Success Stories - Kentucky Extension Reporting System

Fiscal Year: 2025

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Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025

Success StoriesKentucky Extension Reporting System

Walk Your Way: Inspiring Health Through Movement

Author: Jill Harris

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Walk Your Way: Inspiring Health Through MovementLow physical activity levels, poor nutrition, and mental health challenges are known contributors to chronic diseases—and they continue to be major public health concerns. According to America’s Health Rankings, Kentucky ranks among the least physically active states.In response, Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agents in the Pennyrile Area launched Walk Your Way, an 11-week walking challenge aimed at boosting physical activity and en

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Strong Bones for Life: Prevent Osteoporosis

Author: Nanette Banks

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Describe the Issue or Situation.  Osteoporosis, or low bone mass, affects about 1 in 10 people aged 50 or over in the United States (Healthy People 2030). Weak bones put people at high risk for fractures and serious health problems. It is a “costly and socioeconomic burden in all regions of the world,” according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation. There is no cure for osteoporosis, but early screening, prevention, and some treatments can prevent or reduce fracture rate

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Walk Your Way: Inspiring Health Through Movement

Author: Tiffany Bolinger

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Low physical activity levels, poor nutrition, and mental health challenges are known contributors to chronic diseases—and they continue to be major public health concerns. According to America’s Health Rankings, Kentucky ranks among the least physically active states.In response, Family and Consumer Sciences Agents in the Pennyrile Area launched Walk Your Way, a 12-week walking challenge aimed at boosting physical activity and encouraging healthier lifestyles among local residents.43

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Move Your Way

Author: Ashley Board

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Physical activity plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and greatly supports both physical and mental well-being. In Kentucky, there's an ongoing need to encourage more active lifestyles among families. According to the CDC, 29.7% of Kentucky adults reported no physical activity in the previous month, and only 21.4% of children and teens were active for at least 60 minutes daily during the week prior to the survey.To help address this need, the Caldwell County Family & Consume

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Wits Workout

Author: Kelsee Dewees

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Wits Workout is a peer-reviewed, pilot-tested, brain health resource tool developed to assist leaders who provide programming to older adults in community settings. It was developed by Extension colleagues, Dr. Chelsey Byers and Molly Hofer from the University of Illinois. Wits Workout has two main goals—to provide purposeful opportunities for older adults to engage intellectually, and to increase their socialization through ongoing group participation.The 264-page facilitator’s guid

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Walk Your Way: Inspiring Health Through Movement

Author: Rebecca Woodall

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

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Longest Day of Play

Author: Whitney Morrow

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

 While it may seem like a simple pastime, unstructured play is crucial for children's development. It’s also the number one way that adults and children find connection. Through play, kids learn social skills, problem-solving abilities, and creativity. It's also a fantastic way to stay active and healthy. With the rise of technology, children today are spending less time engaged in free play.  In Carter County only 30% reported having adequate access to physical activity.

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Pathways to Wellness

Author: Whitney Morrow

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Health promotion programs have long focused on education about personal health behaviors like tobacco and alcohol use, diet, and physical activity. Health behaviors play an important role in health, but they are not the whole story. The conditions in the environments where people live, work, learn, and play have an even greater influence on the quality and number of years of life. These conditions include social and environmental factors such as housing, access to and quality of health care, edu

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Walk Your Way: Inspiring Health Through Movement

Author: Ashley Board

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

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Fitt Fridays - Energizing Youth Through Community Partnership

Author: Natalie Taul

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Fitt Fridays - Energizing Youth Through Community Partnership

The Fitt Fridays program brought health and wellness education to life for 1,766 elementary students across four schools, thanks to a collaboration between 42 community volunteers, school staff, and local organizations. Held on the last Friday of January, February, and March 2025, this program was coordinated through the Community Health Committee and served as a dynamic example of how community partnerships can support youth development.Each session of Fitt Fridays included nutrition and physic

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Spring into Green 2025

Author: Keller

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

The "Spring into Green: Sustainable Living" seminar held on March 17, 2025, proved to be a resounding success, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainability among its participants and inspiring tangible actions towards a greener lifestyle.Participant Engagement and Knowledge Gains:The seminar attracted a diverse audience, with a significant portion (47) being individuals aged 65 and over, demonstrating the program's appeal across generations. Notably, for many attendees (29),

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Alpha-gal Syndrome: Addressing Kentucky’s Growing Health Concern

Author: Heather Norman-Burgdolf

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Relevance:Although still considered "rare" compared to other medical issues in Kentucky, the state has one of the highest rates of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) in the U.S., with some counties reporting the highest cases per capita, according to the CDC. AGS develops in some individuals after being bitten by a lone star tick. There is no known treatment, but symptoms can be managed through lifestyle changes. This includes eliminating exposure to the alpha-gal allergen found in foods (e.g.,

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Raising Awareness: Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Tick Bite Prevention in Greenup County

Author: Lora Pullin

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Relevance: While still considered “rare” relative to other medical issues in the state, Kentucky is one of the states with the most cases of alpha-gal syndrome in the US, according to the CDC, with some Kentucky counties presenting the highest cases per capita in the country. This condition is developed in some people after a bit from a lone star tick. There is no known treatment for alpha-gal syndrome. Instead, lifestyle changes can be made that help manage and reduce the sympt

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Wits Workout

Author: Lora Pullin

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

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2025 Living with Alpha Gal Syndrome

Author: Shonda Johnston

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

While still considered “rare” relative to other medical issues in the state, Kentucky is one of the states with the most cases of alpha-gal syndrome in the US, according to the CDC, with some Kentucky counties presenting the highest cases per capita in the country. This condition is developed in some people after a bit from a lone star tick. There is no known treatment for alpha-gal syndrome. Instead, lifestyle changes can be made that help manage and reduce the symptoms. This includ

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Indoor Air Quality

Author: Jacqueline Doucet

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

The EPA estimates that we spend 90% of our time indoors, in homes, schools, workplaces, places of worship, or gyms. Research indicates that indoor air pollution is on the rise. Our air quality is affected by chemicals, gases, and particles from products used or naturally occurring inside buildings, inadequate ventilation, and issues with moisture and humidity. The home is the most likely place where people are exposed to indoor air pollution.To encourage participants to learn about and improve t

College Resources

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D Acting Associate Dean & Director UK Cooperative Extension Service

College Resources

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D Acting Associate Dean & Director UK Cooperative Extension Service

Search the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Success StoriesKentucky Extension Reporting System

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service