OSU Ottawa County Extension

09/02/2026

Could you find an important document within a couple of minutes? Could someone else find an important document if you needed them to?

Could You Find It When You Need It?

If an emergency happened today, could you quickly find your insurance policy? Birth certificate? Vehicle title? Medical information? What about important financial records?
And here’s an even better question: Could someone else in your household find them if you weren’t there?

Being prepared isn’t only about flashlights, bottled water and emergency supplies. Having important household information organized and protected can make recovery from an emergency or disaster much easier.

Consider gathering copies of important records such as:
• Birth certificates, Social Security cards and other identification
• Insurance policies and contact information
• Deeds, titles, leases and other property records
• Bank, loan and other important financial information
• Recent tax records
• Medical information, medications and health insurance information
• Wills, powers of attorney and other legal documents
• Emergency contacts
• Important information for pets

Protect your records, too. Store important paper documents in a fire- and water-resistant container or another secure location. Consider keeping secure digital copies as a backup. FEMA also recommends keeping copies of important information somewhere other than your home, such as with a trusted person or in another secure location.

Don't forget your belongings! Take photos or video of the contents of your home, including valuable items. A household inventory can be extremely helpful if you ever need to file an insurance or disaster-related claim.

Finally, make it a habit to review your records at least once a year. Update insurance information, medications, contact information and other records as things change.

September is National Preparedness Month, making it a great time to ask yourself: If I needed it tomorrow, could I find it today?

Resources:
• FEMA – Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
• Ready.gov – Financial & Emergency Preparedness
• Federal Trade Commission – Organizing Important Papers Before a Disaster
• Internal Revenue Service – Emergency Preparedness & Financial Records
• Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management – Safeguard

09/02/2026

What is Cupcake Wars?

It is a competition where team members compete to decorate cupcakes in a certain theme, then give the judges a presentation on why they decorated the way they did, what techniques were used, and the kitchen and food safety practices they followed.

If your child is interested in competing, please SIGN up by Sept 14 for our COUNTY CONTEST on September 16.
Tulsa State Fair Cupcake Wars Contest is Oct. 3.
You can sign up individually or with a team. Call the office to register at 918-542-1688.

Youth must be enrolled in 4-H for the 2026-2027 year to compete.

09/02/2026

Have you ever believed the myth that perfectionism is actually a good thing or that you need it to motivate yourself to achieve your goals? The truth is that perfectionism is not actually helping you achieve; in fact, it's probably holding you back! Perfectionism often causes anxiety, stress, depression, and other feelings that get in the way of your thinking clearly or creatively. It comes with behaviors like procrastination, avoidance, ruthless self-criticism, and overthinking. Remember that you matter and you are more valuable than your achievements or test scores can ever reflect. Instead, try treating yourself with warmth and understanding, especially when things don't go perfectly. That's what real progress looks like: setting realistic goals and working toward them with determination, not perfection.

09/01/2026

Our 4-H Dog Club is expanding! We have new volunteer leaders who are planning to meet throughout the year. Don't forget to re-enroll for the new 4-H Year that started in August. https://4h.zsuite.org/

08/31/2026

DEADLINE is tomorrow! (Sept. 1)

NED Youth In Action
October 13, 14, and 15, 2026
PLACE: Fin and Feather Resort, Lake Tenkiller (near Gore, OK)
AGE: 7th – 12th Grade (Have not graduated from high school)
COST: $145/Delegate - $145/Adult – T-shirt cost is separate $10-$12
HAPPENINGS: Motivational Speakers; Recreation; Entertainment; Dance; New Friends; Community Service; & Workshops
Any questions or need more information call the office. 918-542-1688
DEADLINE TO REGISTER AND PAY is SEPTEMBER 1st.

08/26/2026

Great Educational Opportunities Coming Up. Sign up with Scott Clawson ([email protected]) to receive the presentations when they become available.

08/26/2026

4-H Meetings start in September! Find your club meeting info here!

Find the right 4-H club for you!
You don't have to attend the one in your town or at your school.
Enroll at https://4h.zsuite.org/

Follow your club's page/group for more specific information.

Quapaw 4-H Club
Commerce 4-H
Afton 4-H
Miami Oklahoma 4-H Club
Wyandotte OK 4-H
Fairland OK 4-H

08/26/2026

REMINDER!

County Record Books
Point Sheets
County Officer Applications

Due by Friday (August 28) 4:30 PM to the Extension Office.

08/26/2026

Food Pantries are great resources for families, individuals and local communities. They impact our local communities in various positive ways including helping with the reduction of stress and anxiety associated with food insecurity.

Your food donations provide essential support for those in need, helping to ensure access to nutritional meals. However, according to OSU Extension Nutritional Sciences experts, Nila Pradhananga and Christi Evans, not all foods are safe to donate, and items that are poorly handled or stored can pose health risks.

They recommend that choosing high-quality foods, keeping them in good condition and following safe handling practices, helps maintain food safety, freshness and nutritional value for those receiving them.

The Oklahoma State University Extension Fact Sheet entitled "Food Safety at Food Pantries: Guidelines for Safe Handling, Storage and Donation of Foods", provides great tips on the subject.

Go tohttps://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/print-publications/fcs/food-safety-at-food-pantries-guidelines-for-safe-handling-storage-and-donation-of-foods-a.pdf to read specific tips regarding safety, storage and contamination risks. Be sure to check out the helpful table that provides a list of items that have extended shelf-lives and shows how long the food item is safe to eat.

08/26/2026

Miami Innovation Center is just one of our many partners that we have the privilege of working with. The students are great and always excited to learn.

Jamie Cox-Foster with OSU Ottawa County Extension joined us at the MIC today. We are looking forward to expanding 4-H and other OSU Extension programs at the MIC this year. Each year our partnership helps more and more students gain skills that will last a lifetime.