Clay County is a small rural county in Eastern Kentucky, families are encouraged to make choices to improve health and well-being, participate in physical activity, and chronic disease prevention. According to 2014 statistics 43% of Clay County is obese with 18% of the adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, and 33% of the adults do not meet the standard activity level. Learning and practicing healthy choices at a young age can impact the quality and years of life. 

Clay County Cooperative Extension Service hosted Just Get Moving Manchester in a local park. Both Family and Consumer Science Agent and 4-H Agent partnered together along with five other local agencies to sponsor the event. Families were highly encouraged to bring their children to participate. Thirty-five individuals participated, and six individuals volunteered their time and provided incentives promoting healthy lifestyles. Agency volunteers coordinated two of the activities, including “Pound” an exercising program.  100% of adults and youth were active for forty-five minutes and participated in the activities. Some individuals had never participated in the exercising program. Not only did this event encourage physical activity, but provided knowledge to individuals of family-friendly activities that are available in the community.

Walking for Life Program, 4 month program with bi weekly calendars,8 Small Steps to Health and Wealth publications, 13 participants. Evaluation results:  31% joined the walking program to exercise more, 23% can now walk for 45 minutes, 31% feel better, 23% have lost weight.  They also received information on Small Steps to Health and Wealth 23% changed food intake and kept an expense log, 23% changed the way they spent money.  31% made financial goals for their family and nutritional goals for their family as a result of the program.