Hickman County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences, Clinton- Hickman County Chamber of Commerce, and Hickman County Schools have partnered to establish a foundation for the cultivation and growth of inspired local leaders and empowered future workforce. A portion of the foundation is the Chamber Youth Leadership Program which is beginning the eleventh year in Hickman County. In order to meet the demands and challenges of this century, our community desires to develop the leadership and soft skills potential of our citizenry. 

 This program has allowed high school freshmen and sophomores the opportunity to work in three critical areas: personal soft skills and leadership development, inter-relation of civic/government organizations, and strategic community vision development. The Leadership Orientation and Retreat was designed this year with health and safety procedures in mind. Students were immersed in team building, group dynamics, and community awareness to build skills to engage in team leadership and community vitality work.  

 Nineteen students embarked upon the eleven-hour-long orientation. 100% of the students agreed that they gained knowledge about the history of Hickman County, 100% practiced and gained knowledge about working as a team, 100% feel that they gained tools to use in the cumulative group project and 80% felt more competent in their own leadership skills following the day-long retreat.  One student stated, “I enjoyed learning that there was more industry in our county than I knew”. Another student stated, “I learned it’s important to ask questions”.

 Participants will tour local businesses, interact with entrepreneurs and community leaders and gain awareness of the local economy throughout the year. Participants are required to commit to the program for nine months, complete a major project that is made up of an oral presentation, and commit to ten volunteer hours in the community. The students are provided a real-world problem for a leadership class to tackle in such a manner as to benefit the individual for learning leadership and problem-solving skills while providing the community to benefit from having a new local “think tank” generating new ideas for solving local problems. The 21-22 students will work on problems such as community art access, strengthening families, business and services plans, and planning for the future.

 The strong sustainability of this program is due to the support of local businesses, county government, and cooperation of the school system. This program is offered free to Hickman County students due to the generosity of our local businesses and civic organizations. Hickman County businesses plant the seeds of leadership in these students and know that one day after they finish their academic careers, they will reap the benefits of a ready workforce.