The local agricultural district overseeing the county fairgrounds has announced a new Youth Ambassador Program to promote civic involvement.
According to an announcement from the 33rd Agricultural District:
The 33rd District Agricultural Association (DAA) Board of Directors, governing entity for the San Benito County Fair and Bolado Park Event Center, has announced the launch of a new program for area youth. The Bolado Park Event Center Youth Ambassador Program (YAP) will promote, encourage, and stimulate youth involvement in the civic welfare of San Benito County and the surrounding geographical area. The program provides training in leadership development, public relations, communications skills, and group dynamics; facilitates the interaction of participants with community leaders, event center/fair volunteers and patrons, and area visitors; creates awareness of agriculture, economic development, and government initiatives; and, promotes community stewardship. Youth Ambassadors will participate in a week-long summer academy program in addition to attending and leading monthly meetings, visiting agriculture and other business sites, assisting at Bolado Park events, and presenting the new AgUcation program for Kids Day at the Fair.
Previously, the 33rd DAA had a Junior Fair Committee program which provided assistance during the Fair and to fair-related activities. As Bolado Park Event Center evolves in its expanded scope of work and offerings, the Board and staff designed a new program which will meet the growing needs of the Fair and the facility, while also providing new opportunities of engagement and personal development for area youth. The San Benito County Heritage Foundation is a partner in the program. Representatives of the foundation and the DAA Board, the facility CEO/Fair Manager, and the YAP facilitator serve on the program’s steering committee along with community members at large.
The program is open to local youth, ages 15 to 19, who will be high school sophomores to college freshmen during the YAP year of June 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016. Youth are invited to apply by submitting the official application materials by May 13th to the Fair office at Bolado Park Event Center. Eligible students will then be interviewed by members of the steering committee. The program capacity is 20-25 program participants. There is no involvement cost to those selected. Application materials may be obtained online (www.sanbenitocountyfair.com), from the Fair office, or by emailing [email protected].
33rd DAA CEO/Fair Manager Donnette Carter had this to say about this new project of the organization, “We are very excited to offer this activity to young people. The Bolado Park Event Center Youth Ambassador Program is designed to provide a unique educational opportunity to not only build skills and develop talent, but also to provide service to the San Benito County Fair and other community events at the facility. The partners are thinking beyond the traditional ‘junior fair board’ programs to move toward a more in-depth training, education and community stewardship experience through the academy and ensuing activities.”
Bolado Park Event Center and the San Benito County Fair may be reached at 831-628-3421. The facility is located at 9000 Airline Highway in Tres Pinos.
