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About Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2023)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2023 THE JACKSON HERALD PAGE 11A Rachael Gilley, Karianna Cashin, Isabelle Olliff and Karley Apel attend the SSLA conference. 4-H Love of Llamas attends Southern States Llama Association conference The Jackson County 4-H Love of Llamas and Chelian Farm Friends And Family recently attended the South ern States Llama Association (SSLA) conference in Flat Rock, N.C. It began Friday evening with a potluck dinner, games and music. Saturday morning, fiber art ists prepared a make and take project kits for the attendees to work on. Projects were then put on display so the attendees could vote on their favorite. The speaker, Dr. Purdy, gave informative and engaging in formation on skin issues and treatments for llamas and al pacas. Attendees then learned about agritourism from Har vest Host and Farm School on Wheels. After lunch, the at tendees went to Ellaberry Lla ma Farm to learn more about obstacle courses and pack tri als. That evening, attendees had the annual awards dinner at The Lodge. SSLA Sweep- stakes Awards are given for points earned during the previ ous year. Points are accumulat ed from llama shows and pub lic events involving the llamas. Point results for the Jackson County 4-H Love of Llamas youth are: •Lily Howell — Senior Youth Grand Reserve Cham pion in Showmanship and Se nior Youth Grand Reserve in Performance. •Karley Apel with Cinco’s New Year’s Evening — third place in Light wool Female Halter: Intermediate Youth Grand Champion in Show manship; Intermediate Youth Grand Champion in Perfor mance; and Gold and Platinum awards in Youth Ambassador. • Olivia Ascenzo with Senor Fuzzybutt — Grand Cham pion Alpaca Novice Perfor mance, fifth place Alpaca Non breeder Halter; with HHF’s Lermon Drop, Grand Champi on Intermediate Youth Reserve Champion in Showmanship; fourth place in Intermediate Youth Performance; and Gold and Platinum awards in Youth Ambassador. • Gabby Ascenzo — Junior Youth Reserve Champion in Showmanship; Junior Youth Reserve Champion in Perfor mance; and Platinum in Youth Ambassador. • Rachael Gilley with SRLL Elaria — Grand Champion Karianna Cashin was presented with the fol lowing awards: with OTF Peruvian Sapphire, fifth place Medium Wool Fe male; with Chelian Farm Ruffino Has Arrived, Re serve Champion Alpaca NonBreeder; with Elvis CTW, Reserve Champi on Suri Male Halter; with Hunter’s Moon, fourth place medium wool Male Halter; Intermediate Youth Showmanship, third place; Intermedi ate Youth Performance, third place; and Silver and Gold awards in Youth Ambassador. Suri Female; Junior Youth Grand Champion in Show manship; and Junior Youth Grand Champion in Perfor mance. • Karianna Cashin with OTF Peruvian Sapphire — fifth place Medium Wool Female; with Chelian Farm Ruffino Has Arrived, Reserve Cham pion Alpaca NonBreeder; With Elvis CTW, Reserve Cham pion Suri Male Halter; with Hunter's Moon, fourth place medium wool Male Halter; Intermediate Youth Showman ship. third place; Intermedi ate Youth Performance, third place; and Silver and Gold awards in Youth Ambassador. Point results for the Chelian Farm Friends & Family: • Heather Ascenzo with PaBLO is Home — Grand Champion for Alpaca Non Breeder Halter; and Novice Showmanship, fourth place. •Tabatha Gilley with OTF Peruvian Silver Mist — Nov ice Performance, fifth place; Sweepstakes award Medi um Wool Halter; and Novice Showmanship, third place. •Melissa Apel — Novice Showmanship, fifth place. Rachael Gilley was presented with the following awards: with SRLL Elaria, Grand Champion Suri Female; Junior Youth Grand Champion in Show manship; and Junior Youth Grand Champion in Performance. Photos by Hannah Barron The program’s graduating seniors from the three high schools in the county are recognized. Legacy Youth Mentoring holds 18th annual gala By Hannah Barron hannah@mainstreetnews.com Coach Devon Gales, a PE paraprofessional and coach at Jefferson Academy, is interviewed by mentor and Jackson-Banks FCA area