DATE:     12/2/99   
CONTACT:  Katherine Cason, (864) 656-5722
WRITER:   Giles Singleton, (864) 656-3876

Clemson Extension Program Saves Money,
Helps Families for 30 years                            

     COLUMBIA   For thirty years a basic nutrition education
program has saved money on future health costs and current food
costs, and helped families and youth in South Carolina have
better nutrition and quality of life.
     The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP),
for limited resource audiences, began celebrating its 30th
anniversary on Nov. 16 at the Embassy Suites.
     "Programs that educate, programs that prevent illness,
programs that feed, are not only humane and decent programs, they
are smart economics," said Senator Ernest F. Hollings in a letter
to the group. Hollings has supported Clemson Extension's EFNEP
since it began in 1969 as a part of a national effort to
eradicate malnutrition in the state and nation.
     Recent studies have shown that for every dollar spent to
implement the program, $10.64 will be saved on future health care
costs and  $2.48 will be saved on food expenditures. EFNEP is
federally funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service.
     "EFNEP is reaching the individuals that really need the
help," said state Sen. Thomas Alexander of District One, during 
the Nov. 16 event. Target audiences for EFNEP are young families
with youth ages 5 to 19. Activities are innovative, hands-on and
fun.
     Currently EFNEP is offered through Clemson Extension offices
in 36 counties to 11,000 adults and youth annually. The program's
main goals are to help participants make healthy, nutritious food
choices and stretch their food dollars.
     Participants' better nutrition and diet enhances their
overall health, and better food resource management leads to
greater self-sufficiency and productivity.
     "The majority of participants improve their eating habits
and skills required for good meal planning, food preparation and
storage," said Katherine Cason, state EFNEP coordinator for the
past ten years and a faculty member of Clemson's Department of
Food Science and Human Nutrition. She added, "EFNEP is more than
just a program - it's people making a difference in the lives of
others." 
     Teachers are paraprofessionals trained and supervised by
Clemson Extension area agents and state specialists.
     EFNEP youth activities include using the computer to analyze
their favorite fast-food meal and baking muffins from recipes
they create. They also develop an individualized food and fitness
plan. Adults learn to handle and store food properly, cut the fat
in their diets and lower the cost of groceries.
     A statewide 30th anniversary celebration in participating
counties that included videotaped success stories from program
graduates was held Dec.1. 
     Cason is leaving Clemson in December for a position at Penn
State University. At the Nov. 16 celebration, Rosa Ransom, area
EFNEP coordinator for Bamberg, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston,
Dorchester and Jasper Counties was named interim EFNEP
coordinator. Ransom, who has been with Extension for 28 years,
has a B.S. from S.C. State College and an M.S. in Nutritional
Science from S.C. State University
     With Cason's leadership over the past ten years, EFNEP has
grown in size and status across the state and nation. This year
the program has been presented internationally in Trinidad and
Japan.
     For her accomplishments, Cason was awarded the superior
performance award from the Clemson University Cooperative
Extension Service by the Department of Food Science and Human
Nutrition.
     "Katherine has the respect of the county directors, the
agricultural agents, the 4-H agents, and the home economists,"
said Gerry Dukes, County Director for Berkeley, Charleston, and
Dorchester Counties.
     Sen. Alexander presented Cason, with the Order of the Silver
Crescent, an award given by Gov. Hodges for recognition of an 
individual with a distinguished career in government.
     Several program assistants and area coordinators also
received awards. Harriett Bennett received an award for being the
only EFNEP program assistant to get her B.S. degree. and then
become an Extension agent. Gracie Conyers, who will retire in
March, received an award for her excellent service.
     Maggie Norris, a program assistant in Anderson County who
has been with EFNEP for 30 years, and Debheror Walker, a program
assistant and volunteer coordinator in Sumter County who is one
of the most recent EFNEP hires, shared their wisdom with the
group.
                              END