Nowata County Free Fair

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1 Nowata County OSU Extension Newsletter September/October 2010 Nowata County Free Fair September 14th 18th What s cookin in the OHCE kitchen? Kitchen Menu - September Breakfast: Thursday-Saturday Biscuits & gravy, fruit & muffins Thursday, Lunch 11am & Dinner, 4pm-close Lunch: Chicken & noodles, salad, wheat roll Dinner: BBQ Pork sandwiches & chips, pickle Friday, Lunch 11am & Dinner, 4pm-close Lunch: Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans & hot roll Dinner: C.F.S sand., pickle, salad or sliders! Saturday, Lunch 11am- close Lunch: BBQ Beef sandwiches Every day this menu will also be in place just like in the past: Hot dogs, Coney's, Nachos & Frito Pies Iced Tea & Coffee Home made pies, cakes and more! FOR AN ICE COLD CAN OF POP, CANDY BAR, POP CORN OR A SNOW CONE, DROP BY THE 4-H POP BOOTH! 4-HERS BE SURE TO SIGN UP TO WORK IN THE POP BOOTH. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Tuesday, September 14th All Exhibit Entries (except floral) Open :00-6:00pm Horse Show (West of Fair Grounds) Entry Registration Open :30-6:30pm Show Begins :00pm Wednesday, September 15th All Exhibits Open (except floral) :00am All Exhibits Close :oo Noon Judging :00pm 4-H, OHCE, Open, Crops Baking Exhibits Close :00pm Baking Judging All Classes (open, junior, adult) :00pm Mutton Bustin :00pm Karaoke Contest :00pm Adult and Youth Divisions Thursday, September 16th Floral Entries Open :00am Floral Entries Close :00 Noon Floral Exhibits Judging :00pm Poultry and Rabbit Check-in :30-6:00pm Baked Goods Auction :30pm Poultry Testing :30-7:00pm Check Livestock Registration Papers :30pm Weigh-in Junior Livestock :30pm Stick Horse Rodeo :30pm Close Livestock Registration :00pm Bucket Calf Show :30pm Friday, September 17th 4-H Petting Farm Open :00am - 2:00pm Poultry & Rabbit Judging :00 pm Pedal Pull Registration :30pm Pedal Tractor Pull :00pm Saturday, September 18th Livestock Show Begins :00am Show Order - Swine, Sheep, Goats, Beef 4-H Dog Show (city park) :00am Livestock and Indoor Exhibits Released :30pm Premiums Picked Up :30pm

2 4-H News Nowata County 4-H Members Wrapping Up Kicking off Poultry Club Recruiting Members The 4-H Poultry Club has been hard at work. They have raised enough money through donations to make poultry cages that they will make available for use at the county fair. Thanks to Tony and Jack Morris, 200 feet of welded wire have been pre-cut and are ready for assembly. A work day will held the evening of Sept 2nd, 2010 at 6:00pm at the Nowata count fair building to put the cages together. Anyone interested in helping please bring a pair of pliers and feel free to join us. They have also secured a plot of land to put up a coop to raise show birds. They have plans to raise quality show birds as well as make their coop self sufficient. When in place they will sell show birds, fertile eggs for incubating, and eggs for eating. They plan on raising enough money to stock the coop with all the needed items to insure a quality flock. From feeders and heat lamps to books and lab coats, they want it all. They have designed t-shirts and hoodies to sell at the fair, as well as through the poultry club members, to raise the money needed to purchase the coop. Anyone interested in purchasing a t-shirt or hoodie please contact RJ Straw at For more information on joining the poultry club please call Gage at The Livestock Judging Team competed at The Big Three Field Days in July and the Coffeyville Interstate Fair in August County Officers Installed: President - Lisbeth Haddox, Vice President - Wyatt Lively, Secretary - Miranda Akers, Treasurer - Ben Haddox, Reporter - Billy Bryant, Recreation Leader - Kilo Watts Outstanding Members Recognized at Annual Banquet On Monday, August 16th, outstanding 4-H members were recognized during the annual achievement banquet. The meeting was called to order and a meal, sponsored by Raymond Cline, was served. 