Deitner takes over Little, Junior Ambassador competition role
BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN
Morgan Deitner from north of Brussels has taken over the Brussels Agricultural Society’s annual Little and Junior Ambassador programs, hoping to use her connections with local youth to bolster the program for years to come.
Deitner, who was the ambassador for the Brussels Fall Fair 10 years ago, took over for Pastor Sandra Cable who founded it several years ago. As a local teacher, she feels she should be able to connect with the young people of the community and interest them in the program.
Though the Little and Junior Ambassador positions didn’t exist when Deitner wore the crown, she says their addition has been a tremendous development, working to bring younger people into the fair and get them interested and enthusiastic about all it means to the community.
After emceeing one of the ambassador evenings recently, Deitner spoke with Maggie Speer, another former ambassador who works with the society. Speer suggested Deitner succeed Cable because of her youth and ability to connect with local youth.
Of the four women currently co-ordinating the entire ambassador program – Speer, Deitner, Hannah McCutcheon and Nicole Noble – Speer said Deitner would be uniquely qualified to take on the Little and Junior Ambassador portion of the program. With Noble taking a step back after years of working with the program and McCutcheon living in the Lucan area, Deitner was the best option for the society and she was agreeable to taking the position.
Deitner is a big believer in the experience of being an ambassador. For her, she said it gave her a lot of confidence and much of that had to do with the journey of being an ambassador forcing her out of her comfort zone on occasion.
As for the power of the younger ambassador positions, Deitner says she hopes they will reinforce a feeling she had as a young person when she looked up to the Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador every year.
Having young people serve in these positions, she said, will help get them involved early and show them the importance of the society and the fair and their place in the community.