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 2025. 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. Ten teams “walked” the distance of Tennessee, a little over 500 miles! This eight-week program concluded on June 29.
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, Smith County Bank, Farm Bureau, 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: The Golden Girls, Night Owls, Mean Machine, Pickleball Divas, Fast & Furious, Step By Step and Extension Sole Steppers.
Our third-place team, Night Owls, finished with 1,776.5 miles! Members included Janice Fox, Teresa Kemp, Myrna Huffines, Terri Dillehay, Connie Dyer, Lisa Price, Martha Hesson, and Leann Allison Lavender. Our second-place team, Golden Girls, completed a total of1,890 miles! Members included Marilyn Shumake, Sharon Winfree, Joann Caamano, Jenny Givens, Tracey Martin, Jeanette Massey, Jan Johnson, Teresa Gentry. Our first-place team, Pickleball Divas, crossed the finish line with a total of 2,272 miles! Members included Mary Leslie Wakefield, Connie East, Marcie Mofield, Janice Wilmore, Randy Wakefield, Joann James, Diana Pierce, and Christopher Pierce.
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
· Marilyn Shumake for being Most Outstanding Team Captain
· Most Enthusiastic Team to Step by Step (Kevin Alsteens, Jessica Tubbs, Briana Hallums, David Farmer, and Susan Martin.)
· Most Creative Team Name to Mean Machine (KJ Kitchens, Amanda Bryson, Lindsey Gull, Rachel Smith, Michael Railling, Ashlyn Carlisle, and Cindy Garmon.)
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. 
Layered Mexican Dip
Step 1
8 oz lite cream cheese (softened)
Taco mix – small amount to taste (1-2 teaspoons)
Stir these 2 things together for the 1st step for bottom layer
Step 2
1 can refried beans, put on top of 1st step
Step 3
8 oz sour cream, put on top of 2nd step
Step 4
1 small jar of Picante sauce (salsa), put on top of 3rd step
Step 5
1 finely chopped tomato and 1 bunch chopped green onions, put on top of 4th step
Step 6
2 cups finely shredded cheddar cheese, put on top of 5th step for your top layer.
Layer ingredients in step order. Serve with tortilla chips. You can put your layer on a round glass dish or a Pyrex 9 x 13 dish. You can make this the night before and put in refrigerator.
Submitted by: Judy Long, Gordonsville FCE Club
