Extension office launches Woof Across Texas

Want to walk 832 miles across Texas with the company of adoptable dogs and members of the community?

The Ellis County AgriLife Extension office has launched an eight-week program, Woof Across Texas, a twist on the Walk Across Texas program.

While the program already began April 5, Danae Hicks, the Family and Community Health agent in Ellis County, emphasized that the community can join at any time.

Each Wednesday at 6 p.m. the Extension office will host a community walk at a park in the area. Hicks encourages participants to check their Facebook @Ellis County – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension by noon to see if the week’s walk has been canceled due to weather.

“The whole goal of this Walk Across Texas, or Woof Across Texas, as we’re calling it, is to get people moving in anyway,” Hicks said. “I want to engage the whole community in the fact that it doesn’t just have to be walking.”

Hicks explained that although it’s a walking challenge, participants can log any form of exercise, including pickleball, yoga and more, with the help of a conversion chart. The conversion chart shows participants how many minutes equals one mile or 2,000 steps.

This year, Hicks added dogs to the Walk Across Texas program in Ellis County and changed the name to Woof Across Texas.

At the community walks, Waxahachie Animal Services will bring adoptable dogs to join them, and participants are encouraged to bring their own four-legged friends.

“(It) gets them out of the shelter, helps keep their spirits up, (and) gives them some exercise because, just like humans, getting out and exercising and getting fresh air helps us, that also helps these dogs,” Hicks said.

The Extension will have a midway party at 6 p.m. May 3 at Getzendaner Park and a wrapup celebration at 6 p.m. May 31 at Wags-a-Hachie Dog Park., where they will celebrate the miles they’ve walked, and a variety of prizes, like insulated bags, will be handed out.

To sign up, visit http://bit.ly/41sG8IP, and sign up as an individual or team under the Walk Across Texas.

Youth program, enter the league code (watLY-230204-80433) and begin documenting your weekly walking distance. For more information, call the Extension office at 972-825-5175 or email Hicks at danae.hicks@ag.tamu.edu.

Originally published April 13, 2023 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/arts_and_entertainment/extension-office-launches-woof-across-texas/article_a553ae10-da33-11ed-a7b4-6310bc14a4f3.html