Payne County OSU Extension

05/30/2026

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

05/30/2026

The Mediterranean diet isn’t about complicated recipes or giving up your favorite foods — it’s about adding more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, healthy fats and flavorful meals to your plate. 🫒🍅🥗

Small changes like cooking with olive oil, eating more plant-based meals and choosing fish or beans more often can support heart health and overall wellness.

Healthy eating can still taste really good.

Learn more at: https://medinsteadofmeds.com/

05/29/2026

Native plants are built for Oklahoma’s wild weather — from drought and heat to wind and surprise cold snaps. They typically need less maintenance, fewer chemicals and less water while also supporting pollinators and local wildlife.

Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/4ysnd2t9

If you're looking for a hands-on experience, join the Payne County Master Gardeners on Tuesday, June 9, for their Tuesday Garden Series on Native Plants for Your Landscape. Click here for more information: https://tinyurl.com/4d7d2y3s

05/29/2026

Join us for a fun summer program! ☀️

The Payne County 4-H Junior Roundup is a fun-filled day designed to help youth build leadership skills, make new friends and explore hands-on learning activities. The event brings youth together for workshops and team-building experiences that encourage confidence, citizenship and community involvement.

This event is open to all Payne County youth between the ages of 8-12 years old.

Details:
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
June 17, 2026
Payne County Expo Center | Community Building
Registration Deadline: June 10

Cost:
4-H Members: $10
Non 4-H Members: $15

For more information and to register, click the links below:
4-H Member Registration Link:
https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/49497

Non 4-H Member Registration Link:
https://4h.zsuite.org/external-event-registration/4949

05/28/2026

How good is your forage?

Dave Lalman, OSU Extension beef cattle specialist, walks through the results of a recent forage test and explains what those numbers mean for your cattle operation. Learn how to interpret forage quality data, fine-tune nutrition strategies and make practical management decisions that can improve herd performance and efficiency.

Understanding your forage is one of the best tools for making informed feeding and production decisions. Don’t miss these helpful insights for beef producers!

Watch it here:

(May 16, 2026) Dave Lalman, OSU Extension beef cattle specialist, reviews the results of a recent forage test and explains how producers can apply the findin...

05/28/2026

Grasshoppers are starting to show up across Oklahoma as temperatures warm up — and while a few are normal, large populations can quickly damage gardens, flowers and landscapes by feeding on leaves, fruits and tender plants. 🌱

Hot, dry weather often leads to worse outbreaks, so early action is key! Young grasshoppers (called nymphs) are much easier to control before they become full-grown adults.

Here are a few ways to help reduce damage:
- Mow tall weeds and unmanaged grassy areas
- Use floating row covers in vegetable gardens
- Hand-pick grasshoppers early in the morning
- Drop them into soapy water
- Let free-range chickens help with control
- Encourage natural predators like birds and spiders

Insecticides and bait products are also available for larger infestations. Be sure to always read and follow label directions carefully, especially around edible crops.

A healthy, diverse landscape combined with early monitoring can go a long way in keeping grasshopper populations under control this season.

Find more information here: https://tinyurl.com/3aes9dm5

05/27/2026

4-H families!

Don’t miss these upcoming District and State 4-H events! 🍀

- June 1: End of the Oklahoma 4-H Virtual Fishing Tournament
- June 2-5: Leadership Team Retreat
- June 9: Oklahoma 4-H Record Book Interviews
- June 10: Regional STEM Day (registrations due June 1)
- June 10-12: Northeast District Contest Days
- June 15: End of Nature Navigators: Wellness in the Wild (Season: Spring)
- June 16: Canine Sports Fundamentals Clinic (applications due May 31)
- June 25: Northeast District Livestock Judging Clinic (registrations due June 18)
- June 26-27: Oklahoma Conference on Volunteerism

Summer is packed with opportunities for learning, leadership, competition and fun. Mark your calendars and get ready for an exciting season of 4-H activities! 🌟

We can’t wait to see our 4-H’ers representing Payne County!

Log in to Zsuite for more information: https://4h.zsuite.org/

To register for the NED Livestock Judging Clinic, click here: https://tinyurl.com/bdeebyyt

If you have any questions about upcoming events, don't hesitate to reach out to our office at 405-747-8320.

05/27/2026

🎂 Community Service Spotlight 🎂

Please help support KaBella, one of our 4-H members, with her community service project collecting Birthday Cake Kits for local families in need!

Each kit helps make birthdays a little more special for children and families who may not otherwise be able to celebrate.

Suggested kit items include:
- Cake mix
- Frosting
- Birthday candles
- Can of Sprite
- 9"x13" Aluminum cake pan

This is our community service project at 4-H Camp this year, but anyone can drop off donations at the Payne County Extension Office through June 5.

Thank you for helping spread kindness and celebrate birthdays in our community, one cake at a time!

05/26/2026

Ready to sharpen your pasture management skills and connect with fellow producers?

Spend the day learning from OSU experts and industry professionals across multiple locations in Stillwater. This interactive event features contests and discussions focused on improving efficiency and sustainability in your operation.

Topics include:
- Burn to Control: Integrating Fire & Herbicides for Pasture W**d Management
- Strategies to Reclaim Bermuda Pastures
- Cow Efficiency Discussion: “What makes a Good Cow?”
- Precision Control: Drone Applications for Woody Plant Management

Earn CEU credits throughout the day!

🗓️ Register by May 28 to save your spot! Only two more days left to register!

Register and find more information here: https://tinyurl.com/yvndecek

05/25/2026

Today, we remember and honor those who have served our country. In observation of the holiday, our office is closed.

We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, May 26.

If you have questions, find answers by searching through OSU's fact sheet database here: https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets