Page 20 - CFAN_Mar2014

a g r i e d u
FEATURE |

STUDENTS TURNED

Teachers

ERICA CURTIS
(second to left)
communication and interpersonal skills,
with some of the
Youth Livestock and even become a teacher to youth in The Spirit of Service in Two 4-H Volunteers
4-H. Her favorite part of volunteer work is
Exhibitors at the E
teaching younger people. “I love it when I
Florida State Fair.
can see the youth learning and having fun by JULIE GMITTER

at the same time,” Curtis explains.

Colston is a homeschooled student as EARLIER THIS YEAR, POLK COUNTY 4-H recognized two exemplary young volunteers in our
well, and has provided six years of service
community: Erica Curtis and Grace Colston. Both of these young students turned teachers were honored as
to Polk County through Live and Learn recipients of the Prudential Spirit of Community award. Their honorable volunteer work and extraordinary
4-H club of Auburndale. Colston and
display of leadership made them excellent candidates for this community service-based award, which honors
her club frequently visit the Auburndale students through grades five through 12.
Oaks Nursing Home, participate in Relay

for Life, and assist with childcare at a local
church. Besides helping with childcare

at her church, she also works in the café

a few early mornings each month. With Curtis, 17, has provided service to Polk become a rabbit project leader. Her club
the help of her sisters and her Relay for County through the Lake Wales Clovers did not have a project leader at the time,

Life team, they raised over $2100 to help on the Ridge 4-H club for eight years. She and she wanted to help others learn as
support research for cancer patients. is a homeschooled student who serves as she did, and possibly win awards for their

Colston and her club also go once a her 4-H club’s rabbit project leader. Her rabbits too. Now she teaches classes, which
month to Auburndale Oaks to sing to the interest in rabbits developed when her provides the students with information

patients and give them homemade crafts parents allowed her to take home a fluffy about rabbit care, rabbit health, and
or cards. Also, she cleans the Auburndale
Holland Lop rabbit, which then motivated showmanship. She is also responsible for
Trail once a month and although it is her to learn everything about rabbit organizing and coordinating the first-ever

hard work, it has helped her learn more care and showmanship. Applying her rabbit showmanship competition at the
about the environment. Her favorite knowledge, Curtis earned several ribbons Polk County Youth Fair. Through her

memory of volunteer work was during a and trophies at local fairs. Her success various roles in 4-H leadership, she has
visit to Auburndale Oaks, when she sang
at these shows is what motivated her to
learned responsibility, developed excellent

UTILIZING ALL YOUR TALENT RESOURCES IN BUSINESS

AS TOUGH AS IT IS sometimes to admit in business, we builders” or “dream builders” in and for your enterprise.

don’t have all the answers or the time to do everything ourselves. Do you have a payroll? By all means, include your

We don’t always have the proper angle on a project or challenge. employees in your decision-making and business-building
We would be wise to reach out to others, solicit their advice efforts. If employees feel like a stakeholder in your business,

and help, learn from the ground they’ve already covered, avoid the chances are good they’ll be more motivated to do a great
reinventing the wheel, and, yes, maximize their skills. The job for you.

idea here isn’t just to solicit the talent wrapped up solely in the Do you have professional friends and acquaintances
business, but rather the talent of so many other people that the who have the time and talent to take on some tasks
by BAXTER TROUTMAN
business owner can tap into — often for no cost, for little cost, or or creative work that you’re just not set up to do right
maybe for a quid pro quo (“something for something”).
now? Approached in the right way, and with nothing

And where can our professional outreach take us? Certainly taken for granted, these folks just might help you out for free or at BIO: Baxter Troutman is founder and chief executive
officer of Labor Solutions, a staffing company with of-
close family members might be a start, or how about close or a low cost. Or, they might be willing to make a trade: Your service fices in Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, and Arca-
trusted friends? I like the idea I came across recently to invite and expertise for their service and expertise. It very well could be dia. A citrus grower who served in the Florida House
of Representatives, Troutman understands the chal-
dear, intelligent and business-savvy friends to become “vision
a win-win situation for all parties concerned.
lenges and concerns of today’s farmer.

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