Making a difference: Agent spreads nutrition awareness, improves lives
Softley is a Human Nutrition, Diet and Health agent for Franklin and seven other counties in northwest Alabama. She has been with Extension for nine years, but her interest in the field of dietetics started because of her family.
“My dad had diabetes, and he would always ask why he wasn’t supposed to eat certain things. It made me want to learn so I could help my family,” Softley said.
She earned her associate degree from Penn State in dietetic food systems management before earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Alabama in family and consumer sciences with a focus on nutrition.
Softley is pursuing her master’s degree in adult education from Auburn University; she will graduate May 6.
“Getting this degree in adult education has really helped me teach my classes better through the Extension,” Softley said. “I’ve learned how to better interact with the adults, and it helps the learning process.”
Some of her work with adults includes a program called Right Bite, a four-week diabetic program. She has hosted two of these in Franklin County – one with the Foster Grandparents and one at an assisted living facility.
“They were very receptive and wanted to learn,” Softley said of the Franklin County groups. Teaching groups and individuals about proper diabetic nutrition is something Softley said she is passionate about because of her own family’s history with diabetes.
She doesn’t just work with adults. One of her favorite programs is the Color Me Healthy program for Pre-K and kindergarten students.
“It’s a demographic people don’t think of very often when it comes to nutrition,” she said.
Her favorite part of the program is the Try New Things section, when she encourages students to try fruits and vegetables they haven’t eaten before.
“I teach them why these foods are good for them and how they grow and the different colors and textures. The program is a big hit with the schools,” Softley said.
Her previous job as a dietetic technician at ECM allowed her to work one-on-one with people, and even though she loved it, she said she also loves that the Extension allows her to work with larger groups.
“I get asked to speak to groups all of the time,” Softley said. “Knowing that someone has recommended me and that someone else has seen the importance and requested me is what drives me.”
She said she enjoys making a difference, and even if only one or two people show up, it is still worthwhile because of the difference it can make in their lives.
