News and Events
Highlands County SWAT Chapter Engages Community at Annual Fair with Tobacco-Free Message
March 4, 2025
In February 2025, the Highlands County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Chapter made a strong impact at the annual Highlands County Fair, an eight-day event that brought together community members, business leaders, youth, and parents. Amidst the excitement of rides, exhibits, and livestock shows, the SWAT Chapter took center stage to educate attendees about the dangers of secondhand smoke, the vaping epidemic, and the significance of maintaining tobacco-free environments.
With a creative "mad scientist" theme, SWAT youth engaged fairgoers in the "Not a Lab Rat Campaign," highlighting how Big Tobacco exploits users as test subjects. Dressed in lab coats and equipped with goggles, beakers, and dry ice, the team delivered an eye-catching and informative presentation that resonated with attendees.
The fair also served as an early kickoff to "Through With Chew Week," inspiring SWAT members to distribute educational materials from the Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida. Interactive displays, including "Mr. Gross Mouth" and "Mr. Dip Lip," captured the attention of visitors, while many pledged to avoid chewing tobacco by adding their signatures to a large SWAT graffiti poster.
To further advocate for tobacco-free spaces, the SWAT Chapter posted "Breathe Easy Zone" signs throughout the fairgrounds, reinforcing the need for private event venues to adopt Tobacco-Free Event & Venue policies. Their efforts emphasized the health benefits of smoke-free spaces while promoting cleaner, safer event environments for all attendees.
For more information about the Tobacco Free Partnership, SWAT, or Tobacco-Free Events & Venues, individuals can contact Amanda John, Program Manager, at ajohn@quitdoc.com, or Jessica Carlson, Tobacco Prevention Specialist, at jcarlson@quitdoc.com.
