Polk County’s Youth Ambassadors Step Up to Spread Awareness
by REBEKAH PIERCE
Do you know what it takes to be the face of agriculture in Polk County?
High school students in the inaugural Polk County Youth Fair Ambassador Program are discovering firsthand exactly how to do just that. This brand-new program was created to increase awareness of the fair throughout the year, particularly in areas where it might not be well known.
While this sort of marketing and advertising might appear, at face value, to be the work of adults, teens all over Polk County are stepping up to the plate to get the job done instead.
The idea for the program came about when Justin Sharpless, a member of the initial selection committee, was approached by Josh Gibbons and Haley Clanton with the idea of starting a program where youth represent the fair at functions around the county.
“I believe this program will benefit the youth fair and the wider Polk County community by spreading awareness of our fair,” Sharpless says. “We want to increase the reach of fair participation and support to individuals who have not been involved. The program will also benefit the fair by growing the next generation of leaders for our fair.”
The benefit to the students and to the fair at large is mutual. Ambassadors raise awareness and inspire others to get involved, all while providing volunteer support at major events, such as the Taste of Agriculture event. “The ambassadors,” Sharpless emphasizes, “are the face of our fair.”
“Community connections are what will open the door for us to spread awareness into areas not yet reached.”
In return, ambassadors tap into benefits like extensive opportunities for leadership development and networking. Sharpless says the public presentations, event planning, and leadership training will help the ambassadors develop professionally.
Tasha Fones, Polk County Youth Fair Coordinator, adds, “By having the ambassadors being the face of the youth fair, we will be able to attract more exhibitors, supporters and community partners, which will ultimately help strengthen the impact of the fair. For the wider Polk County community the goal is to not only to promote youth leadership, but to also encourage personal growth and greater community involvement.”
The ambassador program is open to any high school student who has participated in the fair for at least two years. Sharpless notes that they’d like the ambassador program to have as many as 30 annual participants from all the geographic areas of Polk County who participate in a variety of fair events and represent various agricultural youth organizations associated with the fair.
Sharpless says the selection process is threefold. First, students must fill out an application. Then all candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be interviewed to determine their fit as an ambassador. Lastly, once the selection committee selects the ambassador candidates, a social media search will take place to ensure appropriate demeanor and content.
“Throughout this process we must ensure that the ambassador will represent the fair in a positive manner,” Sharpless clarifies. Applications are reviewed in detail by the selection committee, which is made up of Sharpless, Jessica Proia, and Maria Wetherington.
Perhaps the most important part of the selection process is attitude. Sharpless emphasizes that the committee is looking for students who are enthusiastic about their participation in the fair, as well as those who are willing to work hard and communicate professionally. After all, the goal is not just to raise awareness for the fair but to highlight the larger overall value of youth development programs like FFA, 4H, FCCLA, and YLPA, adds Fones.
For students, the impact of the Youth Ambassador Program has been profound despite the fact that it’s still in its infancy.
Kayden Bracknell, an ambassador for the program, says, “When I first started in 4-H and FFA, it was a new exciting experience but terrifying – thrilling experience at the same time. There were many peers I looked up to for guidance. The opportunity to be an ambassador to me means being able to help others the way my peers helped me, through a love for agriculture that is unlike no other.”
CaCee Bellamy, another ambassador, also found wider value in her experience, exclaiming, “Being a part of this ambassador program to me ultimately means being proud to represent the fair on a higher level. Because this fair was my entry to the agriculture industry, I feel gratitude in knowing I’m able to give back to what was given to me. I can’t wait to inspire the youth and see the connections and opportunities this program will lead me.”
The ambassadors, Sharpless adds, are truly the face of the fair. And what better way to showcase the best of Polk County’s agricultural community than by having the region’s most promising young leaders represent it?