​On May 9th area leaders gathered to begin discussions about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).  The group of thirty six had the opportunity to hear Nancy Riestenberg of the MN Department of Education and Autumn Baum of MN Department of Health share research on adverse experiences of children ages birth to eighteen and how those experiences directly impact health outcomes of children in their adult years.

​The information shared is significant because many know that it makes sense that difficult childhood  experiences could eventually lead to health  complications as adults but we have lacked specific research proving it. 

​I am currently a student at the University of Minnesota pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in health and wellness. I lived in Mower County for the first 16 years of my life before moving to Rochester and am excited to have the opportunity to give back to the community I grew up in. I believe that living well should be a priority, and it can be most successfully achieved with a balanced lifestyle.

​Being proactive about your health is one of the best things you can do for yourself. I am particularly interested in holistic nutrition and the way in which food affects our bodies. I have a passion for educating young people about these basic concepts and encouraging them of the importance of preventative health. I am also focusing part of my studies in management as I hope to open my own wellness-centric business someday.

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​Parents, please honestly answer the following questions: What does your meal pattern look like? Would you say that you and your family have a regular eating schedule? Do you know, approximately, when you will get hungry throughout the day and plan ahead to make sure you are taking care of your food needs?

The questions I get most often from parents are questions about how to encourage “healthy eating” in their children. But the one concept that is frequently left out of the equation is the impact of your eating habits, as the parent, on your child’s food choices. It is the typical ‘do what I say, not what I do’ scenario. But children don’t work like that.

​On May 9th area leaders gathered to begin discussions about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The group of thirty six had opportunity to hear Nancy Riestenberg of the MN Department of Education and Autumn Baum of MN Department of Health share research on adverse experiences of children ages birth to eighteen and how those experiences directly impact health outcomes of the children in their adult years.

​Mower Refreshed had a unique opportunity to meet with adult students who are learning English and seeking to be engaged in the community through one of the programs though Adult Basic Education, located at the Community Learning Center in Austin.

Students in the English Language Learning (ELL) courses participated in sharing ideas for healthy living and developing practical ways to empower themselves and others in taking responsibility for their health.

​Walking with some friends the other evening I was surprised to see a hot air balloon floating towards us in Mower County...a sure sign of spring and a reminder of the importance of perspective - how we view situations and experiences.