The MU Extension in Barry County hired a new employee over the summer, a nutritionist charged with educating the public on options for healthy eating and living.
Bailey McAlister, a McDonald County graduate with an associate’s degree from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and a bachelor’s in ag communication from the University of Arkansas, started as nutrition program associate on June 12.
“I come from a family of teachers and my dad was an ag teacher,” she said. “I’ve known of the MU Extension my whole life. When I finished my bachelor’s in the spring, I was looking for a job and found the MU Extension website and Barry county job opportunity. I live in Washburn, so I’m just 7 minutes from the office and live in Barry County, which is nice.”
McAlister’s main role with the Extension is education, especially when it comes to SNAP benefits and those in need.
“I plan to help rural and lower-income families through the SNAP program, and I will also partner with the schools, YMCA, libraries and OACAC for educational programs,” McAlister said. “I’ll also be working with the farmers’ market and Crosslines in Monett. Anywhere my audience may be, I will be integrated with them.”
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a Missouri Department of Social Services program that offers a monthly benefit for recipients to help offset food and seed costs.
“SNAP gives people access to fresh fruits and vegetables, be it from the farmers’ market, Walmart, grocery store or Dollar General,” McAlister said. “It gives them assistance to help them live a healthier lifestyle. I hope people take this information and incorporate it into their lifestyle. I hope to improve lives and see that they see the importance, and if they choose not to use SNAP, that’s OK, too.”
McAlister is partnering with the Shell Knob Victory Community Garden, a collaboration between the Extension and Harvest Community Garden at the Central Crossing United Methodist Church.
“There, we can do gardening lessons and potentially cooking lessons,” she said. “There’s los of different curricula I can teach and topics I can tackle in this job.”
Over the last couple of months, McAlister said the most enjoyable part of her job is meeting new people and getting acclimated to Barry County.
“Not being a Barry County native, I have enjoyed getting to be a part of people’s lives and creating new connections wherever I go,” she said.
McAlister is based at the Barry County MU Extension office, located in the Barry County Courthouse on the downtown square in Cassville. She may be reached at 417-847-3161 or bmcalister@missouri. edu.
