Extension
It Starts With Us
Get Fit Nicholas County
Healthy Living Initiative
FCS/Ag/4-H
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Health
Local Food Systems
Nicholas County is plagued by high rates of hypertension, diabetes, obesity/overweight, and incredibly low rates of consumption of fruits/vegetables and physical activity.
According to a 2012 survey by the CDC; 12.4% of adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, 31.7% of adults were obese and 33.7% of adults reported no exercise in the past month. Kentucky Health Facts goes on to state that 63% of the population in Nicholas County are overweight, 37% have been diagnosed with hypertension, and only 7% of the population consume the recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
Increase in physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables leading to a decrease in county wide diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity rates
Participants utilize meal planning techniques
Intensification of current physical activity routine
Selection of new fruits and vegetables to taste and cook at home
Incorporation of healthy snacks into daily routine
Completing 30 minutes of physical activity a day
Initial Outcome: Selection of fruits and vegetables at home
Indicator: Increase purchases at farmers market and at local grocery
Method: Surveys of retailers and farmers market participants
Timeline: Ongoing
Intermediate Outcome: Intensification of physical activity
Indicator: Increase of YMCA memberships at local level and participation in NC FitBlue Challenge
Method: Survey of participants, enrollment and registration numbers
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Increase in after school physical activity
Indicator: Participation in 21st Century programming
Method: Enrollment
Timeline: Ongoing
Audience: Nicholas County Youth
Project or Activity: 21st Century Health Club
Content or Curriculum: Dance Fit and Health Rocks
Inputs: Health curriculum, 21st Century coordinator, gym/location
Date: 2021-2024
Audience: Nicholas County Youth
Project or Activity: FitBlue
Content or Curriculum: FitBlue
Inputs: FitBlue app, marketing materials
Date: 2021-2024
Audience: Nicholas County Families
Project or Activity: Community Garden
Content or Curriculum: Plate it Up recipes, UK Publications, Food Preservation workshops
Inputs: Volunteers, garden space, recipe cards, curriculum
Date: 2021-2024
Author: Madison McAlmond
Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
On September 17, 2020, Nicholas County received a shipment of over $70,000 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables from Marion Specialty foods to be distributed throughout the community funded by the USDA Farmers to Families program. The Nicholas County Fire Department volunteered their building to be the distribution site. The program was made possible by the Nicholas County Judge Executives Office and Fiscal Court with numerous amounts of volunteers and community partners helping pass out the box
Author: Lindsay Arthur
Major Program: Health
The Nicholas County Extension Office has incorporated many virtual options and pick-up kits into our outreach programming efforts. During the last week of October our office offered The Great Pumpkin Carving Contest pick-up kit incorporating aspects of 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as Family and Consumer Sciences. Families signed up in advance to receive their package with everything they needed to create two pumpkin recipes, a STEM pumpkin catapult project and
Author: Madison McAlmond
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Teaching the pilot program “Sharing Meals: A Smarter Guide to Potlucks” during a global pandemic was not the easiest, but it is still so important. “According to the Centers for Disease Control, Kentucky ranks very poorly in health, falling in the top 10 in the nation for deaths due to diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. Food choices are an important factor in the management and prevention of these diseases.” Although we cannot currently gather for potlucks, per CDC and
