According to the 2022 Kentucky Kids Count data, Russell County ranks 93 of 170 in school district rankings for kindergarteners’ readiness to learn and 77 of 120 in having children in poverty. These statistics directly reflect students in Head Start, which is a program geared towards providing kindergarten preparedness to low-income families.

Russell County Family and Consumer Science Agent, Megan Gullett, in partnership with Russell Springs Head Start, Jamestown Head Start, and Elevated Child Daycare, taught the LEAP (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary) Curriculum. During one visit with the Head Start and head start aged children in daycare, the book, The Gigantic Turnip, was read to 38 students. Students then completed activities where they learned about the benefits of trying new foods and growing a garden/

As a part of this lesson, students utilized critical thinking skills and tried a new vegetable. Students were asked to try eating a new vegetable, a turnip, and 50% of the students were willing to try a new vegetable. Of the students who tried a turnip for the first time, 78% of them liked it and stated they would be willing to eat it again.

One way to improve the overall health of the youth in Russell County is by helping them try new and healthy foods. This LEAP program allows Family and Consumer Sciences agents and their partners to teach students how to improve their health by eating healthy.