According to County Health Demographics at https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/kentucky/2019/rankings/wolfe/county/outcomes/overall/snapshot, the physical inactivity rate in Wolfe County for 2019 was 35%.  To have a partner who promoted physical activity involved with our nutrition program would address 2 of our county’s needs.  When learning of a line dancing instructor who planned to start beginning classes, the NEP assistant made a proposal.  The line dancing could be held in the large and air conditioned meeting room of the extension office, if the assistant could present the approved nutrition curriculum afterward.

The combined program began and lasted until the Covid 19 restrictions put the program on stand by.  Many of the participants remarked that being physically active surrounded by the positive peer pressure of friends to keep trying, and to the movement of music made the hour of activity seem like an hour of fun.  The following nutrition session, allowed the dancers to cool down after activity, plus learn of ways to have better nutrition.  According to the American Council on Exercise, these styles of dance burn about 260 calories per hour for a 160-pound woman.  The people involved in this program were very interested in the best ways to spend their daily calorie allowance, and not waste the positive effects of the calories burned by the dancing.