72 guests and members attended the banquet. Following the meal, Miranda Akers gave a year in review, that mentioned all the events the 4-H members had attended during the past year. Then, the awards were handed out. Completing a record book for the first time and receiving a gate sign were, Jacob Johnson, Bret Branstetter, RJ Straw, Blaine Travis, Michaela Haddox, Kamrin Jones and Kaitlynn Jones. Receiving recognition for continuing work in a project area was, Miranda Akers, Billy Bryant, Benjamin Haddox, Lisbeth Haddox, Samantha Johnson, Myles Lively, Wyatt Lively, Amanda Thornbrugh, Kilo Watts and Micro Watts. Members medaling in a new project were, Amanda Thornbrugh, Benjamin Haddox, Billy Bryant, Blaine Travis, Bret Branstetter, Jacob Johnson, Jessica Foreman, Kaitlynn Jones, Kamrin Jones, Kilo Watts, Lisbeth Haddox, Michaela Haddox, Micro Watts, Miranda Akers, Myles Lively, RJ Straw, Samantha Johnson and Wyatt Lively. Junior and Senior Leadership Awards were given to RJ Straw and Lisbeth Haddox. Junior and Senior Citizenship Awards went to Bret Branstetter and Wyatt Lively. The Outstanding Junior was Benjamin Haddox and the Outstanding Senior was Lisbeth Haddox. To conclude the meeting, the officer team was installed and Milla Watts gave her farewell address. New president Lisbeth Haddox adjourned the meeting.

3 4-H information 3 Nowata County Spring Livestock Show has added Goats! The Nowata County Spring Livestock Show Committee voted to add goats to the spring livestock show. With this brings some other changes to the schedule. First of all, it is time to get your steers and goats, they are already getting hard to find (Call Gage if you need assistance in getting animals). NEW SHOW TIMES: Goats and Sheep will check in by noon and show at 6:00pm on Thursday Feb. 24th. All sheep and goats will be released after show, except for Grand and Reserve animals and showmanship winners. Swine and Cattle will check in, as usual, by noon on Friday Feb. 25th. Swine will show Friday at 5:00pm. Cattle will show starting at 10:00am on Sat. Feb. 26th. Round Robin Showmanship will follow. Swine and Cattle will be released after the Round Robin. The premium sale will be March 10th. Youth In Action The Youth IN Action Leadership Conference takes place every year, during fall break, at the Fin & Feather Resort near Gore, OK. This conference is open for anyone years old. If you have any desire to be a leader in Nowata county you should attend this conference. There will be guest speakers, educational workshops, games, movies dances and you will even have the opportunity to vote for your District Officers. Our very own Lisbeth Haddox is running for an office. We want to take as many teens as we can to support her. Call the office for more information. Registration is due September 14th. Livestock Judging & Cattle Grading Practice If you plan on livestock judging or cattle grading at Tulsa, you need to plan to attend as many practice as possible. Times are scheduled around a very busy 4-H schedule. Livestock Judging Practices will be held at the extension office at 6:30pm on the following dates: September 9th, 21st, 27th, 30th and October 5th. Cattle Grading Practice will be held at the South Coffeyville Stockyards at 3:45pm on the following dates: Sept. 23rd and 30th Livestock Judgers will have to give 3 sets of reasons at Tulsa. You need to be prepared. Next Spring, not everyone is going to get to go to every contest. You will have to earn your way, so everyone needs to start doing their best work now. Calendar Aug. 30th - Parent Volunteer Organization and County Officer Meeting the Extension Office, All parents and volunteers are encouraged to attend to make plans for the upcoming year. Sept. 2nd Poultry Club Work Day 6:00pm, Building pens at fair building Sept 7th. Oklahoma Union Club Meeting 6:30pm, OKU Elementary Cafeteria Sept. 12th - Cattle Clipping At Fairbuilding Fairbuilding will be open at 3:00pm for anyone who needs assistants or just wants to use wash racks and building to clip. Sept. 13th - Elm Bend Club Meeting 6:00pm Extension Office Conference Room Sept. 13th - Set Up for Fair 6:00pm We need help setting up pens and table displays Sept. 14th - Youth In Action Registration Due Sept. 28th - So. Coffeyville Club Meeting So. Coffeyville School Sept. 30th - Oct. 10th - Tulsa State Fair Oct. 6th - State Fair Cattle Grading Contest We will leave the Extension Office at 6:30am Oct. 7th - Steer Nominations For Spring Show Tom Stewart s house, 4:30pm - 7:30pm Oct. 8th - State Fair Livestock Judging Contest We will leave the Extension Office at 6:00am Oct. 20th - 22nd - Youth In Action We will leave as after school. Oct. 28th - Hay-Ride and Weiner Roast 6:00pm meet at Sue Sandford s House 1/4 mile east of Hwy 169 on Rd. 3 Nov. 6th - Swine, Sheep, Goat & Heifer Nominations for Spring Livestock Show the Fair Building Nov. 15th - Share The OKU Gym

