Health experts agree that Kentucky faces significant challenges related to health. Consistently, Kentucky ranks towards the top in the number of people who are obese, use tobacco products, and do not get the recommended amount of physical activity. Another common unhealthy behavior that both high school students and adults have is that they drink a lot of drinks that are full of sugar. In addition to the negative consequences of drinking sugary beverages they also cost a lot of money. Often students at school spend their money on sodas and water bottles from the vending machines instead of using water fountains. To address this challenge, two Cumberland County teens were awarded a Youth into Action grant from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation in the amount of $500.

The two teens were among 5 teens from Cumberland County who attend issues conference. During the four-day intensive conference, a partnership occurs between the Delegates (youth) and the Facilitators (adult) which leads to a successful learning experience. Delegates were involved in 20 hours of hands-on experiences during the 2018 Issues Conference.  According to the results of the initial conference evaluation, 85% of those who responded gained confidence to speak in front of groups. The teens are currently implementing their project and plan to return to Issues Conference in 2019 to present about the results of their project.