The loud hum rings in my ears as the large drill beneath my hands staggers into the oysters creating small holes in each one. Around me, many youth volunteers and a few adults are helping prepare the oysters and put them onto stakes. This scene is the beginning of a new concept of a dockside living shoreline for the Indian River Lagoon. This was one of the first Indian River Lagoon restoration efforts that I helped organize in cooperation with the local land-grant Sea grant Extension service. The Indian River Lagoon used to be one of the most biodiverse estuaries, not only locally but across the state and even country until a few bad decisions in the latter half of the 1900's created environmental issues and detrimental impacts on marine life and the local water quality. As someone who has been shaped by the Lagoon my entire life, when I realized that it was a major issue that was created by humans I immediately felt the responsibility to do something. From boating on the weekends to going to the beach and enjoying the sun, the Indian River Lagoon has always been a constant in my life, one that I realized was more than just a place on our map but was a place that was alive and in danger. With that realization, I went to my local extension and began planning efforts like the one described above. Through youth adult partnerships and the support of my peers I was able to coordinate the supplies, support, and funding to make oyster stakes for coastline homeowners to place off of their docks to hopefully create new ecosystems. I have also had the opportunity to plan and support water quality testing as well as assisting with the implementation of oyster beds in our local areas. These efforts not only contribute to our current local community but also impact future generations and more importantly the community that cannot speak for themselves, the marine community found within the lagoon. Through this experience, I learned that true leadership is measured not by the authority or power that one holds, but actually by the positive change one inspires in others. The oyster stakes we created may seem small compared to the broader challenges facing the Indian River Lagoon, but they represent something much larger: a community willing to take responsibility for the future and the past mistakes of their predecessors. Through service, leaders have the ability to transform rambled concern into tangible action and empower others to become stewards of the world around them. As I step into a new chapter of my life, I plan to use these lessons and reflections to continue working in environmental sustainability but also in the sector of public service. The world around us is finite, there won't be any more of it once it's gone. In my life and through my volunteering, I hope to empower others to realize that too so that they can strive to do more, protect more, and empower more.

When I began my 4-H journey, now many years ago, I really only cared about my equines and being able to show them in more competitions. However, as I have grown up in the nonprofit organization I have seen how groups of people that share the same view for the common good can make a real impact and enact real and tangible change in their communities. Through countless hours of leadership conferences, community service projects, and advocacy efforts, I came to understand that nonprofits do much more than provide programs, they create opportunities that empower people to discover their potential and improve their communities. While I may be leaving the organization behind, those lessons are staying with me and have driven me to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector and the realm of public service. The opportunities I have been allotted by the organization were only possible thanks to the contributions of so many volunteers, extension professionals, and donors that now when I look toward my future, I plan to use the experiences I have had and the skills I have gained to do the same - to be able to empower other young people to take the chance on themselves and provide the opportunities for them to do so. At this point in my studies and career I hope to support environmental sustainability and the agricultural community. Often when we think about farmers and sustainability, many feel that those words juxtapose each other entirely. However, throughout my 4-H career I have learned that our farmers are the stewards of our earth, and almost always are working to support a more sustainable way of life and production. As someone passionate about not only environmental sustainability like water quality and runoff pollution thanks to my experiences volunteering to support the Indian River Lagoon restoration, and also the importance of our rural communities and agriculturists as a dying breed, thanks to my experiences with 4-H, my future work will focus on education and the intersection of these major issues. By being able to fill the gap in understanding that society currently faces when thinking about agriculture and sustainability I will be able to enable more people to not only have a more positive outlook on the agricultural sector but also enable people to think of farmers as part of the solution towards a more sustainable world. Nonprofit leadership is the perfect avenue to do so because it brings together passionate individuals, community partners, and volunteers around a uniquely shared mission to create meaningful change. In 4-H, I have seen firsthand that lasting impact is not created by one person, but by organizations that empower others to take action. I hope to spend my career building those same opportunities in connecting communities with the resources, education, and support they need to address environmental challenges while strengthening the agricultural industry that sustains us all and is necessary to the livelihood of our world. Ultimately, the greatest impact I hope to make is not measured by the number of programs I lead or initiatives I launch, but by the people those efforts inspire. If I can help even one young person discover a passion for service, encourage one community to view agriculture as a partner in conservation, or equip others with the knowledge to protect our natural resources, then I will know I have honored the organization that first believed in me. Just as 4-H transformed my life by investing in my potential, I hope to dedicate my career to investing in the potential of others.

2. “Summer Wayne, you are now recognized.” “Thank you, chairman, I appreciate the committee's time today!” These are phrases that resonate deeply with me, ones that shape the way I view my future and interpret the world around me. When I think of my future as a public servant, I envision legislative action at the state and national level. Whether that be as a lobbyist, similar to work I have done in the past, or as a legislator using my voice to speak for those who may not be able to speak for themselves, I see myself debating and working with my community to find solutions to the problems we face. Ever since I began in Florida 4-H and attended my very first Florida 4-H legislative session, I have found a growing interest in policy and the legislative process. Those passions were further ignited this past year when I had the opportunity to lobby in the state capitol for a $5.6 million PECO request for a Florida 4-H camp’s restoration. I was able to advocate to the Florida Senate, and wow, it was exhilarating. Standing before the committee, in my green jacket, script in hand, showed me that we—youth, citizens, individuals, and communities—have the power to make a difference legislatively. These experiences have shown me that I have a place, and I feel that my place is to create spaces where others can share their perspectives and where we can create impact. One of those perspectives that I have already begun to share is in water quality and environmental sustainability. From a young age, I have seen the issues facing water quality, especially as a South Florida native. Just recently, I received a grant to educate youth on the importance of water sustainability and share a youthful perspective on the status of our precious water. In my area, for years we have had runoff from Lake Okeechobee running into the Indian River Lagoon. What used to be a flourishing estuary has become a deconstructed habitat. These changes I saw inspired me, and now I not only advocate for water quality but also keep up with statewide legislation focused on restoration. During my time at Florida 4-H Legislature, one thing rang true: to get bills passed, we had to be respectful and courteous of our beliefs and those around us. While that event is a youth-led mock legislative session, those lessons reign in all aspects of policy. Right now, especially when looking at the current fragmented landscape of the country, it has become increasingly important for civil discourse to be maintained. From where I stand, change cannot truly happen when divided, because then the change is only for a portion rather than a whole. Legislators, politicians, lobbyists, and even those on social media all need to remain in decorum and respect each other if all of our opinions are truly to be heard. I believe that civil discourse is the water that helps all of our opinions sprout into realism. Without the water, a seed cannot grow. Without an open mind, opinions are just lash outs that end in fruitless labor. Without a connection to each other—we are nothing. My journey has shown me that with respect, dialogue, and purpose, policy can become more than words on paper—it can become the foundation for lasting change. Florida 4-H Legislature Chair (2025); Florida 4-H State Council Sergeant-at-Arms (2025–26); Reporter (2024–25); County Council President (2023–present); City of Port St. Lucie Youth Council Member (2023–present). Contact: Florida 4-H State Office (352-846-4444); City of Port St. Lucie Youth Engagement (772-873-6491).