4 Ag News By Gage Milliman Animal Welfare, Drench Hoses and Green Jackets Every livestock show we go to we are faced with exhibitors that choose to make an attempt to cheat to get an advantage. Often times the acts that are taken are justified because there is nothing in the rule book that spells it out, that it is illegal. It bothers me that we have to keep visiting this issue. With groups like HSUS and PETA trying to put us out of business, we as livestock producers and exhibitors are held at higher standards than ever before. In times like these we must support each other, but most of all, we must make sure that we are doing everything we can to insure animal rights groups that our animals could not be better taken care of by anyone else. Recent events have made me doubt our standards and our credibility. First of all, let s state the obvious. Even though we see wrong doing all the time, the majority of livestock exhibitors are doing things right. An article entitled Measuring the Ethical Cognition Effects of a Videotape: Livestock Show Ethics Education Program in the December 2002 edition of Journal of Extension, asked questions to livestock exhibitors about the ethical treatment of their animals. When asked about all the things we deal with, as in, Should you add hair or twine to an animal, to make them look fuller?, Should you fill an animal with water to meet a minimum weight requirement?, Should you change the date of birth on registration papers so your heifer shows against younger heifers?, all test takers answered No. This goes to show that, ethics is not a matter of knowing right or wrong, people know the difference. It comes down to choosing to do right or choosing to do wrong. The problem many exhibitors say is, everyone else is doing it and we will be left behind if we choose not to. Besides, the rules don t specifically say that it is illegal. We call this a line in the sand situation. People do not seem to know when they have crossed the line. Well, thanks to the previous mentioned article and a program put together by Colorado State University s Dr. Jeff Goodwin, we can help solve this problem. They have come up with four questions that you can ask yourself. If you answer Yes to any of these questions then you have crossed the line. The questions are: 1) Does this Violate FDA Law? 2) Is this fraud? 3) Is my animal s welfare compromised? 4) Does this fit in real world Agriculture? The first question is pretty simple; an example would be misusing animal health products. Most people have no problem following labels correctly. The second question is a little more complicated. I looked up the term fraud and the first definition given is: deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage. Scary, it is a general definition that sounds like it was written for livestock shows. Examples of this are adding hair or twine to an animal or filling them with water. Are you not representing them as something they are not? I am happy to say most people have no problem not crossing the line made by question three. This would include beating an animal to make their muscles look more defined. An example that would violate the fourth question is holding food or water from an animal to meet a nomination weight. You would never do that in a growing animal not going to a show. This question will probably be argued by many livestock exhibitors. They say the show ring and commercial production are separate and shouldn t be compared. I ll have to disagree. In the United States in any given year only ½ to 1% of all livestock (beef, swine, sheep, goats) are marketed through livestock premium auctions. That means the other 99% had better have been raised and treated in a manner that will allow them to pass through a traditional market and enter the food supply. Now, to the best part, as a 4-H member or 4-H Parent, you don t have to worry about any of this. The reason being, the 4-H goal is not to produce Blue Ribbon Exhibits, but rather to produce Blue Ribbon Kids. That s why we show, for Youth Development. If you are doing things in order to insure that you or your child is learning responsibility and other life skills, then you are doing things right. Think about it. If we teach kids to be deceptive and dishonest, they will grow up to be adults who are deceptive and dishonest. If we teach young people to make good ethical choices at our livestock shows, they will grow up to become adults who make good ethical choices. To parents and other adults, what should your role be? Should you be known as the herdsman and fitter? I don t think so. Your role is Teacher and Coach. On show day should you feed the animals, wash them and hand them to the exhibitor as he or she walks into the ring, then holler instructions from outside the ring? Once again, no, you are there to provide support, encouragement and assistance. This is also related to exhibitors taking care of their own animals. I realize that not every