Operation Wellness, a 4‐year collaborative university/community‐based initiative for individuals in a small, rural county in Indiana, was designed to promote physical activity, improve nutrition, and implement other healthy lifestyle changes. A variety of programs and strategies were offered for children who enrolled in Wellness Preparatory (toddlers through middle school) and for adults who enrolled in Wellness University (high school through senior citizens). This article describes the adult program. Results for the 4‐year program include the following: The percentage of those who reporting exercising 3–4 days per week increased from 29.7% to 37.4%; smoking or using smokeless tobacco declined from 11.2% to 10.0%, but there was no difference in the number of servings of fruits and vegetables consumed per day. One of the most cost‐effective and successful programs was Dump Your PlumpTM worksite weight loss competition where 333 individuals on 52 worker‐led teams lost 2,256 pounds of body weight.