The stars are aligning for Mckenna Stevens this summer. And the 20-year-old Rockton resident is excited not only to seize the opportunities that are coming her way, but also to share those opportunities with other young people in any way she can.
She does this through her involvement with 4-H, in her role as this year’s Rockton Fair Ambassador, and through her summer intern position with Habitat for Humanity Hamilton. And if she can use those platforms to create awareness of rural life, all the better.
“I enjoy teaching people; I am passionate about teaching people about farming and the rural way of life,” she says. “That's 100 per cent who I am – everything I do leads back to that.”
Stephens, who will be starting her third year of the Marketing and Communications Studies program at Mohawk this fall, says having an outgoing personality serves her well in all her roles.
“A lot of the positions that I take, volunteer positions and work positions, have a lot of networking and outgoing aspects to them,” she says. “I enjoy meeting new people and getting to see all the different opportunities and things out in the community.”
As Fair Ambassador, she attends events throughout the year; so far, she networked with other ambassadors at a convention in Vaughan, walked in the Lynden Canada Day Parade and was on the RAM truck in the Rodeo at the fairgrounds in July. Her favourite event so far, though, was one she and her family have been involved with for a long time.
“I think my favourite thing was dinner theater, because I used to bake pies with my grandma and I never actually attended one,” she said of the annual spring show that raises money for the Rockton Agricultural Society. “This was my first one of staying the whole time for the dinner and the show, and it was really cool to see how all the community came together to put on such a great event.”
Helping other young people
At Habitat for Humanity, Stephens coordinates the volunteer groups – anywhere from 15 to 45 people – from their affiliated partners who sign up to help with the current build at Sherman Avenue and Barton Street in Hamilton.
“I get to do all the hospitality, which is a part that I really enjoy doing,” she said. “I get to meet everyone, so it’s kind of fun.”
Earlier this summer, her supervisor challenged her to create a project that she was passionate about. She came up with a formalized customer service training program that will add value to the youth volunteer experience. She wrote the modules and presentations and composed a certificate for those who complete the training. Stephens hopes to see it published, and used by Habitat Canada.
“I wanted to do something that would give people something to have on their resume, when they’re just starting out,” she said, noting that a lot of diverse young people volunteer at Habitat. “I wanted to give some standards to the things they do…that’s the hard part of a new position.
“It’s a great opportunity for youth to have something on their resume, and they feel comfortable with customer service. A lot of students get their (volunteer hours) - the certificate adds a little more substance to it.”
A 4-H family
Stephens is a fourth-generation dairy farmer (Yellow Briar and Stephens Genetics), and her family – including mom Connie, dad Jeff and sister Chelsea – have been active in the Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H Association for many years.
“I've been involved in 4-H my entire life, and both sides of my family for generations have been involved in 4-H,” she said. “Being from Hamilton-Wentworth. I think it's a really cool county to be a part of, because it pulls people from the rural side and more of the urban side together.”
Stephens is a 4-H top senior member, and a junior director, which means she attends governing meetings.
“It allows me to bring a voice from the youth side of 4-H to the board, and also give some fresh new ideas on way we can improve and things we can implement,” she says.
As 4-H serves youth up to age 21, she can still participate in clubs, but with support from senior members, she can take on leadership roles as well. She’s the youth leader for the rabbit hopping club, the clover buds club and the community outreach club, which she started.
“It's kind of like my little project that I'm super proud of,” she said, noting the club did six meetings that gave back to the community in various ways. One of their projects, with support from Farm Credit Canada, provided feminine hygiene bags that were distributed during a volunteer day at the De Mazenod Door at St. Patrick’s Church in Hamilton.
The community outreach club has also done fundraising drives, and a shopping challenge that supported Living Rock in Hamilton - and all were a success.
“I'm very passionate about community outreach and giving back and being a part of the community, and I thought it'd be kind of cool for some other youth to have that opportunity as well,” Stephens said.
Stephens also loves showing cows, and was thrilled to be part of the Ontario Spring Discovery Show in Ancaster. She’s also looking forward to being on the Rockton Dairy Show committee this year, which takes place on the Friday during the fair.
“That's kind of a new adventure for me, and actually my family, they’re all on the committee for that now, which I think is going to be really cool,” she said.
CNE adventure
But first, she’s focused on preparing for the Ambassador of the Fairs Competition at the CNE, which runs Aug. 16-18. She is working on her bio and an elevator pitch, and will need to be ready to give a speech on a selected topic.
Participants from counties across the province will also get the chance to tour the CNE grounds and go to events such as the Heritage Opening Parade, as well as seminars and networking events. Stephens is looking forward to reconnecting with the other youth she met at the conference in February.
“It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience with all of them, so I think it'll be really exciting,” she said. “For the most part, everyone has a lot of the same interests and attributes that I hold. So it's really exciting to meet other people with the same passions.”
And if she’s not selected as Ambassador of the Fairs?
“I’ll be working at the Forum at the CNE doing the milking demonstration,” she says. “It brings that part of my life into town so I’m excited to be either.”
