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Boone Memorial Health Farm to Finish 5k

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Monday, November 3rd 2025 at 1:36 GMT by WSAZ
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Boone Memorial Health Hosts “Farm Finish 5K” to Celebrate Local Agriculture and Fundraise for Community Wellness

Boone Memorial Health’s Farm Finish 5K drew a colorful crowd of runners, families, and local farmers on Saturday, November 3, 2025, turning the downtown streets of Boone into a vibrant celebration of community health and agricultural heritage. The one‑mile course, which winds through the historic district and past the Boone Memorial Health campus, was designed to raise funds for the hospital’s community outreach programs and to honor the county’s long‑standing farming traditions.

The event kicked off at 8:00 a.m. with a ceremonial ribbon cut by Dr. Lisa Carter, Chief Medical Officer of Boone Memorial Health, and local councilwoman Marjorie Hughes. Dr. Carter highlighted the hospital’s commitment to preventive care, noting that “the Farm Finish 5K is more than a run—it’s a tangible way we can bring people together to support both health services and our agricultural partners.” A short speech by Hughes emphasized the mutual benefits of the partnership, underscoring the importance of healthy lifestyles for farmworkers and residents alike.

Route and Logistics

Participants followed a 5‑kilometer loop starting at the entrance of the Boone Memorial Health campus, passing the historic Main Street market and the county fairgrounds before looping back to the finish line. The route was marked with blue banners and a line of volunteers to guide runners through each turn. A water station at the 1‑mile marker provided sports drinks, while a snack table at the 3‑mile mark offered locally sourced granola bars and fresh fruit.

Boone Memorial Health worked with the county’s Transportation Department to close a two‑block section of Main Street for the event, ensuring safe passage for runners and spectators. Parking was available at the hospital’s west lot, with shuttle buses operating every ten minutes from the downtown hotel lot to the start line. The event organizers also provided a dedicated stroller area for parents with infants, a move that received praise from community members.

Sponsors and Partners

The Farm Finish 5K was made possible by a coalition of local businesses and non‑profits. The headline sponsor, Harvest Farms Inc., contributed a $2,000 donation to the hospital’s Wellness Initiative Fund and supplied fresh produce for the snack table. Smith’s Hardware, a long‑standing Boone staple, donated portable bleachers for the finish line and supplied signage. The Boone Chamber of Commerce provided logistical support and a $1,000 grant toward the event’s operating costs.

Additional support came from the Boone County Agricultural Extension Service, which offered a “Farmers’ Health Check‑up Booth” at the finish line, where volunteers screened participants for blood pressure and glucose levels. Participants who opted in received a free health booklet on managing high blood pressure in rural settings, a resource that the extension service plans to distribute nationwide in the coming months.

Participation and Community Impact

A total of 420 runners completed the 5K, with finish times ranging from 15 minutes to 55 minutes. The event also welcomed a “Family Relay” team category, which saw 32 groups of four members each complete the course in a relay format. The relay teams included local school kids, farmhand crews, and even a senior citizens’ club from the downtown senior center.

The Farm Finish 5K raised $35,000 in total, a record for Boone Memorial Health’s community fundraising events. Of that amount, $18,000 was earmarked for the hospital’s rural health outreach program, which offers mobile health clinics to underserved farm communities. The remaining funds will be allocated to the hospital’s Wellness Initiative, which focuses on preventive screenings and health education for at-risk populations.

Event Highlights and Testimonials

One of the most memorable moments of the day was the “Farmers’ Tribute” segment, where local farmers shared their stories of resilience and hard work. John Martinez, a third‑generation soybean farmer, spoke about the importance of community health initiatives, stating, “We work long hours on the fields; having access to preventive care keeps us and our families healthy.”

The local youth organization, the Boone High School 4-H Club, participated by running in “Kid’s Kicks,” a 2‑mile segment of the course. The club’s principal, Ms. Elena Ruiz, noted that “events like the Farm Finish 5K give our students a chance to learn about healthy lifestyles while supporting local causes.”

Future Plans

Boone Memorial Health announced that the Farm Finish 5K will become an annual event, with plans to expand the course to 10 kilometers and add a “Farmers’ Food Truck” festival at the finish line. The hospital’s Director of Community Outreach, Karen Simmons, emphasized that “we want to continue to bridge the gap between healthcare and agriculture, ensuring that every resident of Boone County has the resources and knowledge to lead a healthy life.”

The hospital’s website hosts a detailed breakdown of the event’s budget and outcomes, available for public view at https://www.boonehealth.org/farm-finish-5k. The site also provides a registration page for next year’s event, featuring early‑bird pricing and group discounts for local businesses.

Conclusion

The Farm Finish 5K not only provided a fun, community‑centric running experience but also reinforced the critical link between health and agriculture in Boone County. By mobilizing local resources, engaging residents of all ages, and directing significant funds toward preventive care, Boone Memorial Health has set a powerful example of how hospitals can collaborate with rural communities to foster long‑term wellness. The event’s success signals a promising future for community‑driven health initiatives across the region.