July 1, 2023 Issue, Page 3 of 8

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July 1, 2023 The Elk City News -3 News Dietitians Experience Ranching, Learn Beef Nutrition OKLAHOMA CITY (June Dietitians spanning from and Oklahoma Beef Coun- 23, 2023) - Nutrition Adven- California to New York to cil's Sheri Glazier gave a pre- ture aims to clear beef indus- Florida to Nebraska came to sentation on “What is Cool try misconceptions, connect Kansas City for programming about Beef?” on the first dietitians with producers and centered on beef, food inclu- day. This presentation was provide applicable science sivity and food styling. At- a crash course on the cattle and skills to dietitians na- tendees were diverse in their industry and beef. Topics tionwide. This three-day Beef specialties, ranging from uni- covered included beef nutri- Checkoff-funded program, versity dining services to so- tion, the meaning of various held May 23-25, is co-hosted cial media influencers. labels on beef products and by the Kansas, Nebraska, Kansas Beef Council's the different beef cuts avail- Oklahoma and Missouri state Abby Heidari, Nebraska able. The day concluded with beef councils. Beef Council's Mitch Rippe a “Chopped”-style culinary Delta Dental of Oklahoma Offers Free Resources to Uninsured, Registered dietitians from across the U.S. visit Tailgate Ranch to learn about beef Underinsured Elk City Patients production. Photo courtesy Kansas Beef Counc competition, where partici- This panel was open to all Jenn Davis. After the event, pants made meals featuring questions from attendees. state beef council staff stayed ELK CITY — As Medicaid unwinding con- to call the Helpline at (405) 607-4747 to speak skirt and flank steaks. Topics included an explana- to get a more in-depth lesson tinues, Delta Dental of Oklahoma (DDOK) and to a Dental Care Navigator and determine eligi- Day two focused on con- tion of how beef is processed, on styling burgers and steaks its Foundation are helping Elk City residents bility for financial assistance. necting attendees with the the panel’s thoughts on al- in hopes of improving con- access critical oral healthcare resources, regard- beef industry directly. Partici- ternative meat products and sumer-focused efforts. “Every Oklahoman deserves access to the less of their insurance coverage status. pants started the day with a family involvement in the op- “What I really enjoyed Estimates show that 300,000 Oklahomans dental care needed to live a healthy, produc- presentation about beef sus- eration, about his event was that there will lose coverage by the time SoonerCare re- tive life,” said Terrisa Singleton, director at the tainability by Dr. Tryon Wick- On the post-event survey, were so many hands-on op- newal reviews are complete. This estimate, in Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation. “Our ersham, a ruminant nutri- one participant noted they portunities,” Elise Compston, addition to the existing 600,000 uninsuredcomprehensive dental care resources are just a tionist and professor at Texas were comfortable recom- a participant from Alabama, Oklahomans, means nearly a quarter of the few of the ways we empower patients to take A&M University. Then, local mending beef because they said. “It was so informative state’s population will lack coverage and acces- control of their oral health and help those who beef producers from Leav- got to see first-hand how pas- and really went above and be- sibility to necessary health and dental care. need it the most.” enworth County joined the sionate producers and those yond other conferences that “As the state's only not-for-profit dental Delta Dental of Oklahoma group for lunch before head- in the beef industry were we as dietitians go to.” benefits provider, our mission at Delta Dental ing to Tailgate Ranch. about raising cattle. About the Oklahoma Beef For 50 years, Delta Dental of Oklahoma, the of Oklahoma is to advance the oral health of all At Tailgate Ranch, Kirk “{ know colleagues when Council leading provider of dental benefits in the state, Sours led a farm tour sharing I get back are going to ask ‘is Oklahomans ~ including those who do not have The Oklahoma Beef Coun- has prioritized and advanced the oral health of the history of the land, cur- [large scale cattle production] dental insurance,” said John Gladden, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Oklahoma. “Our millions of Oklahomans. Delta Dental of Okla- rent management practices really sustainable’, and the cil is a non-profit led by beef farmer and rancher volun- Foundation has a number of resources available homa (DDOK) serves more than one million and how drought has affected answer is yes,” Breana Killeen, to ensure Elk City residents have access to com- eligible members and more than 9,100 Oklaho- his operation. Afterward, a a participant from Vermont, teers serving Oklahoma's passionate, quality care.” ma-headquartered companies. Delta Dental of panel consisting of Shawn said. “It was unbiased, with a 50,000 farming and ranch- The DDOK Foundation maintains the Re- Oklahoma offers Individual and Family benefit Tiffany, COO of Tiffany Cat- lot of different perspectives, ing families through the Beef source for Dental Care Guide, a comprehensive plans designed to meet the needs of Oklaho- tle Co.; Dr. Angie Siemens, and they told us the truth.” Checkoff, a federal commodi- directory of free and low-cost dental clinics and Vice President of Food Safety, Participants at the end re- ty program. Its vision is to be mans outside the workplace. For more informa- Quality and Regulatory at ported feeling more comfort- a positive difference for Okla~ programs across the state that provide critical services. The Guide includes clinics located as tion, visit DeltaDentalOK.org/CoversMe. Cargill; Dr. Dan Thomson, able with and knowledgeable homa farming and ranching near as Elk City and covers important informa- Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation Veterinary Professor at Iowa about cattle management families and the greater beef tion like cost structures, offered services, hours DDOK established its Foundation in 1998 State University; and Kirk practices and beef nutrition. community through serving of availability and more that patients can utilize to advance the company’s not-for-profit mis- Sours, cow-calf producer and To cap off Nutrition Ad- its mission to enhance beef to find the clinic that best fits their individual sion to improve the oral health of all Oklaho- owner of Tailgate Ranch sat venture, attendees headed demand by strengthening needs. mans. In addition to its free dental care resourc- down to have an open conver- to