Oklahoma 4-H investment tops $1 million as Roundup returns to Stillwater

Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma has backed Oklahoma 4-H with a $1 million endowment since 2020, plus more than $100,000 for a STEM summit, as the group marks its 105th annual Roundup at Oklahoma State University. The support is expanding leadership training and hands-on STEM programs for thousands of youth across the state.

Why it matters: - Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma's long-running investment is helping Oklahoma 4-H reach more young people with leadership development and STEM education. - The partnership is expanding access to programs that prepare students to teach, lead and serve in their home communities. - The funding now supports thousands of Oklahoma 4-H members through Roundup, STEM activities and related statewide programming.

What happened: - Oklahoma 4-H is holding its 105th annual Roundup July 22-24 at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. - Since 2020, Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma has created a $1 million endowment for Oklahoma 4-H Roundup and statewide STEM programming. - The foundation has also contributed more than $100,000 to the Oklahoma 4-H Innovate Summit. - Oklahoma 4-H Roundup is the organization's premier leadership event and brings together youth from across the state for workshops, contests, recognition programs and leadership development. - MCFOK Honor Night during Roundup recognizes outstanding 4-H members from across Oklahoma.

The details: - The endowment helps offset program costs and broaden access to leadership experiences. - Oklahoma 4-H Innovate Summit trains high school students to return to their counties and teach STEM lessons to younger members. - The peer-to-peer model has grown from 2,859 youth served in 2022 to more than 20,000 in 2025. - Dr. Kelly Wardlaw, Oklahoma 4-H Youth Development STEM specialist, said the program's strength is that participants immediately apply their training by leading STEM activities in their hometown communities. - MCFOK support has also helped Oklahoma youth attend the National 4-H Council's Ignite Conference. - Ignite participants explore STEM careers and build leadership skills with 4-H members from across the country. - Many Ignite alumni now help lead Oklahoma programs including STEM for Y'all and STEM Storytime. - Those programs extend STEM learning opportunities to younger students across the state. - Milford H. Jenkins, executive director of the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation, said the foundation's philanthropic support has helped youth gain STEM training and experience Roundup on the Oklahoma State University campus. - Jenkins said Oklahoma 4-H is humbled by MCFOK's charitable investments in youth and programs. - One Innovate participant said the summit helped with meeting new friends and learning how ideas can be applied in county programs. - Another participant said the experience made that student more capable in engineering than expected. - Kate Wardlaw, an Oklahoma 4-H member, said Ignite inspired an interest in becoming a teacher or 4-H educator.

Between the lines: - The funding strategy is not only underwriting events; it is building a pipeline where older youth train younger members and then bring those skills back to local communities. - That model appears to scale quickly because one trained student can reach many more youth through county programs and classroom-style STEM activities. - The partnership also links leadership training with career exposure, which may help Oklahoma 4-H retain older participants as mentors and volunteers.

What's next: - Oklahoma 4-H members will continue gathering in Stillwater during Roundup later this month. - The partnership is expected to keep supporting leadership development, hands-on STEM education and community service preparation for Oklahoma youth. - More information about Oklahoma 4-H Roundup is available here.