Youth take part in GROWMARK Annual Meeting

Marley Burgess on stage in Chicago.

“Have you ever been excited to try something new?” This was the opening line in Marley Burgess’s speech at the GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago on Aug. 31. Something new, is exactly what Burgess did as she spoke in front of approximately 1,000 GROWMARK delegates, employees and friends at the GROWMARK Annual General Meeting at the Hilton Chicago.

Burgess was chosen as this year’s youth speaker along with FFA presidents from Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.

As part of the celebration for the International Year of Co-operatives, each of these four young leaders spoke for two minutes about the power of co-operatives in the categories of sustainability, resources, youth development and community impact.

Youth attending the three-day trip to Chicago were chosen by their affiliated organizations for their exemplary leadership skills and genuine enthusiasm for being the best they can be for the betterment of agriculture, their communities and society in general. Representing Junior Farmers Association of Ontario was Samantha Klaver from Perth County and representing 4-H Ontario was Jennifer Pollock from Wellington County. Burgess is a Co-operative Young Leaders Program graduate sponsored by North Wellington Co-operative Services.

Rehersal of Grand Entry of Colours Ceremony.

During their stay in Chicago, the young leaders took part in the Grand Entry of Colours Ceremony with nine other young leaders representing FFA in the United States. They attended an evening reception and banquet dinner complete with entertainment as well as a special youth-leader breakfast where they were given the opportunity to meet other young leaders and the many people that support youth development.

A tour of the Chicago Board of Trade and lunch at the historic Berghoff Restaurant was provided by AGRIS Co-operative and some free time to enjoy the architecture and sites in Chicago was included in the itinerary.

Ontario youth at GROWMARK Annual Meeting at the Hilton Chicago International Ballroom ( L-R) 4-H Ontario Ambassador Jennifer Pollock from Wellington County; Junior Farmers' Association of Ontario Samantha Klaver from Perth County; and Co-operative Young Leader representative and 2012 GROWMARK Ontario youth speaker Marley Burgess from Wellington County.

To hear an audio of Marley Burgess's interview posted on AgWire.com, click on the following link:
http://agwired.com/2012/09/06/growmark-honors-youth-in-ag/

You can view the speeches on YouTube at:  http://youtu.be/OO62cTk20xo