The “I Dare You” Leadership award was first offered in 1941 by the late William H. Danforth, founder of the Ralston Purina Company in St. Louis. He challenged young people to achieve their highest potential and to influence others through lives of service. The award is inspired by the book, I Dare You! written by Danforth, in which he commends the balanced life of mental, physical, social and spiritual development as the backbone of leadership.
The sponsors of the award are Charles and Inga Atkinson.
The winner of the 2014 “I Dare You” award was Mikey Hughes of the Ellinwood Energizers 4-H Club. Mikey has stepped up this past year in many different ways. She served as president of the Barton County 4-H Council. She was involved in three state events she had not attended before: The Kansas 4-H Youth Leadership Forum, 4-H Citizenship in Action and 4-H Discovery Days. She will be running for State Youth Council on Nov. 21-23, at the State Leadership Forum at Rock Springs Ranch. Mikey was also instrumental in completing the Youth Engagement grant to plan the Take the Next Step Leadership Camp this past summer.
Mikey was challenged to continue to enhance her leadership skills and do her part to make a positive difference in her school, her club, and her community.