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SNAP‑Ed educator Deborah and Extension staff outline school nutrition, sleep and 4‑H programming
Summary
Deborah described a three‑week SNAP‑Ed series at local schools that covers nutrition, label reading and sleep hygiene and raised concerns about widespread energy‑drink use among fourth graders; Extension staff reported approximately 1,461 4‑H participants and described county outreach programs.
Deborah (S1), a SNAP‑Ed educator, briefed the Ross County commissioners on school programs she has been running since December and shared findings from classroom visits.
"I started December 1st and I've been to Huntington Southeastern and Unioga and I do a three week series," Deborah said, describing the curriculum: week one covers nutrition and menu building, week two teaches label reading and sugar calculations, and week three focuses on sleep hygiene. She said students were especially engaged by the sleep unit and that many fourth graders consume high‑caffeine energy drinks such as Alani, Monster and Celsius.
Deborah told commissioners she discusses marketing tactics and encourages students and families to consider caffeine timing and sugar content. Extension staff also described broader county youth programming: county 4‑H participation stands at about 1,461 members and staff reported reaching around 2,157 children through school programming (combined staff numbers), popular events including a pantry challenge and a Building Brick competition, and plans for summer partnerships with local YMCAs and preschools.
Commissioners thanked the Extension and SNAP‑Ed teams for their outreach and noted the work supports broader county public‑health and youth development priorities.
Next steps: staff will continue school programming into the summer and pursue additional partnerships; county staff said they will submit reimbursement requests to the state for completed projects where appropriate.
