Eat Smart. Play Hard. Together.:
Connec7ng with Audiences Using FaceBook
Julie Garden‐Robinson, Ph.D., LRD
Associate Professor and
Food & Nutri>on Specialist

Social Networking in Plain English
Source: YouTube.com
hEp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc

Overview
• Evolu+on of our “Eat Smart. Play Hard.
Together.” nutri+on/fitness educa+on
program
• Incorpora+ng technology (FaceBook)
• A few things I’ve learned in the process
“Digital Native”
“Digital Immigrant”
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Eat Smart. Play Hard. Together.
• Goal: to improve nutri+on and fitness prac+ces
among children and families.
– Based on USDA‐FNS “Eat Smart. Play Hard.” ini+a+ve
– Collabora+on with NDSU Bison Athle+cs
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Methods to Reach Audiences
– Statewide implementa+on of nutri+on lessons
– “Role Models”
• Athletes
• ND Governor’s School
• Miss North Dakota
• “Regular kids”
– Marke+ng techniques
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Materials and Ac+vi+es
• Posters, incen+ve items
• Web site: www.ndsu.edu/eatsmart
• Video
• NewsleXers, games, lessons
• Healthy 4‐H Club Recogni+on Program
• Radio contest ‐ Athletes visi+ng schools
• Carnival
• Poster contests
• Magazine
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Sponsors
• NDSU Development • Commodity groups:
Founda+on – Midwest Dairy
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Associa+on
• Nutri+on Council – Northarvest Bean
• Diete+c Associa+on Growers
• Dept of Public – Wheat Commission
Instruc+on – School Nutri+on
• School Nutri+on Associa+on
Associa+on – Beef Commission
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Posters and
Displays
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Pocket Folders
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Billboards
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Incentives and reminders
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Carnivals
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Premier of video:
Eat Smart.
Play Hard.
Thundar’s
New Game Plan
featuring
NDSU’s Thundar
July 24, 2007
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Magazines -- and Autographs
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Web site: www.ndsu.edu/eatsmart
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Use of Social Networking
• February 2009: Met with Web master, Bob
Bertsch, to design FaceBook page
– RSS feeds with nutri+on ar+cles for fans and
friends
– Video link on YouTube, PSAs
– Ask an expert, wall pos+ngs
• Created FaceBook and updated Web site
• Launched in March 2009, Na+onal Nutri+on
Month – then had an interrup+on!
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Swamped in North Dakota
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Photo source: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/red_river_flooding.html
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Play Hard?
Photo source: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/red_river_flooding.html
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Use of Social Networking
Fargo uses social networks to fight floodwaters
By PATRICK CONDON, Associated Press Writer Thu Mar 26, 5:27 pm ET
“Heading to 2825 Lilac Lane in North Fargo — needs
to be raised another 2 feet."
When city officials needed volunteers at other dikes,
Tobosa suggested sekng up a Facebook group. By
Thursday, it had aXracted more than 4,550 members
. . .
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

TwiXer
• TwiXer allows users to post a constant stream
of sentence‐sized thoughts, observa+ons and
informa+on.
• "I realized a quick way to check it would be to
set up a TwiXer feed," said Elseth, who just
closed on a house next to the river. "Naturally
I'm preXy interested in the flood level."
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Gekng the Word Out During
Times of Crisis with Technology
• Web sites, FaceBook, TwiXer, YouTube all
used as communica+on tools
• Food and nutri+on informa+on: Flooded food,
drinking water safety, cooking without power,
emergency food supplies
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

“Eat Smart. Play Hard. Together.” FaceBook
Page
www.ndsu.edu/eatsmart
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

What I’ve learned
• Stay tuned in to technology and its use in our
field.
• Get some professional technology assistance
as needed.
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Poten+al Uses of FaceBook, Other
Social Networking Tools
• Reaching networks of audiences
• Fast way to connect with people
• Role for crisis situa+ons and dispelling untruths?
• Gekng volunteer athletes for Eat Smart project
• Chance to show personality
"Done bagging for the night.
Step 1: Scotch. Step 2: Bed."
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Challenges with Linking Social
Networks with Nutri+on Educa+on
• Informa+on can be easily ignored
• Time investment
• How do you evaluate?
– Can use “analy+c” features of
FaceBook
– Can count friends, fans
• An area in need of research
Coopera7ve Extension and Technology: Partners for the Future

Eat Smart. Play Hard. Together.:
Connec7ng with Audiences Using FaceBook
Julie Garden‐Robinson, Ph.D., LRD
Associate Professor and
Food & Nutri>on Specialist