The University of Tennessee-Tennessee State University Extension Smith County partnered with the Smith County Health Department to offer Walk Across Tennessee in Smith County again in 2026. Walk Across Tennessee is a program that persuades and motivates people of all ages to make that most important change . . . to get started exercising.
Teams of eight worked towards the goal of walking, biking, swimming, etc. “across Tennessee” from Bristol to Memphis. Thirteen teams “walked” the distance of Tennessee, a little over 500 miles! This eight-week program concluded on June 1.
Thank you to our wonderful Walk Across Tennessee program sponsors: DTC, Smith County Drug Center, Citizens Bank, Sanderson Funeral Home, Highpoint Health Riverview with Ascension Saint Thomas, Hackett’s Discount Drugs, Wilson Bank and Trust, Community Wellness Alliance Smith County Drug Prevention, Wellworth Bank, Farm Bureau, Carthage Sav-Way and Smith County Health Department. Because of our sponsors’ donations, each participant received a Walk Across Tennessee t-shirt. The Smith County Health Department sponsored first and second place winners’ prizes, and DTC also sponsored various prizes.
The teams for this year’s Walk Across Tennessee program were: Wellness Walkers, Mileage Masters, Golden Girls, The Young and The Breathless, Miles and Mindset, Union Heights, Pickleball Divas, Run like the Winded, Walkin’ on Sunshine, Night Owls, Steppin’ Up, The Gait Keepers and Extension Sole Steppers.
Our third-place team, Wellness Walkers, finished with 3,198 miles! Members included Kayla Franklin, Emily Longview, Katelyn Williamson, Preston James, Preston London, Tammy London, Lillian London and Amber Garmon. Our second-place team, Miles and Mindset, completed a total of 4,583.11 miles! Members included Bridgette Stewart, Rachel Bryan, Amanda Cronin, Lou Mason, Rachel Kemp, Peggy Manning, Candice White and Monica Bible. Our first-place team, Gait Keepers, crossed the finish line with a total of 5,393 miles! Members included BJ Grayson, Jessica Carter, Christina Wilson, Rebecca Smith, Jessica Thomas, Sharyn Vineyard, Mondo Rivera and Dawn Fulmer Rivera.
Congratulations to all the teams for completing this eight-week journey! You all made a huge accomplishment!
This year’s awards are as follows:
· First, second, and third place teams
·
Velva Gray for being Most Outstanding Team Captain
Most Enthusiastic Team to Pickleball Divas (Mary Leslie Wakefield, Dawn Bass, Marcie Mofield, Joann James, Diana Pierce, Mary Leslie Wakefield, Janice Wilmore, Connie East and Roberta Wilkey.)
If you are interested in competing in the Walk Across Tennessee program next year, please contact Mary Parker Draper at the UT-TSU Extension office at 615-735-2900.
Pictured above Third Place Team, Wellness Walkers (L-R): Preston London, Katelyn Williamson, Kayla Franklin and Tammy London. Not pictured: Emily Longview, Preston James, Lillian London and Amber Garmon.
Crock-Pot Chicken & Dressing
4 large chicken breasts, boiled and torn up (reserve broth)
1 large pan cornbread, crumbled *recipe below
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
Salt and pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons rubbed sage
Chicken broth (reserved or you can use canned broth)
Mix all ingredients together well and place in a crock-pot. Cook for 2 hours on low or 2 hours on high, stirring once or twice during cooking.*
Cornbread Recipe:
2 cups corn meal
1 cup flour
5 eggs
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups milk (use more or less to desired consistency)
Mix all ingredients and bake in a large cast iron skillet on 400 degrees until brown and cooked thru. Cool and crumble.Submitted by: Anita Bennett, Gordonsville FCE Club