family can house animals at their residence. However since the Project is about the child and not the animal, that exhibitor needs to make every effort to be the primary caretaker of their animal and spend as much time as possible preparing them for show day. As you ponder my statements, I ask you to think, Have you ever been in this situation?, What choice did you decide to make?, and if you chose to be deceitful, Did it pay off in the end? I have no research or data to back this statement, but I have seen it with my own eyes, the majority of the time someone chooses to cheat, it either works against them, or makes no difference where the animal places in the show. If you follow regular agriculture practices and spend the time leading up to the show, your animal will be the correct weight and be as good as they are ever going to be come show day. You won t have anything left to do except proudly zip up your green jacket and take your healthy animal into the show ring with a big smile on your face. 4

5 Trichomoniasis Testing Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Trichomoniasis is a highly contagious venereal disease of cattle. Although not a new problem the incidence is rising and it has become a serious problem in some nearby states. In an effort to protect Oklahoma cattlemen and the Oklahoma cattle industry, the Oklahoma Legislature recently passed a law requiring testing of breeding bulls that change ownership or management within Oklahoma. This law will take effect January 1, The following are answers to some of the common concerns voiced by Oklahoma beef producers. In addition to this information, producers are encouraged to seek out and attend producer educational sessions on this issue being held around the state, or contact your OSU County Extension Office to request scheduling of an educational program in your area. Q) Will this disease have a serious impact on the beef market like some recent problems? A) Probably not. The meat is not affected and there are no human health risks. Infected cattle do not get sick. The economical impact is in the serious loss of reproductive performance. Up to 50% losses of calf crop can occur. Q) Will I have to castrate my male calves before I market them? A) No. The new law applies only to bulls over 1 year of age. Q) Will I have to have my cull bulls tested before I take them to the sale barn? A) Not necessarily. Most cull bulls go to slaughter and these bulls are exempt from testing. If you wish to offer your bull as being ready to go back to another breeding operation, however, you may want to consider having him tested before consigning him to sell. Q) Why does this new law not include testing for cows? A) Cows usually clear the infection on their own if not recontaminated by infected bulls. In addition, the test is not very reliable in cows and requires multiple tests in order to be trustworthy. Your best option is to purchase new female herd additions from reputable breeders who can provide evidence that they are not having a Trich problem. Q) If my bull tests positive, what can I do to clear the infection? A) Nothing. Most bulls, especially those past 3 years of age, are carriers for life if they acquire the infection and will spread it to 80 to 90% of the cows they breed. Q) What should I do if I have a bull that tests positive? A) With Trich, even one positive test indicates that the organism is present in your herd. This is not necessarily an insurmountable problem and the sooner it is detected the easier it is to resolve. There are management tools available to help resolve the problem, and your local veterinarian is best positioned to help you outline a program for your operation. What is the difference between the two tests that are available? A) Both tests start by obtaining a sample from the bull s prepuce and penis and protecting it in a special culture medium for shipping. The older culture test is less expensive but is not conclusive and is required to be repeated 3 times for regulatory purposes. The newer PCR test checks for genetic material from the organism and is more reliable. One test is sufficient for regulatory purposes. Although it is more expensive, it is usually cheaper than 3 consecutive cultures and is much easier on the bull, the veterinarian and the owner. Q) Can I collect and submit my own samples? A) No. For regulatory purposes the sample must be collected and submitted by a licensed veterinarian who has received specific training and certification to do the collection correctly. