Extension agent is retiring her pots and pans
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on September 26, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Family and consumer sciences extension agent Christine Smith has taught nutrition classes for more than 30 years. She's putting away her pots and pans Oct. 1 to retire.
After nearly 31 years of trying to motivate and teach the people of Wayne County how to be healthier, family and consumer sciences extension agent Christine Smith is putting away her pots and pans, as she is set to retire Oct. 1.
And while Mrs. Smith has seen positive changes in the lifestyles being led by Wayne residents, she said there is still room for improvement.
"The biggest change I have seen is that people are more engaged in their own health care," she said. "They are becoming knowledge seekers and taking ownership of their own health."
Mrs. Smith said she found that people are no longer relying on doctors to be the one place they get information about their health.
"They are more participating in various health and wellness programs and health fairs, attending seminars and using the Internet to learn about chronic disease or health issues/problems," she said. "Another change I have seen is that folks are beginning to move the needle in eating healthier. They are making better food choices."
People are also exercising more.
"Everyone from seniors to young people are exercising more and having fun doing it," she said.
Even people with limited mobility.
"I have had people in wheelchairs and walkers participating in our fitness program here at the Wayne Center," Mrs. Smith said.
She said these changes have occurred because people are more willing to come out to programs offered through the extension service.
"It was hard at first," Mrs. Smith said. "When I first came here more than 30 years ago, it was hard to get out into the community. I will never forget the first program I taught. I thought everybody would be here for it. There were only 12 people. I was thinking, 'Who doesn't want to come to a nutrition program?'
"As an educator, I had to assess what I was doing wrong and how might I best market my programs to make them more appealing. A lot of it in is the language. If I say I'm doing a nutrition program on diabetes, people may not come. But if I say I'm doing a dining with diabetes program, that's different."
So when Mrs. Smith did a heart health nutrition program, she called it "Give Your Heart a Healthy Beat."
And when she did an exercise program, she called it, "Fit and Fabulous."
And whenever Mrs. Smith did a nutrition program, the vast majority of it was hands-on activities to motivate participants.
Mrs. Smith considers her "Noonliting" program, which ran for 20 years, her most successful. It was a 15-week nutrition and weight management program, based on the buddy system.
Another program that promoted change was "Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less."
"It had fresher approaches on educating consumers on how to eat healthier," Mrs. Smith said. "And it involved physical activity. We have to figure out ways to keep our programs fresh, new and exciting."
Mrs. Smith has presented some unusual programs to Wayne residents, too.
The first was a seven-week "Men Learning the Culinary Arts" program that saw 12 men participate.
"It was an opportunity to bring men to the table," Mrs. Smith said. "It was designed to help them learn cooking skills and also love it and have fun while doing it. At the end, they cooked a full meal and invited their spouses. It was awesome. Wives were just blown away."
Trying to reach people in the community whom extension wouldn't normally reach, Mrs. Smith developed "Faithful Families Eating Smart and Moving More."
"It was an attempt to engage the faith congregation because they're always having food at their events," she said. "We trained lay leaders in the churches to become health advocates and leaders in their church to teach nutrition to their congregates. We gave them the tools and resources to be successful.
"And each month, we give them an insert for their bulletins on some aspect of nutrition. The churches have told us that it's making a difference."
Mrs. Smith said she's been blessed to work in a field she is passionate about, but that it's time for her to retire so she can concentrate on her own health more.
"We are moving the needle to becoming healthier as a county, but we've got a lot to work on," she said. "We're better off than where we used to be."
There will be a floating reception for Mrs. Smith Saturday from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Wayne Center.