We all know investing in our young people makes good sense. The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow and will shape the destiny of our country and the future of their children and so on and so on.

There are many opportunities to support the youth of our community and while there isn’t room to cover them all in this column, I would like to highlight a few.

The People to People Ambassador program was launched in 1956. The Cold War was in its 11th year and President Eisenhower realized the need for personal interaction and exchange between nations was urgent. That year he introduced his People to People initiative to change the world, and his vision of cultural understanding and world peace.

Rachel Vining, an 11th grader at Polk County High School, has been selected as a student ambassador in the People to People program. This summer she will travel to Europe representing her school, our community, state and country. She will learn about other cultures, the different ways people interact with each other and about many diverse backgrounds.

To learn more about the People to People Ambassador program you can check out their website at: www.peopletopeople.com.

If you would like to support Rachel in the People to People Ambassador program, donations can be made to Rachel Vining, People to People. Send them to P.O. Box 1104, Tryon, N.C. 28782.

Another great program that is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of our youth is the FFA (formerly known as Future Farmers of America). They strive to develop our youth’s potential for leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

The FFA motto is 12 short words to live by: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.”

Polk County High School has an active FFA program and this Saturday they will be kicking off their annual plant sale. The proceeds support both the FFA program and Relay for Life. They have a variety of vegetable, bedding/flowers and hanging baskets for sale and the FFA students will also be giving a tour of the school farm. Bring your children and grandchildren to see the new baby goats. The sale starts at 8 a.m. at the high school farm. For more information contact Chauncey Barber at 828-894-2525 or cbarber@polkschools.org.

It’s a great weekend to enjoy the sunshine, pick up some plants and check out the newest members of the school farm family. Enjoy.

Betty Ramsey is the publisher of the Tryon Daily Bulletin. Her email address is betty.ramsey@tryondailybulletin.com.