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and OSU College of Veterinary Medicine are working now to provide this training and certification to food animal practitioners across the state. Q) What do I need to do if I purchase a bull at my local auction that is not tested? A) Under the new law you can have your newly purchased bull tested at the sale barn by the sale veterinarian and then take him home under a special quarantine. You must agree to isolate him from breeding animals until the test results are known (usually 7 to 10 days) and to sell him for slaughter only if he tests positive. You should seek clarification from the market operator or sale veterinarian before bidding on untested bulls. Q) If I buy and feed cutter bulls what does this new law mean to me? A) The law contains an exemption for cutter bulls that are purchased for feeding only and not allowed exposure to females. Visit with your market operator or sale veterinarian for clarification on this exemption. Q) Is testing required if I buy, sell, or lease a bull through a private treaty transaction? A) Yes. A negative test is required by law any time a breeding bull changes ownership or management within the state of Oklahoma, or enters from another state. Q) Where should I go for more information? A) Your local veterinarian should always be your first source of information on any health related issues. Other sources of information concerning the new testing regulations are the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Animal Industry Services, and your county OSU Extension Office. 5

6 Nowata County September/October 2010 Inside this issue: Annie s Project 6 Egg Recall 7 Food Safety month 8 Writing contest results OHCE calendar 9 Nowata County Page 6 PO Box 231, Nowata, OK Phone: megansm@okstate.edu A Workshop for Women in Agriculture The Nowata, Osage and Washington County Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service is pleased to offer another session of Annie s Project. Just what is Annie s Project? Annie s Project is based on the life of a farm woman growing up on a small far in Illinois. She spent her entire lifetime learning how to be an involved business partner with her farm husband. Together they did great things, but it wasn t easy. Challenges Annie face include three generations living under one roof, low profitability, changing farm enterprises, and raising a family. Annie faced pressure from brother and sister-in-laws and from her mother-in-law. New regulations for selling processed food directly to the consumer forced many changes. Low profitability did not leave a lot of money to raise a family of four children even though the family worked hard. There were days of tears, anger and sorrow. There were days of laughter, contentment, and accomplishment. Through it all, Annie kept records. She kept the farm business running, she kept the family funning, and she kept her marriage. Annie knew deadlines, reporting requirements, tax issues, and did the little management jobs that kept big management jobs under control. One of Annie s daughters, Ruth, married a man from a farm. And the story starts all over. Through Annie s Project, her daughter Ruth takes the skills instilled in her by her mother and mentors and educates farm women. Farm women find answers, strength and friendship in Annie s Project. Farm women grow in confidence, business skills and community prestige. Session topics include: Colors and Communication, Family and Business Financial Management and property; Insurance Basics; Retirement/Estate Planning, Computer Tools and Software, just to name a few. The first Annie s project taught in Oklahoma was held in January Since that time, workshops have been taught in several counties across the state. Nowata, Osage and Washington Counties offered a class which was very successful in January, These counties are teaming up again to bring back this workshop beginning October 18, 2010 with subsequent classes each Thursday and Monday evening for 3 weeks with the last class begin held November 4, Classes will be held in Washington County at Tri-County Tech beginning at 6 p.m. with a light meal and will continue for 3 hours each evening. The value of the program is over $300. Cost to attend is just $50.00 per person. To register visit the Nowata County Extension office website for the registration form: and click under the FCS and Annie s link on the left hand side of the home page. For questions about this program call or megansm@okstate.edu. Join other farm women by attending this educational program and support network to enhance business skills of women in agriculture! Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.

