Around the area, and across the state, children and adults took part in the annual Healthiest State Initiative walk; it’s part of a campaign to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation.

Students from Knoxville schools joined parents and others at the high school track; classes were split into shifts, as participants spent the morning walking laps as part of the effort to encourage people of all ages to exercise and boost the state’s overall health ranking. For years, Iowa has been locked in at 21st in the nation.

Angie Mitchell is a nurse with the Knoxville School District; she tells KNIA/KRLS News this goes beyond a one-day event, as they seek to encourage children to eat healthy foods and be more active..

“We try not to phrase that as ‘exercise’, but just get out and play, be active,” Mitchell says. “And that also fits along with the theme of the Healthiest State Initiative, which is 5-2-1-0…five fruits and vegetables every day, less than two hours of screen time, an hour of physical activity and zero sugar-sweetened beverages every day. So this is our one hour of physical activity.”

The KNIA/KRLS Lil’ Big Red Radio was playing music at the high school to entertain those participating.

Among the other school districts participating in the walk were Pella, Pleasantville including the elementary school, and Twin Cedars. Central College and Pella Corporation partnered for an event, and Vermeer and Pella Regional also had employees participate.