By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) office in Logandale is expanding its focus to involve more employees and programming in the areas of nutrition and fitness, according to Carol Bishop, extension educator.

Bishop, who is responsible for the northeast UNCE office on Moapa Valley Boulevard, said the focus of the office has traditionally been agriculture programs such as livestock, farming, gardening and related issues.

“While we will continue to offer these services to the community, we are going to devote additional emphasis to programs that stress exercise, fitness, proper nutrition and the fight against obesity,” Bishop said.

A 2010 needs assessment survey of northeast Clark County residents revealed a whopping 73 percent of respondents believe obesity is a significant problem in the communities covered by the northeast UNCE office including Overton, Moapa, Logandale, Bunkerville and Mesquite. The survey was completed by adults and students in the affected communities.

Penny Blair, vocational education instructor in the Logandale UNCE office, in the past has been the only person locally involved specifically with nutrition and related issues.

She will continue in this role and plans to expand her existing programs to include eight hour-long, local classes devoted to such things as healthy lifestyle changes, and how to plan, shop and save money at the grocery store.

Blair will also lead an upcoming fitness class two evenings a week starting in September using Zumba, a Latin-dance inspired workout regimen created by dancer/choreographer Alberto “Beto” Perez in Columbia during the 1990s. An exciting and effective fitness plan, Zumba uses hip-hop, salsa, samba, merengue, mambo and martial arts moves.

To further augment the UNCE’s expanded focus, Bishop revealed plans for an eight-week workshop for all Moapa Valley youth that will be conducted by 4-H coordinator Lori Leas.

“The eight-week workshop on gardening and nutrition will, hopefully, evolve into a long-term 4-H club,” Leas said. “All youth, 9 to 12 years old, are invited to participate.”

Bishop explained that the ultimate goal of the workshop is get a Junior Master Gardener 4-H club formed with an emphasis relating to sustainability, gardening and nutrition.

“The upcoming project to be held in October and November will include classes and hands-on activities both inside and outside the classroom,” Bishop said. “We will be recruiting adult volunteers in the community to step up and share their knowledge and enthusiasm to lead our youth down a healthy lifestyle path. The workshop will be open to kids throughout the northeast area including those who are already involved in 4-H as well as any other interested youth.

“We hope the kids will be excited enough after the workshop that they’ll want a 4-H club that focuses specifically on gardening and nutrition,” she continued. “Studies have found that children who grow vegetables eat vegetables.”

The majority of the 15 4-H clubs currently in the northeast county area are more livestock and agriculture oriented although some clubs have an additional focus such as photography, shooting, sewing, cooking and community service.

In addition to the 4-H project, Bishop said the Logandale office also plans to launch a Nevada Naturalist Youth Program devoted to teaching local kids about the Southern Nevada environment. The program will include hikes into the surrounding area.

“This is an effort to get kids off the couch and help them develop an appreciation for the beauty of the Mojave Desert,” Bishop said.

Part time horticulturist Denise Stoesser, who works in the Logandale office, will lead the program.

Other activities planned by the UNCE office include a workshop in October on how to construct a “hoop house,” a backyard structure used to extend the growing season among other benefits.

During the workshop participants will erect a 14-foot-by-33-foot hoop house in the Logandale demonstration garden.