director Ben Hildebrandt for the keynote address. Legacy Youth Mentoring held its 18th annual gala at the Jackson Coun ty Agricultural Facility on April 21. Legacy Youth Mentoring pairs mentors with students across all three school systems in the county. This year's gala included nearly 500 men tors and mentees in attendance. “Be a Game Changer” was this year's theme, reflected in speeches from mentors and mentees alike. Coach Devon Gales was inter viewed by mentor and Jackson-Banks FCA area director Ben Hildebrandt for the keynote address. During a Southern University foot ball game in 2015, Gales suffered a spinal cord injury that put him in a wheelchair. He now works to inspire people and promote positivity as a PE paraprofessional and coach at Jeffer son Academy while he finishes col lege at the University of Georgia. After UGA, he would like to work in communications to motivate peo ple and be a “game changer” in their lives. During the keynote, Gales shared how he perseveres through obstacles. “I talk to God. I let him know what I'm going through and pray about it,” he said. “After that, I go to my family . . . they kept me going all through it since day one.” “Something like this I don't let it stop me — I’m going to keep mov ing, I’m going to keep getting to where I want to go,” he continued. “Whatever you're going through, you can always achieve whatever you want to achieve. If you keep pushing, you’re going to get to where you want to go.” Current mentees Georgia Fowler, Jayden Hughes and Peyton Pelham spoke about what having mentors mean to them and the “life changing” impact mentors have had on their lives. “I met Mr. Adam almost two years ago,” Pelham said about his mentor. “Over time, he has become a con stant in my life, someone who always shows up for me, even when his job moved him further away from my school. I would describe these past few years as some of my hardest. My family has experienced some ups and downs, but through it all, he has been there ready to listen without judg ment. His friendship has helped me to fill a void ... I not only consider Mr. Adam as a mentor but also a friend.” RECOGNITION Each year Legacy Youth Mentoring names a Mentor of the Year at each school the program serves as well as an overall Mentor of the Year. This year, Jefferson Elementary School mentor Isa Childs was pre sented with the 2022/2023 Overall Mentor of the Year Award. Others awarded at the school level include: Adam Speir. East Jackson Middle School; Ben Green, Maysville Elementary School; Brittany Moore. Commerce Elementary School; Dave Moon, Commerce Middle School; Dawn Maddox, West Jackson Middle School; Derrick Allen, West Jackson Elementary School; Donna Bryant, Jackson County High School; Dot Patten, Jefferson Academy; Frank Jones, Commerce Primary School; Kathy Terry, South Jackson Ele mentary School; Liana Dorethy, North Jackson Elementary School; Phil Bollier. Jefferson High School; Sam Tatum. East Jackson Elementa ry School; Stephanie Carroll, Gum Springs Elementary School; and Vic ki Ward, East Jackson Comprehen sive High School. The gala also recognized the pro gram’s graduating seniors who in clude: Mashayla Turner. Jamarie Browner, Jay Davis, Aracely Paz, Tamiya Sims, Ivan Altamirano, Alex Diaz, Jesse Keavney, Karla Callejas, Joseph Hanley, Destiny Rakestraw and Riley Tucker. Davis, Paz. Rakestraw and Turner were awarded $1,000 college schol arships. Other recognition included: • Ten-Year Mentor Recognition: Carolyn Barnett, Joe Godfrey, Sheriff Janis Mangum and Jeff Grant. • Five-Year Mentor Recognition: Jamie Adair. Robert Bonzo, Stacey Hammond, Selina Hays, Brenson Jennings, Carol Koster, Jon Massey, Tricia Massey, Dot Patten and Steve Tallent. U «■ 801 Ht? - tRS W^-W- Pi He • • •. ft j|«f i 'S A A "f ft ;0\ Hk SIV Legacy Youth Mentoring awards $1,000 college scholarships to four gradu ating seniors, pictured with their mentors. Georgia Fowler speaks about her mentor. Jefferson Elementary School mentor Isa Childs was named the 22/23 Over all Mentor of the Year. She is pictured with her mentees. Jayden Hughes speaks about his mentor.
