The Wakefield School Junior Stewards Club enjoyed a special celebration of their organization in a "Meet and Greet" in the gardens of the Hickory House in Middleburg.

The party, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. William Abel Smith, owners of Hickory House, and daughter, Georgina Arthur, acknowledged the contributions of the Junior Stewards as well as the ongoing influence of Mrs. Eve Fout who was instrumental in getting Miss Margaret Boozer, President of the Wakefield Junior Stewards Club, started in her conservation efforts.

"The Junior Stewards Club is an organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the Piedmont's rural and natural scenery. We focus on upcoming events that may harm the Piedmont region, and strive to prevent them," says president and 8th grader, Margaret Boozer. "The club is a school organization committed to educating middle school children about conservation and the happening environmental issues. We are proving that students CAN make a difference."

About 150 guests from Wakefield School, Piedmont Environmental Council, neighbors, friends, and family members spent several hours on Sunday, June 1st, ambling in the gardens and along the paths leading down to the babbling brook at Hickory House.

The guests enjoyed meandering about the beautiful grounds talking with others who have a true love of the land and want to preserve it for future generations.

In the shade garden by the fox bronze sculpted by Eve Fout, Miss Boozer proudly discussed the club and its efforts to raise money for conservation. Along with other members of the Wakefield School Junior Stewards Club, she presented a check to Mr. Chris Miller, President of the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), and Mr. Doug Larsen, Vice President of PEC, for $500.

The club earned the money by selling baked goods and making hand painted flower pots stuffed with seeds and other gardening goodies, and selling them at Arbor Day in Middleburg.

Mr. Miller and Mr. Larsen expressed their gratitude, but more importantly expressed true joy in the fact that these middle school girls are so passionate about making a difference in their local area.