7 Egg recall affects thousands of people STILLWATER, Okla. Fried, scrambled, boiled or deviled, eggs find their way onto the tables in many households across the country. Eggs, however, have been making headlines as 380 million of them are part of a national recall due to risk of Salmonella Enteritidis. The outbreak, which has sickened more than 2,000 people in 18 states, prompted the massive recall of eggs. More cases of illness are expected to be reported. Recalled eggs were distributed in Oklahoma. The current outbreak is due to intact and disinfected grade A eggs. Salmonella Enteritidis infects the ovaries of healthy appearing hens and contaminates the eggs before the shells are formed. Affected eggs have been marketed under these brand names: Lucerne, Mountain Dairy, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Albertson, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, James Farms, Glenview, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Lund, Dutch Farms, Kemps and Pacific Coast. The eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons. You can tell if you have a recalled package of eggs by looking at the Julian dates and plant code stamped on the end of the egg carton or on the case label. The Julian dates range from 136 to 229 with plant numbers 1026, 1091, 1413, 1686, 1720, 1942, 1946 and Consumers can check online at for updated lists. Eggs, like meat, poultry, milk and other foods, are safe when handled properly, said Barbara Brown, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension food specialist. Just like other foods, proper handling and storage are key to ensure food safety, Brown said. Shelled eggs should be stored in the refrigerator until ready to use. Refrigeration prevents any Salmonella present in the eggs from growing to higher numbers. Once eggs are cooked they should be consumed promptly. Cooking the eggs thoroughly reduces the number of bacteria present in an egg. Keep in mind that an egg with a runny yolk poses a greater risk than a completely cooked egg. Both undercooked egg whites and yolks have been associated with outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis infections. Some signs of Salmonella Enteritidis bacterium include fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea beginning 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated foods or beverages, she said. The illness lasts about four to seven days. Fortunately most people recover without antibiotic treatment. Keep in mind that if the person has severe diarrhea, he or she can become dehydrated and require hospitalization. Here are some tips consumers must keep in mind in order to reduce their risk of a Salmonella Enteritidis infection: Do not eat recalled eggs or products containing eggs. Recalled eggs might still be in grocery stores, restaurants and consumers homes. Consumers who have recalled eggs should discard them or return them to their retailer for a refund. Individuals who think they might have become ill from eating recalled eggs should consult their health care providers. Keep eggs refrigerated at less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. Discard cracked or dirty eggs. Wash hands, cooking utensils and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs. Do not keep eggs warm or at room temperature for more than two hours. Promptly refrigerate unused or leftover foods that contain eggs. Avoid eating raw eggs. Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs. Restaurants should use pasteurized eggs in any recipe that calls for raw eggs, such as Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing. Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs should be avoided, especially by younger children, elderly persons and those with weakened immune systems or debilitating illness. Brown said young children and infants, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are at a greater risk for a more severe illness. In these individuals the infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and then to other parts of the body. This can cause death if the person is not treated quickly with antibiotics. As tempting as it may be, don t eat raw cookie dough or lick the spatula when mixing up foods such as cake batter that contain raw eggs, Brown said. While this recall represents less than 1 percent of all eggs produced in the U.S., as always recommended by the Egg Safety Center and FDA, raw eggs should be handled and cooked properly with the egg yolks and whites cooked firm. Other egg brands that are not specifically in the recall list are not affected and should be safe to eat. Liquid, frozen or dried egg products, because they are pasteurized, also are not affected by the recall and should be safe.

8 Page 8 Washington, DC It s a question more than a few of us have faced. We snag a forgotten container of leftovers from the back of the refrigerator, stick our faces into it, and inhale deeply. This smells fine, so is it safe to eat? September is National Food Safety Education Month and The Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a network of retailers across the U.S., marks the occasion with Food Safety Mythbusters for consumers. Storing leftovers is the basis for one of this year s featured myths. The myths are presented with the facts consumers need to know to help reduce their risk of food borne illness: Myth: Leftovers are safe to eat until they smell bad. Fact: Most people would not choose to eat spoiled, smelly food. However, if they did, they would not necessarily get sick. This is because there are different types of bacteria, some of which cause illness in people and others that don t. The types of bacteria that do cause illness do not affect the taste, smell, or appearance of food. For this reason it is important to freeze or toss refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days. If you are unsure of how long your leftovers have been sitting in the refrigerator, don t take the risk - when in doubt, throw it out! Myth: I use bleach and water to sanitize my countertops and the