Kauffmann Stadium for a consumer trust and exceed- Additionally, Delta Dental’s Helpline con- es, the charitable organization provides grants sation with participants. food styling workshop with ing consumer expectations. nects patients with experienced Dental Care and funds to free and low-cost clinics, awards Navigators dedicated to assisting low-income, Bee hotels boost native bee populations scholarships to dental students and proactively underinsured or uninsured patients. The navi- educates thousands of elementary children gators help guide individuals through dental from across the state about proper oral hygiene referral and care systems to connect them to available resources. Delta Dental of Oklahoma and dental disease prevention. The Foundation By Trisha Gedon “Generally, a hotel provides In early spring, place the also has an Urgent Care Fund available to pro- is celebrating its 25th anniversary later this shelter for its human guests overwintered hotels or occu- year. For more information, visit DDOKFoun- STILLWATER - They may for short stays, but bee hotels pied nesting material inside vide financial assistance to qualifying uninsured not be The Ritz Carlton, The provide long-term accommo- a dark container known as an patients. Oklahomans in need are encouraged dation.org. Plaza or even a Holiday Inn, dations,” Hillock said. “You emergence box. Cut a 3/8-inch but bee hotels house impor- can construct a bee hotel using hole near the bottom for the tant guests. reed or bamboo. Other good bees to crawl out and place it Providing comfort and Supportfor End of Life cholces Native bees are among the materials include hollow stems near the original outdoor loca- many different welcome and from plants such as sunflow- tion. More information about necessary pollinators in land- ers, teasel, fennel, brambles, emergence boxes, manage- Hospice care provides medical servic emotional support, and spiritual re- scapes. raspberries and elder.” ment and overall maintenance “Native bees are the most A bee hotel mimics nesting is available online. sources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illness, such as cancer important group of about habitat and provides shelter or heart failure. Hospice care helps mily members manage the practical 200,000 species of pollina- from weather and predators, Aside from bee hotels, there are other ways gardeners details and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one. tors,” said David Hillock, Okla- said Andrine Shufran, OSU Ex- can help boost the bee popula~ homa State University Exten- tension specialist and director tion. For questions regarding hospice service or eligibility, contact: sion consumer horticulturist. of OSU's Insect Adventure. “Native bees are five times “They provide an important “The bee hotel serves a better pollinators than honey link to the environment by car- dual purpose,” Shufran said. bees, along with wasps and Carrie Perry, RN/ Adminsistrator rying pollen from one plant to “irst, it provides a place for flies, so it’s important to plant another to ensure the growth native bees to lay eggs during native flowers,” Shufran said. Pat Welsh, RN/ Coordinator of Patient C of seeds and fruits. Some pol- the warm season and serves “Native flowers are shaped to len is carried by the wind, but as their home during pollina- other pollen can be heavy and tion. Second, it gives the bees accommodate the bee’s body, which makes it easy for them Some of the most common conditions are requires pollinators to move a place to overwinter when the to reach the pollen. Although it. Pollination is responsible seasons change.” * Cancer * Failure to Thrive © End Stage Cardiac Disease (CHF) For those who want to non-native plants are beauti- * End Stage Cerebrovascular Disease (CVA) ° End Stage Amyotrophic for nearly $20 billion worth of products annually.” build a bee condo or hotel, affix ful, they may not provide what Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) * End Stage Pulmonary Dise: e (COPD) When observing all of the it waist or chest high on a tree, beesShufran need.” * End Stage Liver Disease * End Stage Renal Dise: fabulous plants in the land- fence or wall near the pollen to research encourages native people bees and scape, remember the role pol- source. Shufran said bees com- how humans can help elevate * End Stage Neurologi al Disease such as Parkinson's or lination plays and think about mute between their habitat what canbe done to help native and the pollen source multiple bee populations. bees perform their job. Pollina-times a day, so the closer to- “What you learn, along ys rte tors are also a key element in gether they are, the more time with your children and grand- erry, RN Professional, Passionate the agricultural industry, and bees spend pollinating, children, can make a differ- the world’s food supply would When installing it, choose ence in the long run,” she said. Advance, Attentive... be smaller, less colorful and a sunny spot in the landscape “Insects have been around for Jess nutritious without bees. and have the bee hotel face the 500 million years. What we Our Difference Is Our Car To help protect and in- east so it gets the morning sun do today has a big impact on crease the dwindling popu- but won't get too hot later in the future. Limiting the use of lation of these pollinators, the day. insecticides, planting native homeowners can build bee Tilt the hotel slightly flowers and providing habitat Have you ever considered becoming hotels, which are the insect downward so moisture won't for native bees has a big impact a hospice volunteer? equivalent of a birdhouse. collect inside the tubes. It’s a ‘on our lives.” Also known as bee condos, good idea to cover the front of Detailed information on fulfilling experience in the spirit bee houses or nest blocks, the bee hotel with screening to building a bee condo is avail- these structures provide nest- keep out predators. able online. of giving and receiving. ing spaces for solitary bees or Shufran said bee hotels OSU Extension uses re- wasps in places where natural should be cleaned out during search-based information to habitats may be scarce. These February or March, but timing help all Oklahomans solve lo- species make their homes in is important. cal issues and concerns, pro- holes in dead wood, hollow “Cleaning them out too mote leadership and manage plant stems or other nooks soon risks disturbing viable resources wisely throughout and crannies in the landscape cocoons, while acting too late the state’s 77 counties. Most because they don’t excavate may disturb newly laid eggs,” information is available at lit- their own holes. she said. tle to no cost.