Mary Potter
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 4:49 pm

Hickman County High School Leadership students got a full day of economic development on Monday squeezed into three hours. The program, sponsored by the Hickman County Chamber of Commerce, Hickman County Schools and the Hickman County Extension Office, offers fifteen juniors a chance to see the world outside the classroom. Students not only take the traditional tour days offered by other leadership programs, they are expected to produce a presentation and a paper on a topic of interest to community leaders.

The students are divided into teams to produce a position paper and a power point program to be shared with friends, family and elected officials at their leaderhship graduation ceremony in May. This year’s topics are Creative Arts and Culture, Community Sustainability and Attracting Retirees to Hickman County. The students chose their topics at their first meeting in September.

Monday’s Economic Development Day began with pizza for lunch followed by a briefing by local economic development expert Eddie Crittenden and Clinton Bank President Glen Reid.  The students received their first business cards with the leadership logo, their names and email addresses embossed on them. It was a first experience for the high school students.

Then it was off to visit Peerless Premier Stove Factory in Clinton. Each student without regular glasses was issued safety glasses for a tour of the facility. Students watched as assembly line workers assembled, tested and packed stoves for shipment. They were dwarfed by the warehouse full of stoves ready for shipping. Peerless practices “just in time” manufacturing with parts being brought in to the factory on a daily basis.

The students ended their day listening to Kentucky Supreme Court Judge Bill Cunningham, Kentucky Court of Appeals Judges Shea Nickell and Donna Dixon describing their jobs. Leadership students were offered the opportunity to speak one on one with the judges. Several asked for college attendance advice.

The Leadership Class will be going to Frankfort in February to visit the General Assembly and tour some state capital landmarks – all in one very long day. 

This is the second year of the Leadership Program. For more information about the program, contact program director Ivan Potter at ivancpotter@gmail.com or Hickman County Extension Agent Melissa Goodman at mlgood3@email.uky.edu