For the third year in a row, the Logan County 4-H program, partnering with the Chamber of Commerce and both school systems, sent two delegates to the Kentucky Youth Seminar, held on the University of Kentucky campus in June. This year, Jennifer Gibbs from Logan County High School and Caleb Wills from Russellville High School were selected to attend this event.

The Kentucky Youth Seminar is a statewide 2-day program for selected high school students who were participants in the county American Private Enterprise System program. It is both instructional and competitive. Participants have an opportunity to listen to and question speakers from business and government about our American Private Enterprise System. They are also given the opportunity to function as members of a board of directors of a cooperative or corporation to solve real-world problems presented to them. Examinations are administered to determine cash and scholarship winners. Fourteen Youth Scholars and two Junior Leaders are then selected to attend the National Institute on Cooperative Education.

Students also get a chance to experience college life by living in the dorms, going on campus tours, and getting out in the Lexington community to see some of the culture in the city. Jennifer and Caleb had a great time dining out in Lexington, shopping, roller skating and playing laser tag with students from across the state.

At the Kentucky Youth Seminar this year, both Jennifer and Caleb were selected as delegates to attend the National Institute on Cooperative Education. Caleb attended the event held on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville.

The N.I.C.E program is designed to help participants better understand American business by attending workshops designed to increase awareness and understanding of business principles and practices. It also provides an opportunity for leadership training, exploration of career options and motivation. Business leaders from across the country are on hand to discuss topics of interest nationally and internationally in the business community. Additional scholarship money is awarded at the N.I.C.E. program.

Congratulations to Caleb Wills for being selected as runner-up at the N.I.C.E. conference. He was selected according to examination scores from tests taken by the youth participating from across the nation. Hard work and dedication are required to reach this high level of achievement from a national educational program.

Logan County and Russellville students once again represented their communities and schools well at both these state and national events. Congrats to both of them for their hard work.

For more information on the American Private Enterprise System, the Kentucky Youth Seminar or the National Institute on Cooperative Education, please contact the Logan County Extension Service at 270-726-6323.