them with their educational endeavors.”
Last week, OHCE held a tea party at the Clay Jones Community Building to celebrate the 112th anniversary of the Cooperative Extension Service.
For more than a century, the Cooperative Extension Service has been enhancing the lives of all Oklahoma residents, helping them develop new skills, solve problems, and foster positive relationships, according to James.
Established in 1914 with the passing of the Smith-Lever Act, the nationwide Extension service has been making a difference for 112 years. With a presence in all 77 counties in Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University Extension provides education everywhere for everyone.
The Oklahoma Home and Community Education Inc. has been dedicated to improving the quality of life of all Oklahomans.
Established in 1935, OHCE celebrates its service to Oklahoma families and communities.
James said OHCE members did a lot of hard work in planning the tea party. OHCE members were recognized for their years of service, including Jean Hancher, who has been a member for 49 years.
Other OHCE members recognized for years of service were Patty Christian and Sue Meyer, five years; Elaine James, 10 years; Jill Gordon and Diane Harper, 15 years; Phyllis Bond, 20 years; Ivy Hughes, 25 years, and Pat Accountius, 33 years.
Scholarships were presented to Lydia Bullard and Talon Rose.
County OSU Extension staff members Davin Gracy, AG & 4-H Extension Educator; Cheryle Dillingham, Community Nutrition Education Assistant, and James gave an update of programs they provide, such as gardening, soil samples testing, diabetes education, canning classes and nutrition classes taught in the schools and youth groups. Also present were Kristen Nichols, office secretary, Keegan Varner, County Extension Director and Susan Allen, Southeast District FCS Specialist. James also gave a presentation on the history of the Smith-Lever Act.
James said that Gracy can help people who have agriculture questions or someone who lives in town that has questions about their yard, plant or tree. The phone number is 580-924-5312.
“I do family consumer science, so I do anything that falls within the home and family,” James said. “I just got through teaching diabetes classes for Type 2 diabetics at the Ron Cross Community Center. I also teach parenting classes. I started partnering with the Kiamichi Technology Center where I teach canning classes. So, I’ll be having canning classes from April to August. Every month, we’ll be offering canning classes, and they’re held at the Kiamichi Technology’s Workforce Investment Center.”
