The week of May 4-10 has been declared Oklahoma Home & Community Education Week in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Home and Community Education, Inc. (OHCE) is a statewide, county-based organization that has a partnership with Oklahoma State University and OSU Extension.

The goal of the local groups is to develop leadership skills and strengthen families in their respective communities.

Working together, OHCE members and county extension educators identify issues facing their local communities and use research- based information from specialists at OSU to help solve those problems.

Kingfisher County has its share of participation in OHCE with seven different groups as well as county officers.

“Want to make a difference today and forever?”

asked Lindy Peterman, the Kingfisher County OSU Extension educator. “Join an OHCE club today.”

Following are the county officers:

County Officers

FCS Extension Educator: Lindy Peterman President: Dot Miller (Hennessey Farmerettes) Vice President: Loretta Kretchmar (Plainview) Secretary: Ashley Cowan Neal (Queen Bees) Treasurer: Desiree Austin (Queen Bees) Each of the OHCE clubs in Kingfisher County sub- mitted information about what they have to offer.

They were asked to provide: 1. Club name 2. Club meeting time and location 3. Community involvement: 4. Club officers

1. Apron Annies

2. Second Wednesday of every other month at 6:30 p.m. in Okarche in members’ homes.

3. Yearly scholarship to an Okarche High School senior, host Okarche High School’s baccalaureate,participate in Kingfisher County Fair; donations to Okarche Memorial Hospital, Okarche Public Swimming Pool, Crafts Festival in El Reno, Okarche Fair, Kingfisher Toyland, Okarche Santa Drive, DHS Families, Okarche 4th of July celebrations, Okarchefest, Okarche schools, OKC and local Police Departments, OHS girls for Girls State, Kingfisher Relay for Life, Canadian County Red Cross, Okarche High School after Prom Party, Loosen Geriatric Center, Welcome to Okarche sign, Okarche and Kingfisher Libraries; Helping the Center of Family Love in several areas; 4. President: Mary Nell Brueggen Vice President: Betty Kroener Secretary: Robin Rother Treasurer: Marian Rother

1. Happy Homemakers

2. Second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in Kingfisher Church of the Nazarene 3. Selling hotdogs at Atwoods to raise money for the Lomega and Kingfisher schools, donations to the Kingfisher County 4-H, Meals on Wheels, Kingfisher Shop with a Cop, Kingfisher County Food Bank and the Lomega Food Bank, Toys for Tots, the fire department and more; Participate in the Kingfisher County Fair 4. President: Jo Kochenower Vice President: Danica Kramer Secretary: Erin Mayfield Treasurer: Kimberly Yost

1. Hennessey Farmerettes

2. Second Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in Hennessey 3. Library Reading Program; take-home craft kits each month (210 kits last year); Halloween candy for nursing home; Thanksgiving cards for care center residents; items for Veterans Hospital (200 items last year);exchangeplants,seeds and bulbs year round; sponsoring 4-H Achievement Banquet; touring Oklahoma State Park in Guthrie and antiquing; participating in the Kingfisher County Fair; assisting in hosting the District OHCE Meeting; attending Spring & Fall Council meetings; participated in Hennessey Red Carpet Honor Night; Billie Melendy Memorial Fund; Hennessey 4-H student scholarship; County 4-H Scholarship Fund; Leadership Camp & Roundup delegate or West District Leadership Conference sponsorships; district winner in OHCE Member of the Year; a district nominee for the Heart of OHCE; 50-year members; crafts at the beginning of meetings; 13 articles in the Kingfisher Times & Press about OHCE 4. President: Pansy Wheeler Vice President: Paula Nicholson Secretary: Margie Mc-Connell Treasurer: Jamie Akenhead

1. Omega

2. Second Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in Omega 3. Participates in the Kingfisher County Fair; donated socks, hats, gloves and coats for Santa’s Toyland; 4-H National Make It With Wool contest scholarship; donated canned food items to local food pantry; 50-year members 4. President: Karen Castonguay Vice President: Rhonda Winters Secretary: Cherie Ingram Treasurer: Patricia Mann

1. Pistol Pinny’s

2. Second Tuesday of the month in Okarche 3. Meetings are a night of crafting and laughter; Winterfest craft fair: set up & clean up, organizing vendor booths, baked goods, raffles, soups and pies sales; scholarships for graduating Seniors at Okarche High School 4. President: Samantha Kremeier Vice President: Lauren Stroh Secretary: Randi Muniz Treasurer: Kristina Mueggenborg

1. Plainview

2. Second Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in Kingfisher 3. Participates in the Kingfisher County Fair; donations to Kingfisher’s Santa’s Toyland, Kingfisher Memorial Library and Dolly Parton Imagination Library; Hosted Spring Council 2025; $1,000 Kingfisher senior scholarship; sponsors a Senior Tea for Kingfisher senior girls; decorates the Chisholm Trail Museum at Christmas; volunteering throughout the year 4. President: Debbie Winters Vice President: Loretta Kretchmar Secretary: Kathy Kadavy Treasurer: Terri Peck

1. Queen Bees

2. Second Thursday of the month at 11 a.m. at Optimize Living Wellness Clinic in Kingfisher 3. Participating in the Kingfisher County Fair; volunteering throughout the year: Compassion Clinic meal, 4-H Food Contest judging, Helping the elderly widows in our neighborhoods, Litter and limb clean up to beautify our town; HUGS (hats, underwear, gloves, and socks) drive for Santa’s Toyland; donations to the Kingfisher Memorial Library and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library; attending Spring and Fall Council; assisting in hosting the District OHCE Meeting in Watonga; 2024 co-host for Spring Council; 2024 Fall Council host at Scissortail Crossing Events Venue in Kingfisher; spring outings and Christmas outings together that involve antiquing, touring museums all over Oklahoma; multiple plant nurseries, ceramic and painting classes, and of course trying fun new places to eat, like Gage’s Steakhouse; we also enjoy swapping fun new recipes for healthy meals 4. President: Dr. Ashley Cowan Neal Vice President: Amy Tollison Secretary: Rena Tollison Treasurer: Desiree Austin For more information about HCEs in Kingfisher County, contact Peterman at 405.375.3822.