County Judge Delivers Keynote Address at State 4-H Conference
County Judge-Executive Luke King leads to attendees in a rousing game of Simon Says.
By: Taylor Craig
Cumberland County Intern
Cumberland County welcomed over 100 students and over 30 adults to our area for the three-day KY 4-H Local Issues Conference, held at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park.
The large and diverse group of students came to OUR county to grow as leaders and learn about how to handle issues facing their own local governments.
Dr. Elijah Wilson, youth and 4-H leader for the Cumberland counties extension office said the conference has been held for years in Lexington, but this is the first time it has been held outside Lexington. He said he hopes they will return again next year.
The conference attendees had a full agenda from start to finish. From group activities and meetings to networking and discussing a range of issues facing the Commonwealth, these students stayed active and engaged.
During one of the evenings, Cumberland County Judge-Executive Luke King joined the group, delivering the keynote address entitled, “How Being Decidedly Different Can Make You Anything But Average.”
King shared his remarks, captivated the group for nearly an hour. Leading off with a competitive game of Simon Says and then bringing out both laughter and tears through his stories.
King shared his story going back to a one-bedroom house, heated with a wood stove, all the way up to present day where he’s the second youngest person ever elected as county judge executive in the state and regularly recognized as being one of the most active.
King provided everyone in attendance with a three-step plan for growing every day and increasing your chances of being anything but average. He also highlighted the county’s newly-formed civics club and county internship program as examples of what can be accomplished when enough people are “decidedly different” and willing to push beyond average. Members of the Cumberland County Management Team and Civics Club Members were also present for the remarks, on their own time and without any expectation other than to support the young leaders there.
King went on to answer questions from the group. For nearly an hour, as students and adults asked questions about how to handle conflict, communicating clearly with extremely different personalities, dealing with local governments and public officials, and what a day looks like as a county judge-executive.
After that, many of the students from across Kentucky walked up to team members of the Cumberland County Intern Program, to continue the conversation.
Attendees commented they were inspired by them and the program. They asked how the interns and civics club for advice on instituting similar programs when they return home.
Wilson said the annual gathering is for discussing state and local issues addressed by 4-H members.
