The Summer Enrichment Camp attendees experienced a day packed full of knowledge, wisdom and advice, as two entrepreneurs who are business owners, and an educator, who happens to be Polk County’s Teacher of the Year, took to the floor to speak to the youth. Billy Staley, Ashley Gilbert and Shane Blackwell inspired the youth with their individual stories.

Billy Staley, owner of B & L Plumbing, spoke of the advantages and disadvantages of being your own boss. Staley used different plumbing pipes and fixtures to demonstrate the general function of water flow into a house. He also stated how math played a big part of doing his job and encouraged the students to make the most of their education.

Ashely Gilbert, Polk County High agriculture teacher and Polk County’s Teacher of the Year captured the camp participants’ attention by urging them to think positive and to focus of the positive things rather than the negative to reach your dreams. “Dream big, and go to school to get all the education and information you can to reach your goals and dreams” Gilbert said.

Shane Blackwell, owner of Mountain View Barbeque shared how his love of food preparation and cooking started at a very young age, in his grandmother’s kitchen, and knew then that he wanted to be in the food industry. Blackwell gave a brief history of the business and how it’s grown over the years, and discussed the difference between profit and loss.

To give the attendees a first-hand look (and taste) into what he does, a catered lunch was prepared by Mountain View Barbeque, for all to enjoy.

The Summer Enrichment Camp is under the direction of John Paul McIntyre and sponsored by the Unity in the Community Organization. The camp is funded and made possible by a grant from the Polk County Community Foundation.

– article submitted by David Staley