Sweat Hawgs encourage youth physical fitness

The “SWEAT HAWG” program is a collaborative community outreach effort between the University of Arkansas Athletics Program, the Fayetteville Public Schools and the Farmington Public Schools.

Bringing Razorback athletes to area elementary schools to conduct PE rallies and providing incentives to students and teachers to encourage physical fitness, the SWEAT HAWGS inspire youth to be active.

“SWEAT HAWGS” launched its pilot program during the 2004-05 academic year, and included all nine Fayetteville Elementary Schools. The program is now in its fifth year, incorporates all nine Fayetteville elementary schools, and its third, fourth and fifth graders (1,933 students in approximately 120 physical education classrooms). Fayetteville schools include: Asbell, Butterfield Trail, Happy Hollow, Holcomb, Leverett, Owl Creek, Root, Vandergriff and Washington Elementary.

The program expanded in 2008-09 to include the Farmington school’s third, fourth and fifth graders (520 students in 23 physical education classrooms). Farmington schools include Williams Elementary, Ledbetter Intermediate, Folsom Elementary and Lynch Middle School.

Since SWEAT HAWGS began, many professional sports organizations have taken up the cause of encouraging youth physical activity along with many other college and university athletic departments.