Good health is in your own backyard.

That's the theme of The Walking Example Group's second anniversary party. Everyone is invited to the "Homegrown Health Fair" on Sunday, May 23, from 1-4 p.m. at Lakefront Park in Cooperstown.

The party in the park will feature music, dancing, prizes, balloons, health screenings, walking tours and exhibits. WE-GO memberships, renewals and pedometers are available as well as enrollments in our new Village Walker, Track Walker and County Hiker fitness programs.

From exploring the natural beauty of Otsego County to our local farmers' bounty to our exceptional healthcare and fitness facilities, improving your health and quality of life in Otsego County is yours just for the doing. This year WE-GO invites local farmers, fitness and healthcare agencies, and merchants and organizations with an interest in healthy choices to join us as we celebrate two years of striding with pride. To reserve exhibit space, call the WE-GO office at 547-2893. Space is free, but limited.

New York State is second only to California for diversity of agricultural products. We are blessed with local farmers devoted to producing top quality fare, brimming with vitamins, minerals and exceptional flavor. Fresh fruits and vegetables do incredible things for a body. I read only recently that by regularly eating spinach you can reduce your chance of developing macular degeneration by 48 per cent. That's an amazing statistic and a claim no corn chip can make. Popeye certainly got something right.

Good food combined with the walking our charming towns and villages or hiking through our natural splendor of rolling hills and waterways makes a dynamite health combination.

With the help of our elected officials in Albany and Washington, WE-GO aims to make Otsego County safely accessible to walkers, runners, cyclists, cross-country skiers, wheelchairs, strollers and others who choose transportation without a motor. More information on this goal and others is available at the Homegrown Health Fair.

We urge everyone to take this opportunity to get a clue to the shape you're in. Bassett Healthcare will be on hand to test blood pressure and body mass index. The Clark Sports Center will be there to show you how you can reduce both. Attention, all Move for Lifers! The Homegrown Health dancing and walking tours are another terrific way for you to add points to your activity totals.

WE-GO and its goals have grown in the last two years and this promises to be our best event yet. Just to ensure that we all have the best possible afternoon for Sunday, May 23, I ask everyone to start thinking sunny, summery thoughts NOW. It's time we break the WE-GO track record for holding events in the rain. WE-GO accepts all prayers, karma, rituals, four-leaf clovers, sweet dreams and good wishes.

Brenda Berstler is the founder of the Walking Example Group (WE-GO) a non-profit organization encouraging walking and walkable communities. Visit their website at www.we-go.org.