As the old saying goes, hard work pays off. As the county fair wrapped up for 2014, the culmination of a year’s worth of work was realized for our Lawrence County youth and 4-H clubs.

Each year, we see a group of young men and women who work tirelessly throughout the year to prepare for one week. Regardless if their project is an animal or product, the time and effort put in should be commended.

Thinking about those youth we see each year at the fair got my mind going about how important it is to instill those future life skills.

Much like in youth sports today, practicing at what you love to do will ultimately make you better.

But one thing that all of these kids have in common, regardless if they play sports, work at a family business, a summer job or a fair project, they learn hard work, responsibility, accountability, dedication and how to complete a task.

In my book, that says a great deal about the character of the youth throughout Lawrence County and the region. These are the future leaders of our communities, and teaching and forming that commitment to a task is an essential skill that will help them throughout their lives as they continue to grow.

We live in the electronics generation, however, where an iPad or iPhone seem to be a prerequisite for growing up. Kids need to have that feeling of getting outside during the day and playing with their friends instead of texting or talking on the phone.

The same goes for getting children involved in something like 4-H or youth programs.

The ability to develop those life skills are extremely important for their future.

The ability to overcome adversity and struggle with obstacles and even losses will allow our youth to learn and grow.

We all have heard that we learn more from losing and the ability see mistakes than winning. I am a firm believer that the key to being successful in life is to always seek knowledge.

We will continue to learn one way or another until the day we leave this earth. Even as adults, we learn things all the time.

Regardless if it is business, school, or sports, life is a continual learning process and the sooner kids understand that, the more prepared they will be in life.

 

Josh Morrison is the general manager at The Tribune. To reach him, call 740-532-1441 ext. 16 or by email at josh.morrison@irontontribune.com.