To celebrate its second year, Cooperstown's Walking Example Group will hold a Homegrown Health Fair on Sunday, May 23 from noon to 4 p.m. at The Farmers' Museum.

WE-GO will celebrate active living as well as the importance of nutrition.

Along with moving throughout the day, WE-GO founder Brenda Berstler emphasized the importance of "making smart, healthy choices" when it comes to eating.

Local farmers, such as Breezies Maple Farm, Bluestone Farms, Slow Food, Community Supported Agriculture and the Fly Creek Cider Mill will have exhibits in addition to organizations such as Curves, the Clark Sports Center, Thorlo, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Glimmerglass Creative Learning, Jilli's Road Show, the Otsego County Conservation Association (OCCA), the Susquehanna Cycling Club, the New York State Department of Health, the Otsego County Public Health and the American Heart Association.

Thorlo will also conduct a sock exchange program.

"Bring a pair of your usable socks and exchange them for a new pair of Thorlos," said Berstler.

The donated socks will be washed by Metro Cleaners and donated to Otsego Family Services, she added.

County Appreciation Day is also on Sunday, May 23, and residents of Otsego, Chenango, Schoharie and Delaware Counties get into the Farmers' Museum and the Fenimore Art Museum free, said Berstler.

The celebration will include self-guided walking tours of the Farmers' Museum and the Fenimore Art Museum, music provided by D.J. Wooden, a contra dancing presentation, exhibits, balloons, face painting, prizes and health screenings by the Community Heart Program through Bassett Healthcare Heart Initiative.

People interested in joining a certain walking group will have the opportunity. Groups consist of track walkers, (to kick off June 14th during the Baseball Hall of Fame Game parade), village walking, or hiking trails are available through the OCCA.

The number of walking groups to be formed will all depend on the amount of interest. Software will also be on site for people to enter their address and receive a customized walking route, said Berstler.

"We want to establish these fitness opportunities," she said. "You really don't have to go beyond your own backyard."

The ultimate goal for WE-GO is to build a series of connections between the surrounding towns and villages, said Berstler. These connections would allow pedestrians to walk to specific sites around Cooperstown without confronting automobile traffic.

"We have so much available here," Berstler said recently. "Otsego County is so inviting. We just have to take advantage of it."

A sheet will be available for the collection of signatures for those who support WE-GO's next venture.

WE-GO, sponsored by corporations such as Coca Cola and Thorlo and community organizations, was created in conjunction with the Cooperstown Business Advancement Committee to "foster diversity" and focus on resolving issues such as parking and obesity.

Since the beginning, guided walking tours have been scheduled with themes including trees and flowers of the village, wine, quilts, ghost stories, history as well as a virtual trip to Seattle, Washington equaling 2,000 miles and a walking challenge against Cooperstown's sister community, Windsor, Nova Scotia.