High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

Growing Leaders Through Agriculture: A Service-Learning Experience at the Polk County Youth Fair

Growing Leaders Through Agriculture: A Service-Learning Experience at the Polk County Youth Fair

Streaming Media

  • Download Sophia Dufour HP Spring 2026 Showcase Poster.pdf (723 KB)

Course Code

LDR

Course Number

3950

Faculty/Instructor

Dr. Virginia Koch

Faculty/Instructor Email

Virginia.Koch@ucf.edu

About the Author

My name is Sophia Dufour, and I am a Legal Studies major on a pre-law track at the University of Central Florida. I am passionate about leadership, community involvement, and using service-learning experiences to grow both personally and professionally.

Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement

For my service-learning project, I completed 40 volunteer hours at the Polk County Youth Fair in the rabbit department under the supervision of Rita Fletcher. The purpose of this project was to support a community-based agricultural program that provides youth with opportunities to develop responsibility, confidence, and hands-on experience through showing animals. My key responsibilities included assisting with the check-in and check-out of rabbits, supporting the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) judge during evaluations, and serving as a rabbit showmanship judge.

Through these activities, I was able to contribute to the organization and fairness of the event while gaining real-world experience in a fast-paced environment. One of the most important things I learned was that leadership is not always about being in charge, but about being dependable, detail-oriented, and willing to step up when needed. I also learned the importance of making fair and thoughtful decisions, especially when others are relying on your judgment. Overall, this experience strengthened my understanding of civic responsibility and helped me grow as a more engaged and accountable member of my community.

Keywords

Polk County Youth Fair

Growing Leaders Through Agriculture: A Service-Learning Experience at the Polk County Youth Fair


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