Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving Physically and Mentally
Improving Lifestyle Decisions
FCS, Ammerman, 4H
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Local Food Systems
Leadership
The obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of Kentuckians. Obese individuals are at an increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. The obesity rate in Kentucky increased 90 percent over the last 15 years. Thirty percent of individuals in the Commonwealth report no leisure-time physical activity. Increased consumption of unhealthy food, stress, and built environments that promote physical inactivity are largely responsible for the obesity epidemic. As a result, Kentuckians are dying from heart disease and cancer at higher rates than all Americans and they have a lower life expectancy, 75.5 years, compared to 78 years for Americans. Between 2006-2012 in Grant County: 31.2% (44.4%-20.4%) of adults reported having been diagnosed with high blood pressure and 26.6% (36.1%-18.8%) of adults reported fair or poor health.
Another epidemic hitting Grant County is substance abuse. In 2014 there were 13 deaths in Grant County attributed to overdose, and three Neighboring counties are in the top 5 counties with the highest amount of overdoses. This is a growing issue that has to be addressed in order to bring awareness and eventually decrease the amount of substance abuse
- Routinely meeting physical activity and dietary recommendations that promote health and wellness (e.g. 150 minutes a week of moderate activity and consuming recommended daily fruits and vegetables)
- Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work, and play
- Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity
- Generate positive attitudes toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy
- Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods
- Improve self-efficacy in physical activity, movement, and active routes to destinations
- Decrease tobacco/ substance use
- Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease (e.g. tobacco use, poor nutrition, & lack of physical activity)
- Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy practices
- Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. preparation techniques, safe food handling)
- Increase motivation to be active
- Increase awareness of accessible safe places for activity
Initial Outcome: Knowledge Gained
Indicator: Participants are able to recognize the difference between good and bad habits
Method: Written or Oral Evaluation, Pre and Post Test
Timeline: Immediate
Intermediate Outcome: Behavior Change
Indicator: Making the choice to practice good behaviors including eating nutritious foods, increasing physical activity, avoiding substance abuse, etc.
Method: Oral and Written Evaluations, Pre and Post Tests.
Timeline: 1-3 Years
Long-term Outcome: Changes in the health and lifestyles of Grant County residents
Indicator: Lower obesity rates, higher life longevity, and increased physical activity
Method: Noticeable changes in census data, health organizations data, and policy changes that promote healthy lifestyles and that address substance abuse.
Timeline: 10 years
Audience: Middle Schoolers
Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours
Content or Curriculum: truth and Consequences
Inputs: Agents, schools, community organizations, community partners
Date: Spring 2022
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Content or Curriculum: Weight the Reality Series
Inputs: Agent, Curriculum, volunteers
Date: Jan 2022
Audience: Adults with diabetes and Caretakers
Project or Activity: Taking ownership of your diabetes
Content or Curriculum: Taking ownership of your diabetes
Inputs: Agents, NKY Health Department, Dietitians, curriculum
Date: Summer 2022
Audience: Families
Project or Activity: Family Mealtime
Content or Curriculum: Family Mealtime
Inputs: Agents, Assistants, community partners.
Date: Fall 2021
Audience: Grant County Citizens of all ages
Project or Activity: Biggest Winner
Content or Curriculum: Various programs
Inputs: Agents, Snap Assistant, program assistants, community partners, FFLAG
Date: April 2022
Audience: 3rd – 8th graders
Project or Activity: 4-H Boot Camp
Content or Curriculum: Various programs
Inputs: Agents, volunteers, schools
Date: October 2021 – April 2022
Audience: 3rd – 5th graders
Project or Activity: 4-H Fun, Fitness & Food Afterschool program
Content or Curriculum: Various programs
Inputs: Agents, Snap Assistant, program assistants, community partners, FFLAG
Date: Fall 2021
Audience: 3rd – 5th graders
Project or Activity: Fitness Club
Content or Curriculum: Various programs
Inputs: Agents, Snap Assistant, program assistants, community partners, FFLAG
Date: January 2021
Audience: Grant County Citizens of all ages
Project or Activity: promoting local food systems
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Inputs: Agents, farmers market, curriculum
Date: Summer 2021
Audience: adults
Project or Activity: Food Preservation
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: Agents, farmers market, curriculum
Date: Summer 2021
Audience: Preschool
Project or Activity: LEAP
Content or Curriculum: LEAP
Inputs: Agents, assistants, curriculum
Date: 2021-2022 School year
Audience: 5th Grade Students
Project or Activity: Recipe for Life
Content or Curriculum: Recipe for Life
Inputs: Agents, assistants, volunteers, schools, and curriculum
Date: Spring 2022
Audience: adults
Project or Activity: Food Preparation/Plate It Up KY Proud
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: Agents, farmers market, curriculum
Date: Summer 2022
Author: Chris Ammerman
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Recent research has revealed that during the past 6 year more than 60,000 people were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal, agricultural-related injuries. This study concluded that numbers if nonfatal agricultural injuries was somewhat limited because some injuries went unreported. Over the period, an estimated 62,079 people were treated in an emergency department for agricultural-related injuries. With an average age of 66, farmers in general are not getting younger and G
Author: Asa Conkwright
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
Kitchen Appliance DemoThe small kitchen appliance market in the United States has grown rapidly as of late and according to Allied Market Research it is expected to grow even larger. Small kitchen appliances are gaining momentum as they offer multiple advantages in certain situations, such as preparing healthier, low fat foods (air fryer), cooking foods to accommodate busy schedules (slow cookers), having multi-function appliances that take up less space (multi-cookers), and cooking economically
Author: Chris Ammerman
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
All students in the Grant County School District qualify for the USDA school lunch program. Over the past few years interest in locally grown produce has continued to climb. The art of gardening has skipped a couple generations as the nation's food supply has made it easier to purchase than grow. Students, teachers, and family resource agents from Sherman Elementary School partnered with the agents from the Grant County Extension Service have started a project t
Author: Ari Veach
Major Program: Cook Wild Kentucky
Hunting is a popular activity for people to do with their kids here in the state. With Kentucky's vast lands and wooded areas hunting is a great way to get outdoors. I was able to partner with Grant County Nutrition Education Program (SNAP), Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, and UK Department of Agriculture to put on a 2 month long Cook Wild series focusing on the recipes provided by SNAP. Lorie Dunn (Grant SNAP) provided the weekly meetings for families to come in together and cook wild game. Wee
