(Stillwater, Okla. – March 10, 2016) Since Oklahoma is one of the leading producers of wheat, Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center is excited to promote this commodity by celebrating Bake and Take Month in March.

The Bake and Take promotion encourages participants to bake a product made from wheat and take it to friends, relatives or neighbors, said Renée Albers-Nelson, FAPC milling and baking specialist.

“We can get our youth involved in experiencing the joys of baking and understanding the importance of the cereal grain, wheat, grown in our state through this Bake and Take promotion,” Nelson said.

FAPC, a part of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and the Oklahoma Wheat Commission have worked with DASNR’s State 4-H program for the past several years in promoting Bake and Take Month.

“The 4-H members are our focus because they are strong in agriculture and community service,” Nelson said. “We encourage youth to purchase Oklahoma-milled flour as they participate in the Bake and Take program in their 4-H clubs.”

4-H members across the state are encouraged to bake products made with wheat and use Made in Oklahoma Coalition products while completing the steps of service learning: preparation, action, reflection and celebration.

Mandy Gross, FAPC communications services manager, said Bake and Take Month is not limited to just 4-H members; anyone can participate in the event.

“We want to see how people are using wheat to celebrate Bake and Take Month in their own way and what Made in Oklahoma products are being used,” Gross said. “If you participate in Bake and Take Month, please take photos of the ‘baking’ and ‘taking’ process and send them to us to be posted on FAPC’s social media sites.”

Individuals can submit photos by emailing mandy.gross@okstate.edu and noting the Made in Oklahoma products used and where the baked goods were shared.

Bake and Take began in 1970 by the Kansas Wheathearts, an auxiliary organization of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, as a community service event to celebrate the wheat harvest in Sumner County, Kansas. For 45 years, Bake and Take Month has been an opportunity to celebrate relationships with friends and family by baking and sharing treats.

- ### -

Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, Oklahoma State has graduated more than 260,000 students who have been serving Oklahoma and the world for 125 years.