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NFL Quarterback Sam Bradford, Secretary Vilsack Urge Native Children to Get Outside and Get Active

Posted by Wayne Maloney, Office of Communications in Food and Nutrition Initiatives
Apr 28, 2011
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (at podium) and St. Louis Rams Quarterback Sam Bradford (blue shirt, left) met at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, to encourage Native American Youth to pursue a healthy lifestyle. More than 30 Students from Eastern and Western Tribes, Southeast Alaska, and Tuba City, Arizona came to the Nation’s Capitol to plant vegetable seeds that are indigenous to North America. Bradford is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The garden is called The Roots of American Agriculture, and is part of the Headquarters’ People’s Garden. Also speaking at the event was the Executive Director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Campaign Robin Schepper (center); Director of the Bureau of Indian Education. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (at podium) and St. Louis Rams Quarterback Sam Bradford (blue shirt, left) met at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, to encourage Native American Youth to pursue a healthy lifestyle. More than 30 Students from Eastern and Western Tribes, Southeast Alaska, and Tuba City, Arizona came to the Nation’s Capitol to plant vegetable seeds that are indigenous to North America. Bradford is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The garden is called The Roots of American Agriculture, and is part of the Headquarters’ People’s Garden. Also speaking at the event was the Executive Director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Campaign Robin Schepper (center); Director of the Bureau of Indian Education. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

Cross posted from the Let's Move! blog:

St Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford joined Secretary Vilsack in the USDA People’s Garden yesterday to urge Native American youth to spend the summer pursuing healthy outdoor activities.  About 30 Native youth from across the Nation, including Tuba City, Arizona and Southeast Alaska, planted a Native American Garden (part of the USDA People’s Garden) as Bradford, Vilsack and other dignitaries spoke.

Bradford, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, was joined by Robin Schepper, executive director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative; Keith Moore, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education Director; and Janie Hipp, Senior Advisory to Secretary Vilsack with the USDA Office of Tribal Relations.

In his remarks, Bradford noted that heart disease and type II diabetes are a growing problem for Native American youth and that a healthy lifestyle, including eating quality food and engaging in outdoor activities, can counteract the effects of childhood obiesity.  “When I was a kid,” said Bradford, “My mother made me get outside, get active and have fun.” Bradford, a first overall NFL draft pick and a winner of the Heisman Trophy, credits outdoor activities as a youth with providing the physical foundation for his football career.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met with Native American Youth at the U. S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, April 2, 2011 to encourage them to pursue a healthy lifestyle. After opening remarks and questions, Secretary Vilsack spent time with the 30 Students from Eastern and Western Tribes, Southeast Alaska, and Tuba City, Arizona, at he garden called The Roots of American Agriculture, and is part of the Headquarters’ People’s Garden. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met with Native American Youth at the U. S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, April 2, 2011 to encourage them to pursue a healthy lifestyle. After opening remarks and questions, Secretary Vilsack spent time with the 30 Students from Eastern and Western Tribes, Southeast Alaska, and Tuba City, Arizona, at he garden called The Roots of American Agriculture, and is part of the Headquarters’ People’s Garden. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung

Secretary Vilsack acknowledged the efforts of the First Lady, and programs like Let’s Move! and Fuel Up to Play 60 with making a real difference among children in rural America.  He thanked Bradford for his message to America’s youth and noted the importance of activities like the People’s Garden in promoting outdoor activities and health living, saying “You can’t ‘win the future’ if you are dealing with obesity issues.”  The Secretary said that 1,300 People’s Gardens across the country last year donated an estimated 90,000 pounds of fresh food to food banks and other organizations.

Visit these sites to learn more about  Fuel Up to Play 60, Let’s Move! and the People’s Garden.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (left rear of group) met with more than 30 Students from Eastern and Western Tribes, Southeast Alaska, and Tuba City, Arizona who came to the Nation’s Capitol to plant vegetable seeds that are indigenous to North America. The garden is called The Roots of American Agriculture, and is part of the Headquarters’ People’s Garden. The event took place on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (left rear of group) met with more than 30 Students from Eastern and Western Tribes, Southeast Alaska, and Tuba City, Arizona who came to the Nation’s Capitol to plant vegetable seeds that are indigenous to North America. The garden is called The Roots of American Agriculture, and is part of the Headquarters’ People’s Garden. The event took place on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
Category/Topic: Food and Nutrition Initiatives
Tags: DOI Fuel Up to Play 60 Let's Move People's Garden Sam Bradford Tom Vilsack Tribal