Walk Across Arkansas began Sept. 17 and residents in every county are encouraged to participate, according to Mary Ann Kizer, Jefferson County Family and Consumer Sciences agent.
“Are you planning to attend a county, district or state fair? Is it for the funnel cake or the cotton candy? Do you know how many minutes you have to walk to work off those extra calories?” Kizer asked in a news release.
Participating in Walk Across Arkansas will help people get in shape for fair time and fair food, she said.
Participants may sign up at http://www.uaex.edu/health-living/health/fitness/walk-across-arkansas.aspx and record the number of minutes they walk or do other exercise for eight weeks.
Form teams of two to 10 people to keep the enthusiasm high with team captains doing the reporting weekly. Churches, businesses and families are challenged to have teams in Walk Across Arkansas, according to the release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Participants are not limited to walking,” Kizer said. “Any kind of physical activity for at least 10 minutes can be recorded.”
Kizer also offered a list of favorite fair foods and the minutes needed to walk to burn off the calories: caramel apple – 45 minutes; corn dog – 67 minutes; cotton candy – 22 minutes; funnel cake – 45 minutes; soft drink – 37 minutes; and soft pretzel – 45 minutes.
For assistance with a Walk Across Arkansas team, call Mary Ann Kizer at the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service, 534-1033, or e-mail mkizer@uaex.edu .
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without discrimination.