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FIRST LADY TO DEDICATE WVDA WELLNESS PROGRAM WALKING TRAIL
West Virginia First Lady Gayle Manchin will visit The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) Wednesday, May 10 at 1 p.m. to take part in a dedication ceremony for the agency’s Wellness Program Walking Trail.
“I have recognized for a long time the link between employee health, productivity and healthcare costs,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “Thanks to the PEIA Pathways to Wellness Program, the Wellness Council of West Virginia and the exemplary work of the WVDA Wellness Committee, we are making great strides toward a healthier workforce and reduced medical expenditures.”
The one-mile trail was developed with a $1,000 grant from PEIA, and features flower beds, a picnic table and benches to encourage employees to use it frequently.
The trail is only a part of the Department’s overall wellness program. “We have a very progressive program here,” said WVDA Wellness Coordinator Robin Gothard. “We’ve been designated as a ‘Well Workplace’ in the Kanawha Valley, which is a nice distinction. We’ve also received the Wellness Council’s bronze and silver awards in previous years, and we’re shooting for the gold this year.”
Gothard noted that wellness programs are ongoing throughout the year. Quarterly ‘lunch and learn’ sessions are held to boost awareness and knowledge of health issues, and a small fitness center has been developed through employee donations of equipment and a previous PEIA grant. Walking/pedometer programs are very popular and points are awarded for participation in all wellness programs. Top scorers are awarded at the end of the year during an annual WVDA wellness luncheon.
Studies have shown workplace wellness programs significantly improve long-term health, reduce absenteeism and health care costs, minimize job-related accidents and improve employee morale.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
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