FORT WORTH – U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, was honored with the Extension in the City award today from the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

The award, created in 2006, “recognizes elected officials (and) signifies the highest regard and gratitude of AgriLife Extension educators across the state, particularly the faculty in 21 counties organized under the agency’s Urban Program.”

 “Throughout her tenure in the U.S. House, Congresswoman Granger’s support for her district has included Extension education programs, especially those related to health, nutrition and natural resources,” said Dr. Ed Smith, AgriLife Extension director.

“It has to be all of us,” Granger said of the partnership with AgriLife Extension and other agencies to help children get and stay fit. “I don’t want to legislate that kids have to walk 5 miles every day or legislate what they can’t eat.

“But I do know we’ve got to do everything we can to help them have healthy lives,” she said in accepting the honor at the AgriLife Extension office in Tarrant County.

One example is a joint effort by AgriLife Extension and the Fort Worth Independent School District to conduct a program they call Fit Kids, said a school district official.

“Thanks to Congresswoman Granger, we’ve been able to partner in this comprehensive effort, which has engaged schools, parents, families and neighborhoods in addressing childhood obesity with positive impacts,” said Georgi Roberts, director of health and physical education for the Fort Worth school district.”

Granger is also known for “spearheading anti-terrorism efforts through her leadership on several House committees and caucuses,” said Smith. “She’ll be the first to tell you that a key component of these efforts lies in improving global health.”

After serving from 1991 to 1995 as mayor of Fort Worth, Granger became the first Republican woman to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1997. She continues to represent Texas’ 12th Congressional District, which encompasses Parker, Wise and the western half of Tarrant counties.

According to Smith, much of North Texas beyond Granger’s own district has benefited from her efforts to enhance water quality. With federal grant support, AgriLife Extension has used watershed planning, modeling and educational outreach to address the quality of water serving 1.6 million residents across 11 counties.

“We take this opportunity to recognize you,” Smith told Granger, “because your leadership has significantly contributed to the urban impacts of Extension education.”

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