Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles
Health and Wellness
Elizabeth Coots, Ryan Farley, Faye Kuosman, Adam Probst
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Health
Family and Consumer Science
Local stakeholders have listed healthy lifestyles as an issue facing Woodford County today. It is important to address the issues of overall well-being of individuals and families throughout the county. According to the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, approximately 32% of Woodford County adults are classified as obese. In addition, approximately 11% of adults suffer from diabetes. Other lifestyle challenges facing Woodford County include cardiovascular disease, breast and prostate cancer. Within all of these areas of focus, financial stability arises as access to health care is an added area of concern.
Consumption of nutritious foods and healthier cooking practices will be increased. Rates of youth and adult obesity will decrease. Participation in life skills workshops such as cooking and food preservation will increase.
Farmer's Market and local food purchases will increase, as well as the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Clientele will increase their currrent level of physical activity.
Clientele will identify the benefits of buying local, seasonal foods and will develop skills for healthier food selection, cooking and preservation. Clientele will also be able to explain why physical activity is important to their daily life.
Long-Term Outcome: Consumption of nutritious foods and healthier cooking practices will be increased. Rates of youth and adult obesity will decrease. Participation in life skills workshops such as cooking and food preservation will increase.
Indicator: Reduced rates of youth and adult obesity in Woodford County
Method: Data review from Foundation for a Healthy KY, Woodford Co Health Department
Timeline: Annually
Intermediate Outcome: Farmer's Market and local food purchases will increase, as well as the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Clientele will increase their currrent level of physical activity.
Indicator: Sales data from Woodford County Farmer's Market
Method: Collection of data from vendors, market review summary from Market Manager
Timeline: Annually
Initial Outcome: Clientele will identify the benefits of buying local, seasonal foods and will develop skills for healthier food selection, cooking and preservation. Clientele will also be able to explain why physical activity is important to their daily life.
Indicator: Workshop participation and participant feedback
Method: Post workshop interviews with participants, written evaluations
Timeline: Monthly
Project or Activity: Hands-on and virtual cooking workshops
Content or Curriculum: Cook Together, Eat Together
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Health Department, Schools, Public Library
Date: Fall
Audience: 5th grade youth
Project or Activity: Hands-on and virtual cooking program
Content or Curriculum: Recipes for Life
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Schools, SNAP-Ed, Family Resource Centers
Date: Fall
Audience: Community Residents
Project or Activity: Canning Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Food Preservation Curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant/Intern Time, CES Publications, Commercial Kitchen, NCHFP Resources
Date: Summer
Audience: Residents Age 55+
Project or Activity: Bingocize
Content or Curriculum: WKU Bingocize Curriculum
Inputs: Agent Time, Senior Citizens Centers/Homes
Date: Fall
Audience: 8th and 10th grade students
Project or Activity: Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours
Content or Curriculum: Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours Curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Volunteers, Community Sponsors, School Sponsors
Audience: Middle School Students
Project or Activity: Botvin Life Skills
Content or Curriculum: Botvin Life Skills Curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Community Agencies, Middle School Guidance Counselors
Audience: Woodford County Residents
Audience: Farmer's Market Promotion events and articles
Content: per agent, UK materials
Inputs: County Office Staff and Agents
Date: spring, summer, fall, annually
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Cooking Club/Culinary Challenge
Content or Curriculum: Cooking curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Materials
Date: September - Fall
Author: T. Adam Probst
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
In 2022, the Woodford Co. Extension Service collaborated with several local partners on the Annual Farm Tour. Over 250 participants learned about production agriculture, genetically modified crops, local foods and farmers markets, and local watershed studies. Several months after the event, a participant stated that the information they learned about genetically modified crops and local foods at the farm tour event led them to make more informed decisions about their food purchases.
Author: Ryan Farley
Major Program: Leadership
Fostering healthy lifestyles within the youth of Woodford County has been identified as a priority within the community. As youth are inclined to spend more and more time in front of screens, providing experiences that focus on healthy habit development is one way that 4-H can distinguish itself as an effective positive youth development organization. With this in mind, Woodford County 4-H partnered with a community yoga studio, Elemental Yoga, to plan and implement a yoga workshop for youth in
