Delaware County OSU Extension

08/25/2026

2026 Delaware County Fair Book
We do not have hard copies at our office.
Please use the digital link.

08/22/2026

It’s almost time!

Friday forecast: 100% chance of thinking about getting back in the show ring 💥

Livestock and Horse Show entries are due in just ONE week! Submit them online here: https://www.tulsastatefair.com/p/getconnected/lsahs/livestockentries

08/20/2026

Food Pantries are great resources for families, individuals and local communities. They impact our local communities in various positive ways including helping with the reduction of stress and anxiety associated with food insecurity.

Your food donations provide essential support for those in need, helping to ensure access to nutritional meals. However, according to OSU Extension Nutritional Sciences experts, Nila Pradhananga and Christi Evans, not all foods are safe to donate, and items that are poorly handled or stored can pose health risks.

They recommend that choosing high-quality foods, keeping them in good condition and following safe handling practices, helps maintain food safety, freshness and nutritional value for those receiving them.

The Oklahoma State University Extension Fact Sheet entitled "Food Safety at Food Pantries: Guidelines for Safe Handling, Storage and Donation of Foods", provides great tips on the subject.

Go tohttps://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/print-publications/fcs/food-safety-at-food-pantries-guidelines-for-safe-handling-storage-and-donation-of-foods-a.pdf to read specific tips regarding safety, storage and contamination risks. Be sure to check out the helpful table that provides a list of items that have extended shelf-lives and shows how long the food item is safe to eat.

08/14/2026

Fair set-up!

🚨 FAIR SET-UP TOMORROW! 🚨

Join us TOMORROW, August 15, starting at 9:00 AM as we get everything ready for the 2026 Delaware County Fair!
📅 Saturday, August 15
⏰ 9:00 AM – Until Complete
📍 Delaware County Fairgrounds
Many hands make light work, and we’d appreciate all the help we can get as we get ready to Build on Tradition at our new fairgrounds! See you at 9! 💪

08/05/2026

Stay Hydrated during the hot summer!

It's Not Just Water: Smart Ways to Stay Hydrated

When temperatures soar, we often hear, "Drink more water!" And that's great advice—but staying hydrated is about more than just what's in your water bottle.

Your body depends on water to regulate temperature, cushion joints, transport nutrients, and keep your heart, brain, and muscles functioning properly. During hot weather, you lose fluids through sweat—even if you don't realize it. Replacing those fluids is essential.

Hydration Tips for Hot Days:
• Drink before you're thirsty. Thirst is a sign your body is already beginning to get dehydrated.
• Eat your water! Many fruits and vegetables are naturally high in water and help keep you hydrated. Try: watermelon, cucumbers, strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, celery, lettuce These foods also provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
• Watch sugary drinks. Regular soda, sweet tea, and many sports drinks can add a lot of sugar and calories. Water is usually the best choice for everyday hydration. If you're exercising intensely for more than an hour or working outdoors for long periods, a sports drink may help replace electrolytes—but most people don't need them for routine daily activities.
• Limit alcohol and excess caffeine. These beverages can contribute to fluid loss in some people, especially if they're replacing water throughout the day.
• Carry a reusable water bottle. Having water nearby makes it much easier to sip throughout the day.

Don’t like plain water?
If plain water isn't your favorite, there are plenty of healthy ways to add flavor without adding sugar.
• Infuse your water with fresh fruit such as strawberries, oranges, cucumbers, lemons, limes, or mint.
• Add sugar-free drink mix packets to your water.
• Create your own fun combinations by adding a sugar-free flavored drink packet with one or two pumps of a sugar-free flavored syrup.

Our Hydration Station has been a big hit to both youth and adults by mixing flavors like cherry, strawberry, coconut, vanilla, and pineapple to create refreshing, zero-sugar drinks that make staying hydrated a little more fun. We make suggestions of combinations by using fun names like:
• Berry Beach (strawberry packet with a sq**rt of sugar-free coconut syrup),
• Cherry Paradise – pineapple packet with cherry syrup
• Sunset Tropic Twist – orange packet with coconut syrup
• Orange Cream Dream – orange packet with vanilla syrup
• Blue Lagoon – blue raspberry packet with vanilla syrup

The best hydration plan is the one you'll actually enjoy and stick with. Finding a healthy flavor combination you love can help you drink more water throughout the day.