more bleach I use the more bacteria I kill. Fact: There is no advantage to using more bleach. In fact, overuse of bleach can be harmful because it is not safe to consume. To create a sanitizing solution it is recommended that you use 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid bleach per gallon of water. Flood the countertop with the solution, allow it to sit for a few minutes, then pat with clean, dry paper towels or allow to air dry. Any leftover sanitizing solution can be stored, tightly covered, for up to one week. After that, the bleach has lost its effectiveness. Myth: I don t need to wash my produce if I am going to peel it. Fact: You should wash fresh fruits and vegetables under running tap water just before eating, cutting or cooking. Harmful bacteria could be on the outside of the produce. If you peel or cut it without first washing it the bacteria could be transferred to the part you eat. Wash delicate produce such as grapes or lettuce under cool running water. Blot dry with a clean cloth towel or paper towel. Rub firm-skin fruits and vegetables under running tap water or scrub with a clean produce brush. Never use detergent or bleach to wash fresh fruits or vegetables. These products are not intended for consumption. Myth: The stand time recommended for microwaveable foods is optional, it s just so you don t burn yourself. Fact: Stand time is not about cooling the microwaved food, but rather is an important part of the cooking process. Stand times are usually just a few minutes and the time is necessary to bring the food to a safe internal temperature as measured with a food thermometer. To ensure safety with microwave cooking, always read and follow package instructions, know your microwave s wattage, and use a food thermometer to ensure food has reached a safe internal temperature. Consumers are interested in learning more about safe food handling, said Shelley Feist, Partnership Executive Director. This year s myths and the facts behind them offer families practical tips for dealing with everyday home food safety challenges. Educational materials including a Mythbusters presentation, teacher materials, and other consumer-friendly tools are available for free download at For more information on food safety, go to

9 Writing Contest Results Congratulations to the winners of the first Nowata County OHCE Writing Contest Page 9 OKLAHOMA HOME & COMMUNITY EDUCATION Poetry Division I ages first place Rikki Alspach Division II ages First place Shea Thornbrugh Division III ages First place Christina Mega Watts Second place Brandice Bartholomew Third place Milla Watts Division IV ages First place Davene Mayhew Second place Ted Bowser Third place Cynthia Trammel Division V ages 60-up First place Pat Vaughan Second place Charlotte Smith Third place Mary Hass Honorable Mention Lucille Lumm Short Story Division I ages second place Micro Watts Division II ages First Kilo Watts Second place Shea Thornbrugh Third place Ashley Ryan Division III ages First place Christina Mega Watts Second place Brndice Bartholomew Third place Sarah Williams Division IV ages First place Janie Ryan Division V ages 60-up First place Wilma Frauenberger Second place Ted Bowser Third place tie Pat Vaughan Charlotte Smith Honorable mention Mary Hass Essay Division I ages first place Micro Watts Division II ages First place Shea Thornbrugh Division III ages 19-3 First place Christina Mega Watts Second place Brandice Bartholomew Division IV ages Second place Davene Mayhew Division V ages 60-up First place Charlotte Smith Second place Pat Vaughan Third place Linda Patton Honorable mention Wilma Frauenberger There were 34 entries in the Nowata County OHCE Writing Contest. The winning contestants will receive cash prizes for their placement in the contest. Some of the winning writings will be displayed at the Nowata County Free Fair for all to view. You have the opportunity to meet the award winning authors on Thursday evening, September 16 th from 5-6 at the Nowata County fair building. The plans are in the works for a 2011 writing contest just for Nowata County residence. Start writing now, you might be a winner. Thank you, Sharon OHCE Calendar September 6- Labor Day Holiday Extension Office closed September Washington County Free- Fair September Nowata County Free-Fair Mon. 13th superintendents and workers set-up 1pm Tues. 14th-entries open 3-6pm & silent auction set-up (see silent auction rules pg. 54 handbook). Wed. 15th-entries 8am-12pm, judging at 1pm. Baking open until 6pm, judging at 7pm Thurs. 16th- floral entries 8am-12pm, judging at 1pm. Baked goods auction 5:30pm Sat. 18th- silent auction closes at 2pm & all exhibits released at 4:30pm October 11 Columbus Day Extension Office closed October 25 OHCE State dues $7.50 per member due to Extension office December 11 OHCE Winter Council 10:00am, city-county library

10 Newsletter published by: Nowata County OSU Extension Office PO Box 231, Fairgrounds Nowata, OK Phone: (918) Fax: (918) Hours of Operation: Monday Friday, 8:00am 4:30pm 8 Extension Office Staff Gage Milliman, Extension Educator Ag/4-H Youth Development, CED- gage.milliman@okstate.edu Megan Maxson, Family & Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development -megansm@okstate.edu Jeanie Moore, Senior Secretary jeanie.moore@okstate.edu Information given herein is for educational purposes only. Any reference to product or trade names is with the understanding that no endorsement by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service is implied. Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order as amended. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, asks of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Robert E. Whitson, Director of Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma. This publication is printed and issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Dean of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and has been prepared and distributed at a cost of 50 cents per copy. 5/10 Nowata County OSU Extension P.O. Box 231 Nowata, OK