Hi Garfield County! This winter season has been wonderful as the Miss Garfield girls and I have had many opportunities to serve. We took part in this year’s Festival of Trees which was a beautiful opportunity to raise money for our local hospital. The Festival raised over 9,000 dollars this year and all of that was donated to make improvements to Garfield Memorial Hospital.
We were then invited to participate in Panguitch’s Family Night organized by Southwest Behavioral Health Center in December. We had so much fun hanging out with Santa and handing out his Christmas family fun/care packages.
To top it all off we were able to help out at this Year’s Fishing Derby out at Panguitch Lake. You wouldn’t believe the fun environment as fishermen (and women), young and old, novice and expert, took to the ice to catch the best the lake has to offer. If you have not been to this amazing event, I 100% recommend you go next year!
Outside of just Panguitch Lake, I am always amazed at the natural resources our county has. Without a doubt in my mind, Garfield County is the most beautiful county in all of Utah!
And speaking of beauty, I just need a minute to brag about our Lovely Miss Garfield County Teen, Clara Peterson. Believe me when I tell you I am proud of the job she did representing us at Miss Utah Teen in February. She was STUNNING and the absolute definition of beauty and kindness.
As for me, I have been diligently scheduling meetings and planning details for my own event and I hope you will help me in this endeavor! My project is called Life Mentoring.
Due to the many distractions kids face now, I have personally noticed that our inspiring young teenagers turn more and more frequently to the internet to build social connections. I personally feel like this puts them at a disadvantage.
My childhood was blessed with many mentors. All of them were loving and caring people in our community who picked me up and gave me love and advice—advice which sometimes I wouldn’t hear when my parents or peers explained it to me. It built confidence and social skills that I needed throughout the rest of my life.
These mentors found me. You know the saying, “When the student is ready the teacher appears”? What if one of the major problems our kids are facing is they aren’t in the places the teacher can find them?
They want so desperately to be known in their community, to be loved and accepted. I propose this, that we create the opportunity! Kids might not come to us anymore. So let’s go to them!
These kids need you! Here’s where you can help. I am looking for everyday people like you who want to get to know the youth our county has to offer!
We will be hosting an event at Panguitch High School where you can step up and meet your inspiring future leaders, give them advice and help them feel loved and noticed. It is essentially a meet and greet. All you need to do is give us an hour of your time for this project.
The event will be held sometime in April.
At the event, our students will all be invited to the gym and they will need to interact with three “Mentors” (AKA you) in order to earn a slice of pizza! All you need to do is just talk to them! We will offer you a fun questionnaire to get to know the kids and then you can lead the conversation wherever you think that individual student needs.
In the long run I hope the kids will come to see you as I see you: as the amazing citizens of the most loving and caring community in the whole world! I know you are the thing these kids need in order to not feel so alone in this big world. I know you are the solution for them because you were there for me when I was young.
If you, your friends, your family want to step up and join us for this amazing opportunity please reach out to us through our Instagram page @missgarfieldut or email me directly through [email protected].
I can’t wait to see you all and share this experience with you! Please, please reach out! Thank you for your support! Let me know if there is anything I can do to serve you. If there is an event or any act of service you could need, I am here and happy to be here. Thank you.
– by Aubree Hughes, Miss Garfield
