At the February City Council meeting, six members of the Ivins Youth Council shared highlights from their recent two-day trip to Salt Lake City for Utah League of Cities and Towns’ Elected Officials Day and Youth Council Conference.
Presenting to the City Council were Chloe Nickle (Youth Council Mayor), Michaela Musser (Youth Council Mayor Pro Tem), Jenna Gillette (Executive Councilor), Isaac Gillette (Youth Council Manager), and Troy Clarkson and Sam Haws, who led the Youth Council’s award-winning mock legislative debate.
The students described an unforgettable two days of learning about state government and the legislative process. Their experience included touring the Utah State Capitol, visiting the House and Senate chambers, attending committee meetings, and participating in discussions about current legislative issues.
One of the highlights was spending more than two hours with State Representative Neil Walter, who joined the Youth Council for dinner and an extended question-and-answer session. Students asked thoughtful questions about leadership, public service, and the challenges of representing constituents. The conversation provided a rare opportunity to learn directly from an elected official in an informal setting.
The following day, Youth Council members joined students from communities across Utah for the annual Legislative Challenge. Ivins students Troy Clarkson and Sam Haws presented and defended a mock bill proposing a 3D-printed affordable housing pilot program. After answering questions from students representing Youth Councils throughout the state, their proposal was approved in the mock legislative debate.
The conference concluded with lunch and an inspiring presentation by Governor Spencer Cox, who encouraged students to become involved in their communities and continue developing their leadership skills.
During their presentation to the City Council, Youth Council members reflected on what they learned from the experience. They spoke about the importance of respectful discussion, understanding different viewpoints, preparing thoroughly, and recognizing that good government depends on informed and engaged citizens.
The annual trip to the Utah Legislature has become one of the signature experiences of the Ivins Youth Council. It gives students a firsthand look at how state government works while building confidence in public speaking, teamwork, research, and leadership.
Congratulations to Chloe, Jenna, Isaac, Troy, Sam, and all of our Youth Council members for representing Ivins so well. Their thoughtful presentation to the City Council demonstrated not only what they learned during the trip, but also the leadership skills they continue to develop through the Youth Council.
