Success StoryChristian County 4-H member makes healthy lifestyle choices in the midst of winter



Christian County 4-H member makes healthy lifestyle choices in the midst of winter

Author: Jeremiah Johnson

Planning Unit: Christian County CES

Major Program: Health

Plan of Work: Inspiring the adoption of healthy lifestyle choices to improve overall well-being.

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The 2021 Kids Count data ranks Kentucky as 38th nationally in youth health, and 14% of children live in a high-poverty area, which is an adverse community environmental factor that impacts a child's ability to thrive (KYA, 2022). These high-poverty communities often struggle with equitable access to indoor and outdoor spaces. This inequity is heightened in winter due to a reduction of daylight hours and a decrease in outdoor temperatures. This creates a barrier for youth in these communities considering one key component of youth health is physical activity. Young people should have at least 60 minutes of physical activity no less than five days a week. 

Unfortunately, data shows that only 43.8% of middle schoolers and 37.4% of high schoolers reach that level of activity (KDE, 2020). This decline in physical activity with age continues into adulthood with only 32% of adults reaching the recommended amount of daily physical activity (CDC, 2020). On average youth physical activity reduces by 20 minutes per day during winter months (Atkin, 2016). This drop in physical activity has been identified as an area of concern by youth leaders in the state. In response, the 4-H program has implemented the 4-H winter dash for a second year. 

This program was a self-paced marathon that started on November 1st and ended on February 28th at the conclusion of 4-H Health Month. Individuals were challenged to walk, run, or roll a marathon during the winter months and submit logs of their progress. While there was no winner the event provided accountability and friendly competition for groups to continue being active. Participants reported that “This really helped me stay active this winter” and “helped me be accountable to myself and my health goals".

Over the course of the four coldest months for Kentucky, 70 individuals logged their physical activity and walked/ran/rolled 3,745.62 miles in 32 counties! Of the 70 individuals who logged their activity, 44 completed a full marathon. Lined up end to end this is just over the distance from LA to New York. As part of this effort 1 individual in Christian County contributed 116.89 miles.






Stories by Jeremiah Johnson


Communicating for the future

about 3 days ago by Jeremiah Johnson

As a result of the 2023 Community Needs Assessment conducted by the Cooperative Extension Service, i... Read More


Agriculture Safety Day

about 12 days ago by Jeremiah Johnson

In the most recent community needs assessment residents of Christian County determined that there wa... Read More


Stories by Christian County CES


Use Less, Spend Less, Stress Less

Use Less, Spend Less, Stress Less

about 10 days ago by Tiffany Bolinger

During the Covid-19 pandemic Extension professionals quickly recognized the financial impacts that i... Read More


Nutrition Superhero Camp

Nutrition Superhero Camp

about 10 days ago by Tiffany Bolinger

The Hopkinsville Housing Authority reached out to the Christian County Agent for Family Consumer Sci... Read More