Dayona Smith

Dayona was born in Indio, California, in 1989. She loved reading from a young age and was featured in a local newspaper in Big Bear, California, for her reading skills in preschool. Throughout her childhood, she continued to enjoy books, her punishments were often being grounded from reading. In high school in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Dayona wanted to give back to her community. She started a charity called Make a Difference, which helped students volunteer with nonprofit organizations. After graduating, she went to Iowa State University to study Early Childhood Education but left to become a wife and move to San Diego, California. In 2010, Dayona bought her first DSLR camera to take photos of the ocean, which sparked her passion for artistic photography. She then followed her college sweetheart back to his hometown of Dixon, Illinois. In Dixon, she continued to teach at nonprofit organizations in the Sauk Valley area. Dayona kept learning in Dixon. She earned a Master of Business Administration and became a certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Specialist through the American Council on Exercise. She also received certification in primary nutrition education from the Utah State University Extension. She now has over 20 years of coaching experience in various disciplines such as yoga, dance, gymnastics, and cheer. She continues to teach at the local yoga and barre studio. In addition to her work in wellness and nutrition, Dayona loves gardening and giving back to the community. She founded the Dayona Farm Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes agriculture and pollinators through educational resources and workshops. She has served various community boards, raised funds for nonprofits, and developed programs for people of all ages. In early 2024, Dayona started writing her first book to share her experiences with extended postpartum depression. She wrote a poem about her sadness but decided to make it more uplifting for the mother she wanted to be. After over a year of editing, she succeeded in her goal of being an author and illustrator. Now, she wants to continue to share her positive outlook through a series of children’s picture books.