WILMINGTON — Leadership Clinton Youth Collaborative (LCYC) met Nov. 15 at Cherrybend Farm, 2326 Cherrybend Road, for its third class meeting.

Following breakfast provided by Clinton Memorial Hospital, the class enjoyed presentations from several interesting speakers.

The first speaker was Stephanie Butler from Clinton Memorial Hospital. She spoke about using soft skills when conversing with others in a professional setting. This includes how to introduce one’s self and how to read non-verbal gestures. After Butler concluded, Beth Ellis, the owner of Cherrybend Farm, shared about the farm. She explained the history, developments, and how the farm is currently run. She highlighted the non-profit work they do called Operation Cherrybend that provides opportunities for veterans. Students were given a tour of the farm.

After lunch provided by Subway in Sabina, Ashley Rose from the Farm Bureau spoke. She recounted the history of the bureau and how it has helped preserve the surrounding farmland as the county becomes developed. She spoke of the diverse ways the bureau has tried to help farmers in the county, including meeting needs for reliable Internet service and support during the isolation of the pandemic.

The final speaker of the day was Chip Murdock from Wilmington College. He shared about diversity and appreciation of the people one meets. He also spoke of avoiding stereotypes, leading the class through an interesting exercise to highlight the fact that people are more than the stereotypes with which they might be labeled. Each person encountered is unique and has so much to offer.

At the end of the day, students collaborated on posters that summarized principles of three different books they had read. Participants from the high schools in the county are working with one another to gain leadership skills as they are introduced to the assets Clinton County has to offer.

About Leadership Clinton: The Clinton County Leadership Institute was created in the fall of 1986. Over 140 companies and individuals have sponsored more than 500 graduates in the adult program and more than 400 high school students have graduated from the Leadership Clinton Youth Collaborative since 1994.