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| Jeremy Heckman: Soaring Eagle |
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| Jeremy in his Boy Scout uniform |
By DeAnn Hadix-Cardarella
Jeremy Heckman of Paradise,
California, isn’t your typical
teenage boy. In fact, at sixteen-
years-old, the Paradise
Grange member and California
State Assistant Steward is anything
but typical. In a few short
months, Jeremy will graduate high school ahead of schedule, after skipping a grade due to an
accelerated program. His academic
accomplishments don’t
stop there. While attending his
final year in high school, he
has managed to earn college
credits to jump-start his college years, all while maintaining his all A-average.
Born 10 weeks premature,
Jeremy weighed only 2.5 lbs.
Doctors prepared his parents,
Robert and Karen, for the worst.
They were told Jeremy most
likely would not make it and if
he did, he would be plagued
with challenges. Little did the
doctors know Jeremy does his
best when challenged.
In traditional “Jeremy-style,”
Jeremy has recently achieved
the highest rank in Boy Scouts;
he has become an Eagle Scout.
Only two percent of Boy Scouts
achieve this honor. To do so,
Jeremy had to complete a community
service project. Jeremy, of course, set his goal high.
“I wanted to do something
for the youth of our town that
would be beneficial,” he said. “Then I got the idea for a place
where they (the youth) could
come and grow. It started out
pretty small and then grew.”
For Jeremy’s Eagle Scout
Project, he designed and built
a 3,600 square-foot outdoor
community youth garden-classroom.
The garden compound
is fully fenced with chain link
and contains (15) 4’ by 8’ raised
planter boxes, picnic tables,
park benches, an outdoor sink,
(10) barrels for the rose garden,
storage shed, composter and
an automatic drip mist system
to all planter boxes and future
planting areas.
Over 60 school-aged students
and their teachers, Girl
Scouts, Boy Scouts and other
youth organizations have used
the garden this past growing
season. The Boy Scouts and
Girl Scouts have used the garden
to earn their garden badges.
Local youth have learned
how to grow vegetables, fruits
and flowers. At harvest time,
the youth got to sample their
harvest and then much of the
harvest was donated to local
food banks for the needy or given
to local seniors/or shut-ins
on a fixed income.
The Grange which has
been like a second home to
him, Paradise Grange, showed
their support by allowing Jeremy
to build the garden on their
property. In addition, they have
partnered with him to keep the
garden growing.
Already, the garden has received
two national awards for
the garden curriculum program.
Local youth, teachers and community
leaders saluted Jeremy
for providing a safe place for
the town’s youth to go and learn
hands-on agriculture.
For the project, Jeremy
canvassed the community and
found financial support – one
business at a time. From the
financial aspect to the handson
building, Jeremy did it every
step of the way. A lot of sweat
equity went into the project. But
the rewards have out-weighed
this labor of love.
“The looks on the kids and
parents faces are very rewarding,”
he said. “When they see
their garden grow, they are so
excited. I truly enjoy watching
them enjoy the garden.”
According to his mother,
the project has opened a lot of
doors for the teen. The mayor,
vice-mayor and local businesses
such as Home Depot helped
him. He raised over $3,500 to
get the project going.
Not only has the project
been good for the community,
it has served the Grange
well. Grange membership
has climbed for the Paradise
Grange.
Jeremy’s love of Grange
started at nine-years-old. He is a
fourth generation Grange member.
He started his Grange career
at Concow Junior Grange.
According to his mother, he
grew up in Junior Grange and
began subordinate Grange at
14. At 15, he was elected California
State Grange Assistant
Steward, historically making
him the youngest state Grange
officer in California.
Other Grange achievements for Jeremy include: 2006-07 California State Grange
Youth Ambassador; 2005
Washington, D.C. Legislative
Fly-In Youth Delegate; 2004-2006 assistant steward and
overseer of the State Grange
5th Degree Team; and Master
of the State Grange Youth
Opening Team. Jeremy has
seen the Seventh Degree three
times, even though he is not old
enough to take it. He plans to
make it official and take it at the
National Convention in Sparks,
NV in 2007.
Other accomplishments
include, two black belts in
Tae-kwon-do making him the
youngest at Azad’s Martial Arts
Academy to do so. He also performed
in several local theatrical
productions.
Jeremy’s mother is never really surprised by his accomplishments. “He is a goal-setter
and is very determined to reach
those goals. Who knows, maybe
he is the future National Grange
Master. I know he sure enjoyed
sitting in Bill Steele’s chair while
in the office during the Legislative
Fly-In as the Youth delegate
from California.”
Jeremy will officially enter
college this fall. He plans to
major in robotics engineering.
At 16, his accomplishments
have been quite impressive.
Stay tuned for more on Jeremy
Heckman; we are certain there
will more to report on this already, very successful young
man.
Jeremy Heckman: Soaring Eagle
Katie Heckman studying at the Youth Garden.
Jeremy in his Boy Scout uniform.
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