Polk County Students: Garrett McDaniel, Charles Moore, Kaley Hart, and Caleb McLaren return from a recent Leadership Conference at San Angelo State University (Sponsored by the Polk County Farm Bureau).
Local Farm Bureau Has Much to Offer Polk County Youth, LIVINGSTON, July 3, 2008 - The Polk County Farm Bureau has been very active for many years in offering students opportunities for personal and educational advancement. Just last week 4 high school students from Polk County returned from San Angelo State University from a Youth Leadership Conference (there were a total of 330 students from Farm Bureaus across Texas). The purpose of The Farm Bureau Youth Leadership Conference is to emphasize three things: Patriotism, Responsibility, and Leadership. Top notch speakers lead students in interactive discussions about real-world issues. Students explore the U.S. Constitution and see how it was designed and written by our founding fathers and how the Constitution is the rock solid foundation on which this nation was built. In addition, students learn the basic principles of our free market, capitalistic economic system. They learn why capitalism is superior to other systems in history like socialism, fascism, communism and others. Students also participate in activities that demonstrate how free enterprise allows individuals to move as far as their dreams can take them. Students are led in activities that show the importance of setting goals. They also participate in various leadership activities that help build confidence in themselves and their abilities.
"The Youth Leadership Conference remains one of the highlights of my youth. I walked away from my time at the conference a better speaker, a better leader, and a better person. Indeed, I attribute much of any future success I have to the Texas Farm Bureau and its remarkable commitment to Texas youth" -- Brooke Leslie Rollins, President Texas Public Policy Foundation and Former Deputy General Counsel to Governor Rick Perry
The Farm Bureau philosophy is one of that encompasses a belief in perseverance, self reliance, and service to others. These are not merely words to this organization of over 404,000, but a way of life.
"We believe that our faith in God and the democratic principles of free enterprise and human freedom upon which our nation was founded are responsible for its greatness..." -- Kenneth Dierschke, President, Texas Farm Bureau
Local students also attended a wildlife camp that took place in West Texas in the Davis Mountains. At wildlife camp, students learn about wildlife and how to study wildlife, often with the use of cameras designed for filming wildlife without the presence of people. Wildlife camp also puts an emphasis on conservation and preservation of wildlife.
Home Schoolers Welcome! The Farm Bureau and the Agricultural Extension Office invites students who are home schooled to participate and pursue all their student activites. For parents who home school, this offers an opportunity for other activities and affords the student opportunities to mingle with other top notch students.
The local Farm Bureau also works closely with the Polk County Texas Agricultural Extension Office. The Farm Bureau and the Extension Office are separate entities, but work together in promoting education, agriculture, leadership, and personal development in the youth of Polk County. The Farm Bureau also sponsors our local youth rodeo where students get to show their farm animals such as chickens, rabbits, horses, pigs, and cattle. These animals are auctioned off and all proceeds go to the students. That's not all! ...On July 10th, Students will be giving speeches/presentations on what they did and learned at Wildlife Camp. The presentation will be given at Polk County Farm Bureau Headquarters. The Farm Bureau is also sponsoring two local girls in a Beauty and Talent contest. Girls from other parts of Texas will come to Polk County where the Beauty and Talent contest will be held. The Beauty and Talent contest will be held at First Baptist Church on July 19th.
