{"id":8545,"date":"2026-09-21T11:37:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T15:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/?page_id=8545"},"modified":"2026-09-21T11:46:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T15:46:05","slug":"stories","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/stories\/","title":{"rendered":"Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"8545\" class=\"elementor elementor-8545\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad100001 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ad100001\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad100003 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"ad100003\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"8504\" class=\"elementor elementor-8504\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<header class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e96b35bf e-flex e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e96b35bf\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a38dd27 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7a38dd27\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58c06c82 e-flex e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"58c06c82\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9adf1c59 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9adf1c59\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/foundation-preview\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"153\" src=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/foundation-logo-1-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-8398\" alt=\"You Make THE Difference Foundation\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/foundation-logo-1-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/foundation-logo-1-1-300x46.jpg 300w, https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/foundation-logo-1-1-768x118.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad2b72a5 e-flex e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ad2b72a5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9740b978 elementor-nav-menu__align-end elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-tablet_extra elementor-nav-menu--stretch elementor-nav-menu__text-align-aside elementor-nav-menu--toggle elementor-nav-menu--burger elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"9740b978\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;full_width&quot;:&quot;stretch&quot;,&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;horizontal&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 320 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;},&quot;toggle&quot;:&quot;burger&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"Foundation navigation\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-horizontal e--pointer-underline e--animation-fade\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-9740b978\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu\"><li class=\"ymtd-home-link menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-home menu-item-8792\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Home<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ymtd-mega-menu menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-home menu-item-has-children menu-item-8466\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/#our-work\" class=\"elementor-item elementor-item-anchor\">Our Initiatives<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-7672\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Empowering Minds<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n\t<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8793\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Empowering Minds Home<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8794\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/about\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">About<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8795\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/how-it-works\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">How It Works<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8796\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/first-identifier\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">First Identifier<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8797\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/burnout-immunity-system\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Burnout Immunity System<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8798\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/application-form\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Empowering Minds Application<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8799\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.albertaagsocieties.ca\/empoweringminds\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Empowering Minds Canada \u2197<\/a><\/li>\n\t<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-8468\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/fair-board-training\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Fairs &#038; Ag Societies<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n\t<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8800\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/fair-board-training\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Fairs &#038; Ag Home<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8801\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/fair-board-training\/about\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">About<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-161\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/awards-grants\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">YMTD Grant<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8802\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/apply\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">YMTD Initiative Application<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-687\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/think-and-drink\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Think and Drink<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8803\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/the-fairgrounds-podcast\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">The Fairgrounds Podcast<\/a><\/li>\n\t<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8469\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-business-leadership\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">People Build Prosperity<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8471\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-education\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Building the Citizen of Tomorrow<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8470\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-civic-leadership\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Public Service, Lasting Impact<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8472\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-institute\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Rural Institute<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-162\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/about\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">About<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8805\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/about\/foundation-team\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\">Foundation Team<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-163\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/contact\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Contact<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-toggle\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Menu Toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--open e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-menu-bar\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M104 333H896C929 333 958 304 958 271S929 208 896 208H104C71 208 42 237 42 271S71 333 104 333ZM104 583H896C929 583 958 554 958 521S929 458 896 458H104C71 458 42 487 42 521S71 583 104 583ZM104 833H896C929 833 958 804 958 771S929 708 896 708H104C71 708 42 737 42 771S71 833 104 833Z\"><\/path><\/svg><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--close e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-close\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M742 167L500 408 258 167C246 154 233 150 217 150 196 150 179 158 167 167 154 179 150 196 150 212 150 229 154 242 171 254L408 500 167 742C138 771 138 800 167 829 196 858 225 858 254 829L496 587 738 829C750 842 767 846 783 846 800 846 817 842 829 829 842 817 846 804 846 783 846 767 842 750 829 737L588 500 833 258C863 229 863 200 833 171 804 137 775 137 742 167Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-9740b978\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu\"><li class=\"ymtd-home-link menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-home menu-item-8792\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Home<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ymtd-mega-menu menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-home menu-item-has-children menu-item-8466\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/#our-work\" class=\"elementor-item elementor-item-anchor\" tabindex=\"-1\">Our Initiatives<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-7672\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Empowering Minds<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n\t<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8793\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Empowering Minds Home<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8794\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/about\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">About<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8795\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/how-it-works\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">How It