OHCE to host Food Festival Friday

May 7—The Oklahoma Home and Community Payne County Extension office is typically busy all year long — but especially during the month of May.

The OHCE is boosting efforts with a food festival.

Homemade baked goods will be available for purchase at the OHCE Food Festival from 8-11:30 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church at 400 West Seventh Ave.

This week is OHCE week in Oklahoma, said LeeAnn Barton, chairman of the OHCE Food Festival.

"Throughout the month we accelerate our efforts to be visible and better understood by the communities we serve," Barton said. "If you have company coming for graduation or just want an early Mother's Day treat, please come support us."

A sampling of some of the baked goods that will be available include cakes such as German chocolate, Italian cream, fruit and nuts, angel food and "any other cake from scratch," said Barton.

Other baked goods include fruit pies, pecan pie, homemade white and whole wheat bread, various quick breads, cinnamon rolls and specialty sweet and savory yeast breads. Cookies and coffee will also be available.

All prices are below bakery prices, Barton said.

The Lunch Bunch — one of six groups from the Payne County Extension and 4-H office with members totaling 100 — are part of the OHCE Cooperative Extension, a statewide, county-based organization that partners with Oklahoma State University to develop leadership skills and strengthen families in their communities.

In Payne County, the six local groups include Cherokee, Cimarron Valley, Elm Grove, Floral Valley, Lunch Bunch and Rising Star. The Food Festival fundraiser will help the six local groups raise money for their unique projects.

"The Food Festival is a friendly 'bake off' between members where judges compare our kitchen creations," Barton said. "But even more importantly, the Food Festival is the one fundraiser that has the specific purpose of replacing the scholarship monies for the Gloria Hesser Scholarship."

All donations for the Gloria Hesser Scholarship are tax-deductible.

Gloria Hesser, a former Payne County Commissioner and President of the Payne County OHCE, was a founding member of OHCE's Lunch Bunch. Upon her death, a scholarship was established to allow her contribution to Stillwater and Payne County to continue influencing others.

OHCE's goal is to serve, promote and educate its communities in areas of healthy living, cultural enrichment, family issues and resource management. OHC holds three fundraisers each year.

"Last year we were able to award $3,500 in scholarships to senior high graduates and supported 4-H and their youth educational programs with more than $4,000," Barton said.

The Lunch Bunch is best known for running the concessions kitchen during the Payne County Free Fair, and they were able to raise about half the money needed to continue giving at this level.

"The last two years, in tandem at the fair, we have been able to fund one scholarship through the community's participation in our OHCE Silent Auction," Barton said.

Each group creates their own projects to give back to the community, including making Quilts of Valor for veterans, providing books for the Perkins Territorial Plaza StoryWalk, collecting and distributing personal care products, making lap quilts for seniors and volunteering for Our Daily Bread.

"These are just a few of the ways members impact the community in positive ways," Barton said.