Woonsocket – Oct. 29, high school students from Sanborn Central, Woonsocket, and Wessington Springs  spent the day learning about kindness, leadership, fiscal responsibility, and community involvement through a program funded by the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation called Junior Rural Economic Leadership And Development (Jr. REAL). Speakers included: Charlotte Henley, Toby Kane, Malcom Chapman, and Gerri Eide.

Jr. REAL teaches students how to articulate techniques for civic responsibility, leadership development, and basic life budgeting skills. In a world that is all about apps that can help someone send anonymous hurtful snap chats or texts, it is important to take a moment and focus on what makes each person special and the fact that people are all different is awesome! People rarely hear good things about themselves and focus on the negative. Taking time to learn how kindness to self, others, and community is important. 

The students also spent time thinking of community involvement projects and the opportunity an individual has throughout the day to impact others by a smile or saying hi (one second opportunities). When you have the ability to see the world from someone else’s perspective, you not only open up opportunities for yourself, you gain the vision of how you can make an impact in your own hometown.

A special thanks to Woonsocket High School for hosting the event and helping with meals. For more information about this or other programs offered by South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation please visit: www.sdfu.org or call 605-352-6761.

…See a photo in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!