Healthy Lifestyle Initiative

Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice

Lafayette Healthy Lifestyle Alliance
 

Date of next meeting: TBD

Location: Lafayette County Extension Building

MU Extension Project Coordinators:

Marsha Corbin corbinm@missouri.edu

Lynda Johnson johnsonl@missouri.edu

People:
 

Lafayette County Objectives: FY09 Plan

Update on Objective Progress:  April-June 2009

Community Interaction Summary: 2009

Information:

Community Description:

Lafayette County is located in west central Missouri with Kansas City 50 miles to the west and the Missouri River at its northern border.  The County population is approximately 33,000 and largely consists of rural areas with a few major service centers including Higginsville, Lexington, Odessa, and Concordia.

Almost half of County residents commute outside the County for work.  The most common sources of employment in the County include retail trade, local government, and agriculture. The County’s rich Civil War history, rolling hills and beautiful orchards bring an increasing number of tourists through the area, which has lead to a growth in the tourism industry over the past ten years.

The quality of life in the County attracts many residents to raise their families in the County, and approximately 40 percent of residents take advantage of the vibrant rural environment by living in unincorporated areas.

Lafayette County has a tradition of team work and collaboration, which has lead to successful improvements in facilities and infrastructure that support a healthy lifestyle.  Past successes include a farmer’s market, a comprehensive park plan including walking trails, beautification of parks, and a swimming pool. Lafayette County is an ideal community to continue implementing sustainable changes in the areas of nutrition and physical activity, and is in a great position to make the healthy choice the easy choice for Lafayette County Residents.

Community Survey Results:

Adult (excel file)

Youth (excel file)