Leigh Youth Advisory Members Meet with Ord Community Leaders
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On April 24, 2019, the junior and senior members of the Leigh Youth Advisory Council had the opportunity to take part in a community tour of Ord, Nebraska in a day focused on entrepreneurship and small-town opportunity.
The members began their trip to Ord with a meeting with the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce. Three employees shared what their jobs consisted of and how they ended up in a small town, as well as pointing out opportunities small towns have to offer. They also took time to get to know the kids and talk with them about their futures
After meeting with the chamber, the YAC members were able to meet with owners of four local businesses: Valley Fire Espresso, Cin-trese Boutique, Jubilee Events and Catering, and Scratchtown Brewery. Each business owner gave them a tour of their business, explained their paths to becoming business owners, and gave the kids their own advice for starting a business in a small town and being an entrepreneur. Jubilee Events and Catering also catered the students’ lunch.
The students also had the opportunity to visit the Golden Husk Theater. Local lawyer, Mr. Bob Stowell, gave them a tour of the theater and talked to the kids about progressive things Ord has done to better their community. He also explained how Ord is part of the Nebraska Community Foundation and all the benefits that come along with that.
Throughout the day, all the people the students met with were extremely positive individuals. They took time out of their schedules to meet with just Leigh kids, and they were proud to show off their hometown and talk with Leigh students about finding success in a small town. They also went out of their way to get to know the kids and offer advice.
YAC advisor, Mrs. Justine Fischer, lined up the trip. She said she was inspired by an Omaha World Herald article she read about Scratchtown Brewery and the up-and-coming Ord community.
“The entire trip to Ord was an amazing experience for our students to see firsthand what such a progressive small community is doing to enhance quality of life in their hometown and get young people excited to move there. Everyone we met with was extremely enthusiastic and positive about what they do, and we are so grateful to all of them for sharing their community with us. I hope our kids all gained something from the experience and maybe looked at business ownership and making a life in a small town from a different perspective. Since we are not technically a school group, I also to the Leigh school for allowing us to miss school take part in such a unique experience!”
The Leigh Youth Advisory Committee is a committee of Leigh area students in grades 10-12 who are committed to the future of the community of Leigh and aim to become more community and civic-minded.”