March 28, 2024

Clarke County 4-H member(s) recognized in Healthy Living Club Challenge

4-H clubs were challenged to Race Across Iowa in the 4-H Healthy Living Club Challenge. This challenge helped club members explore the areas of wellness by practicing healthy behavior changes during their monthly club meetings. Incorporating changes like – offering water as the beverage, fruits/vegetables as a snack option, and having an organized physical activity – earned the clubs miles so they could make their way across the route that passed through each of the 20 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach regions, totaling 1,400 miles.

Bonus challenges were offered to earn extra miles and allowed clubs the opportunity to explore other areas of wellness: social wellbeing (teambuilding), emotional wellbeing (brain and mental health) and community wellbeing (community outreach by engaging others in healthy living).

4-H member(s) from the K.W. Hustlers in Clarke County were recognized at 4-H Healthy Living Day at the Iowa State Fair this summer for their achievements in the 4-H Healthy Living Club Challenge. They finished in the Top 10 out of over 120 clubs from across the state.

“These 4-H members have demonstrated outstanding learning in the area of healthy living. Increasing their awareness for making healthy choices as a youth will be a long term benefit for a healthy future,” said Laura Liechty, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Healthy Living specialist. “4-H programming provides meaningful learning experiences, but it is how youth apply what they learn that has a lasting impact. The final bonus of the challenge focused on community wellbeing. It was rewarding to see how clubs shared their new found wellness knowledge to help others in their community.”

“We are very proud of the personal accomplishments of Clarke County 4-H participants in this statewide challenge and the educational learning experiences they gained,” said Mallory Jamison at the ISU Extension and Outreach Clarke County office.