Food, Families, Communities- Healthy Living Exhibits and Demonstration Kitchen

Where: Main Street between West 8th and 9th St (F- Family Building)

Visit the Family Building, where Penn State Extension hosts exhibits for Healthy Living. Healthy eating, physical activity, keeping food safe, home food preservation, managing stress, tick protection, sun safety, and internet safety are all part of good physical and mental health for children, youth and families. Pesticide Education will showcase ways to manage different household pests around a home. Penn State Cancer Institute will provide information about colorectal and skin cancer prevention. Also, join us for Food Demonstrations (see listing on calendar of events or food demonstration link), which will introduce you to new recipes.

WellSpan Mobile Health Clinic

Located Behind the Family Bldg.

Come visit WellSpan Mobile Health’s Clinic, which, using donations and grants from the community, uses a free clinic model to increase access to health care and promote healthy choices for under-resourced communities in rural Pennsylvania. During Ag Progress Days, the mobile clinic will offer information about Lyme disease and ticks for kids, promote healthy lifestyles, and educate the community on bicycle safety.

Displays, Activities and Presentations 

• Food Demonstrations/Speaking Presentations                                                                                   
  Join Penn State Extension’s Food, Families, and Communities' educators as they prepare and demonstrate various healthy recipes, provide information on various health and well-being topics, and demonstrate safe home food preservation techniques.

• Mental Health and Wellness in Agriculture
  Farming can be stressful because so many things are out of your control – like the weather, equipment breakdowns, and economy. Become healthier and happier by learning to identify and respond in positive ways to stressors. Extension has resources and programs on this topic –stop by this display to discover tips to keep yourself, and your neighbors, mentally and emotionally healthy.

• Health and Wellness
  Food, nutrition, and physical fitness information, along with tips on how to prevent chronic disease, will be available to assist you with your journey to a healthy lifestyle.

• Family Wellbeing Programs
  Stop by and find ideas and resources on parenting and childcare, grandparents raising grandchildren, and financial management to strengthen your family.

• Home Food Preservation and Consumer Food Safety                             
  In celebration of National Food Safety Month in September, Penn State Food Safety and Quality educators and volunteers will provide research-based information on how to safely store foods and preserve foods at home.

• Vector-Borne Disease
  Penn State Extension's Vector-Borne Disease team focuses on diseases caused by pathogens transmitted by ticks and mosquitos such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and West Nile virus. Information and activities on recognizing ticks and mosquitoes, along with ways to protect yourself, your family, your pets, and your livestock from vector-borne diseases will be provided.
  
  

• Pests in the Home
  Penn State Extension’s Pesticide Education Program will introduce different pests that may occur in a home and ask participants to match the pests to the tools that are used to manage them. This activity will introduce children to the concept of pests and introduce adults to the concept of integrated pest management. Everyone will have a chance to spin a wheel, answer a question, and win a prize.

• New this year: 

  • Digital Literacy and Online Safety

  Penn State Extension’s Digital Literacy Program will provide important information and practical resources for youth/parents, adults, and seniors on a series of topics related to internet and online safety.

  • Reducing Colorectal Cancer Risk

  Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in Pennsylvania, and rural communities are hit even harder by this disease. The good news is that screening can catch cancer early, when your chances of beating it are best, but only two out of three people who should be getting screened are keeping up with their tests. Learn about your screening options with the Penn State Cancer Institute - we'll help you understand what's available, what works best for different folks, and how you can take this important step to protect your health.

  • The Penn State Cancer Institute “Strollin’ Colon” Giant Inflatable Colon (weather permitting)

  Ever wondered what's really going on inside your body? Come check out the Penn State Cancer Institute’s inflatable colon and see for yourself! You can stroll through the giant inflatable human colon and discover what healthy tissue looks like compared to polyps and other changes. It's hands-on learning that's fun and eye-opening. Along the way, you'll pick up valuable information about colon health, learn the warning signs to watch for, and find out how simple screening can keep you healthy. Bring your curiosity and maybe your camera - this is definitely something you'll want to tell your friends about.

  • Sun Safety and Skin Cancer Prevention

  Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US: 1 in 5 Americans develops skin cancer in their lifetime, and one person dies of melanoma every hour.  The farming community is especially at risk given their exposure to UV light.  Skin cancer can be prevented, and if caught early, it is treatable.  Penn State Dermatology continues to focus on skin cancer education, prevention, and treatment for our community.