Know the Warning Signs
Mild dehydration may cause:
• Thirst
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Dark yellow urine
• Dizziness
If someone develops confusion, faints, has a rapid heartbeat, or stops sweating despite the heat, seek medical attention immediately. These may be signs of heat-related illness.

Staying hydrated isn't just about drinking water—it's about making smart choices that help your body stay cool, healthy, and energized all summer long!

Sources:
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Heat and Hydration
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Hydration and Healthy Beverage Choices
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate

07/29/2026

Fall Fair information

07/22/2026

Food Safety Information

Cyclosporiasis
People can become infected with Cyclospora by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite. People living in or traveling to countries where cyclosporiasis is endemic may be at increased risk of infection. In the U.S., most cases of cyclosporiasis typically occur from May through August.
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foklahoma.gov%2Fhealth%2Fhealth-education%2Facute-disease-service%2Ffood-safety-and-foodborne-diseases%2Fcyclosporiasis.html&data=05%7C02%7Capril.hauenstein%40okstate.edu%7Cb26164ff893c45c5cd5208dee1f6126b%7C2a69c91de8494e34a230cdf8b27e1964%7C0%7C0%7C639196644204913013%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QzlctUuAbm1H2hJgwbMJTdx8T%2FLvN3qUn6X7BgQn4YE%3D&reserved=0

07/11/2026

Come see us today at Delaware County Fairgrounds for

CHRISTMAS in JULY!!

We will be here til 2pm

07/09/2026

Don't forget to come see us on Saturday!

07/02/2026

AI: Friend, Tool... or Future Boss?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere lately. From helping write emails to recommending your next movie, AI is changing the way we work and live. But what exactly is AI? Should we be worried?

AI is probably already part of your day. You may use AI more often than you realize! Most of these technologies quietly work in the background to save us time and make everyday tasks easier. AI powers many everyday tools, including:
• Voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant
• Email spam filters and Smart Reply suggestions
• Predictive Text in emails, text messages, notes
• Online shopping recommendations
• Netflix and Spotify recommendations
• Face recognition to unlock your phone
• GPS apps that suggest the fastest route around traffic
• Fraud detection that alerts your bank to suspicious purchases
• Precision agriculture tools that help farmers monitor crops and livestock

Will AI Replace Human Workers? The short answer is: No, not entirely.
AI is very good at repetitive tasks, organizing information, finding patterns, and generating ideas. But it still lacks qualities that people bring every day:
• Empathy
• Relationship building
• Critical thinking
• Creativity
• Ethical decision-making
• Understanding emotions and context

Many experts believe AI is more likely to change jobs than eliminate them. Just as computers became tools for nearly every profession, AI is becoming another tool that can help people work more efficiently. The most successful workers will likely be those who learn how to use AI effectively—not those who avoid it.

The Benefits of AI:
• Saves time on routine tasks
• Helps organize and summarize information
• Makes learning and translation more accessible
• Assists with brainstorming and creativity
• Improves customer service and accessibility
• Helps detect fraud and improve safety

The Challenges
• AI can make mistakes or provide incorrect information.
• It may reflect biases found in the data it was trained on.
• Privacy matters—avoid sharing sensitive personal or financial information with AI tools.
Overreliance on AI can reduce critical thinking if we stop checking facts ourselves.

Different AI platforms each have their own strengths and are designed for different types of tasks. One thing they all have in common is that they generate responses based on the information they have been trained on and the prompts you provide during your interactions. Some AI tools also generate links or cite sources that appear legitimate, but those references may be inaccurate, outdated, or even fabricated. That's why it's important to verify information using trusted sources and do your own fact-checking before relying on AI-generated content, especially when making important decisions.

The Bottom Line
Think of AI like a calculator or GPS. These tools are incredibly helpful, but you still need to know when they're wrong and make good decisions. The best approach is to use AI as a thinking partner, not a thinking replacement. Ask questions, verify important information, protect your personal information, and continue using the skills that make us uniquely human. After all, technology works best when people are still in the driver's seat.

Sources:
• Pew Research Center, Americans and AI 2026 (June 2026)
• Pew Research Center, About 1 in 5 US Workers Now Use AI (Oct 2025)
• NIST AI Risk Management Framework
• AI.gov — Federal AI Strategy