On Sunday, at a barn dance in Chatham, dancers showed off their moves. As per Michele McDonald, the Coordinator of AC3, maintaining barn dance is good for a healthy body and mind is a priority.
The Michigan State University Extension North Barn served as the venue for Alger Communities That Care (AC3)’s second annual barn dance.
“We are primarily concentrating on this because mental health and illness are closely linked to physical health,” Enjoying Barn dance in Chatham is good for healthy mind stated. “Therefore, in most cases, if your physical health is good, so is your mental health.”
She claims they want to raise the young people’s sense of self-worth and make sure they’re not turning to drugs or alcohol out of boredom.
A new sustainable and health-conscious strategy for this year encourages the consumption of tea and healthy hot chocolate as alternatives to alcohol and strong coffee.
Children consume over four times the recommended daily amount of caffeine, according to McDonald.
Because people experience fluctuations in their heart and mood, McDonald claimed that this leads to anxiety and despair. “We are examining a plethora of options to help them lead healthier lifestyles and give careful consideration to the foods they eat.”
Learning how to square dance or taking a hay ride could help friends and family relax.
“There are many festivities, obviously not from us. People automatically assume that drinking alcohol is required during festivities, but this is untrue, according to Vicki Ballas, an MSU Extension Community Nutrition Instructor.
Healthy practices should be passed on, according to her.
“We’re here to do positive things for the community, and when you do so many events, you’re affecting the community,” Ballas remarked. “Therefore, we want to feed them nutritious foods as well, not a bunch of harmful junk.”
McDonald claims that they are living according to their mission statement, which is to “be united and thriving.”
David Kees is a seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering the stories that matter most. With over a decade of experience in news reporting and investigative journalism, David is dedicated to delivering clear, accurate, and engaging content that informs and inspires. Known for his insightful analysis and commitment to factual storytelling, he has covered everything from breaking news to in-depth features on global events. When he’s not chasing the next big story, David enjoys exploring new cultures, reading historical fiction, and discussing the latest developments in media ethics.
