The Hennessey Farmerettes met Jan. 8 in the home of Jamie Akenhead for its first meeting of the new year.

Present for the meeting were 10 members and two guests - Glenda Lindholm and Maria Perez Selas.

President Pansy Wheeler called the meeting to order and everyone joined in the pledge of allegiance to the American flag.

The devotion “Laughing Out Loud” was given by Mary Curry.

Roll call was answered with members telling if they made any New Year’s resolutions.

A treasurer’s report was given by Akenhead.

Two letters of appreciation from the volunteers at the Veterans Administration Hospital were read regarding items the Farmerettes collected for patients and 65 thank-you cards the club sent at Thanksgiving.

Kathy Patocka installed the following 2026 club officers: president - Paula Nicholson; vice president - Wheeler; secretary/reporter - Margie McConnell; treasurer - Marge Patocka; and historian - Curry.

Wheeler will also serve as parliamentarian and Curry as chaplain.

Newly-installed officers contributed to a snack dish by each person adding a treat describing their office.

McConnell shared vintage postcards with members.

Volunteer forms were distributed to members to log their time, travel and donations for December.

Information was provided about a fundraiser for the Hennessey Community Center with members responding by telling which items they would be donating and everyone was encouraged to attend.

Members selected a month to serve as lesson leader and/or hostess for 2026.

The group decided to participate in the same club projects for 2026 as it had the previous year.

Some of those projects included sponsoring local and county 4-H programs, monthly craft kits for the Hennessey Public Library, Halloween candy for the Care Center, Thanksgiving cards and collecting items for the VA Hospital and exchanging plants, seeds and bulbs.

The group will also be sponsoring the Billie Melendy Memorial Scholarship for a Hennessey 4-H member this year.

Additionally, the club had a request for some baked goods or items to be used as Bingo prizes at the Senior Citizens fundraiser and eight members volunteered.

Wheeler shared information about members’ participation with county projects and reported on county meetings that members had attended.

Highlights from the Oklahoma Home and Community Education (OHCE) newsletter were also shared with the group.

The Standards of Excellence for 2025 points were totaled and will be reported to the county office.

The lesson on “That’s Not the Way I Would Have Done It” was presented.

The meeting was adjourned and apple cake and ice cream were served.

McConnell will serve as hostess and Curry will provide the lesson for the February meeting.