Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Every year, the Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce sponsors and hosts an opportunity for local youth to develop leadership skills, learn about the career avenues available locally and network with business owners and community members.
This program, called the Junior Leadership Class, is designed to introduce the community's future leaders to careers, academic paths and opportunities within their hometown – as well as inspire them to take a proactive role, as a student, in guiding and building Jefferson County's future.
The 2019-2020 Junior Leadership Class, compiled of nine local students, met for their last time on Thursday, June 18.
The focus of the final class was to learn more about the wildlife and ecological pathways of Jefferson County – which resulted in plenty of fun, exciting activities for the class!
The first tour that the leadership class conducted on their final day of meeting was with the North Florida Wildlife Center, located in Lamont.
At the center, the students got the chance to meet several species of exotic or endangered species from around the world, including: kangaroos, bar-pouched wreathed hornbills and a brush-tailed bettong joey. The Leadership Class were able to play with a three-month-old zebra foal, meet two ring-tailed lemurs, interact with scaly lizards, pet a potbelly pig, hold a Great Blue Turaco, interact with a albino wallaby joey and so much more.
The second tour of the day was donated by Corky Williams at Wacissa River Kayak, Canoe & Airboats. Also pitching in with a donated trip was Del Loveless with G-FAST, with both men working together to give the students an 11-mile airboat ride through the Wacissa River.
After eating a picnic lunch, the final tour of the day was provided by Harry Smith and Mike Cockman with Harry Smith Outdoors who provided a five-mile guided kayak tour on the Wacissa River. The students traveled from Goose Pasture through the Slave Canal and then down to Nuttall Rise.
The students were able to enjoy a gorgeous day on the river, seeing alligators, turtles, owls, deer and several species of native birds.
As a parting gift for the completion of the year's classes, the students received completion certificates and $100 each from the chamber of commerce.
The Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce extends a special thanks to their Junior Leadership sponsors: Gavins & Company CPA and the Gulf Power Company.
This year's students were: Joey Davis, Esther Fulford, Riley Hamrick, Mary Rose Schwier, Albree Shiver, Will Sullivan, Anna Lee Trest, Makayla Walker and Olivia Walton.
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