Commissioner Farmer Honors Schools for Winning HealthierUS Gold Awards.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

For more information contact:
Bill Clary

(502) 564-1137

MT. STERLING, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer helped present the USDA National HealthierUS Gold Award to three Montgomery County schools Tuesday in Mt. Sterling.

“I congratulate these schools on this outstanding achievement,” Commissioner Farmer said. “It’s more important than ever to teach our children the value of a healthy lifestyle. If you eat right, exercise and get plenty of rest, chances are you’ll feel better and live longer. An important part of a healthy lifestyle is eating fresh, nutritious Kentucky Proud foods.”

Commissioner Farmer and Dr. Janey Thornton, deputy under secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, presented Gold Awards to Camargo, Mapleton and Mt. Sterling elementary schools. (Dr. Thornton is a Kentucky native who served as school nutrition director for Hardin County Schools for 25 years.) The three Montgomery County schools were among 76 schools in Kentucky that have achieved Gold status.

The HealthierUS School Challenge was established to recognize schools that are creating healthier school environments through their promotion of good nutrition and physical activity. To find out more about the HealthierUS School Challenge, and to read a complete list of award-winning schools nationwide, go to http://www.teamnutrition.usda.gov/HealthierUS/index.html.

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TOP: Students welcome Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer during a ceremony honoring three Montgomery County schools Tuesday in Mt. Sterling. (Kentucky Department of Agriculture photo)

Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer presents Dr. Janey Thornton, a Kentucky native and deputy under secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, with an Honorary Commissioner of Agriculture certificate. (Kentucky Department of Agriculture photo)