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Seventy teens went to Otterbein College for Ohio Farm Bureau’s first-ever Jr. High Quest June 18 to 20.

Jr. High Quest was created for seventh- and eighth-grade students as an opportunity for them to become more involved in Farm Bureau youth activities. Traditionally 12, 13 and 14-year-olds can come to most of the Farm Bureau youth activities except summer youth conferences because of age qualifications.

Interest was so great, that Darrell Rubel, OFBF director of young leader programs, had a waiting list of more than 25 junior high students.

Jr. High Quest gave students an insight on leadership basics, helping them be leaders in their councils, schools and as future Farm Bureau members. Some of the workshops included working and living with their parents, learning how their natural gifts can develop their leadership potential, dealing with peer pressure, learning to trust and how to be a good friend and what that means. One of the highlights of the conference was a surprise visit from some fuzzy and not-so-fuzzy friends from the Columbus Zoo. Two staff members from the Columbus Zoo brought everything from a serval (a small, African wild cat) to Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

"We had a great bunch of junior highers at Quest," Rubel said. "It’s a great opportunity for us to teach them the basics of leadership and communication skills in a very practical, hands-on way. This age is such a crucial developmental time, and it’s a privilege to be able to give them a head start into their lives as leaders."