Works<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8796\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/first-identifier\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">First Identifier<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8797\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/burnout-immunity-system\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Burnout Immunity System<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8798\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/application-form\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Empowering Minds Application<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8799\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.albertaagsocieties.ca\/empoweringminds\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Empowering Minds Canada \u2197<\/a><\/li>\n\t<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-8468\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/fair-board-training\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Fairs &#038; Ag Societies<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n\t<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8800\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/fair-board-training\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Fairs &#038; Ag Home<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8801\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/fair-board-training\/about\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">About<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-161\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/awards-grants\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">YMTD Grant<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8802\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/apply\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">YMTD Initiative Application<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-687\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/think-and-drink\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Think and Drink<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8803\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/the-fairgrounds-podcast\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">The Fairgrounds Podcast<\/a><\/li>\n\t<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8469\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-business-leadership\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">People Build Prosperity<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8471\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-education\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Building the Citizen of Tomorrow<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8470\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-civic-leadership\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Public Service, Lasting Impact<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8472\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-institute\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Rural Institute<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-162\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/about\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">About<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8805\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/about\/foundation-team\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Foundation Team<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-163\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/contact\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Contact<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fd45c73 e-flex e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5fd45c73\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-808b6310 e-flex e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"808b6310\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ce9c239 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-align-left elementor-mobile-align-justify elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2ce9c239\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"https:\/\/app.youmakethedifference.com\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">YMTD App<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/header>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<main class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-539b2a25 e-flex e-con-full e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"539b2a25\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"main-content\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2752f2ac e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2752f2ac\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08ba69f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"08ba69f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Stories<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5152e904 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5152e904\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">People Making the Difference<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93650f5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"93650f5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Meet the people strengthening their communities. Explore the learning, leadership, and local ideas behind our six initiatives.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-533982f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"533982f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/foundation-preview\/#our-work\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Explore our six initiatives<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-190202cf e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"190202cf\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75411eb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"75411eb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">From the field<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dbfbb47d elementor-grid-1 elementor-grid-tablet-1 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-left elementor-posts--align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"dbfbb47d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;classic_columns&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:48,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;pagination_type&quot;:&quot;numbers_and_prev_next&quot;,&quot;classic_row_gap_widescreen&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_laptop&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_tablet_extra&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_mobile_extra&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.classic\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-classic elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-8546 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-stories category-ymtd-initiative tag-alexandria-kentucky tag-jacksonville-florida\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/stories\/stronger-fairs-start-with-people\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Foundation-group-\u2014-Jacksonville-Florida-1024x417.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8534\" alt=\"Workshop participants gather for a group photograph in Jacksonville, Florida.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Foundation-group-\u2014-Jacksonville-Florida-1024x417.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Foundation-group-\u2014-Jacksonville-Florida-300x122.jpg 300w, https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Foundation-group-\u2014-Jacksonville-Florida-768x313.jpg 768w, https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Foundation-group-\u2014-Jacksonville-Florida-1536x626.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Foundation-group-\u2014-Jacksonville-Florida-1320x538.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Foundation-group-\u2014-Jacksonville-Florida.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/stories\/stronger-fairs-start-with-people\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tStronger fairs start with the people behind them\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Kentucky &#038; Florida \u00b7 A look at the people, practical learning, and ongoing support behind the YMTD Initiative for fairs and agricultural societies.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/stories\/stronger-fairs-start-with-people\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Stronger fairs start with the people behind them\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead the story \u2192\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/main>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad100002 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ad100002\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad100004 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"ad100004\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"8506\" class=\"elementor elementor-8506\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<footer class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1452985d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1452985d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4add2c67 e-con-boxed e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4add2c67\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6a90bef e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f6a90bef\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99ddcf33 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"99ddcf33\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afbc0360 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"afbc0360\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/foundation-preview\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"153\" src=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/foundation-logo-1-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-8398\" alt=\"You Make THE Difference Foundation\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/foundation-logo-1-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/foundation-logo-1-1-300x46.jpg 300w, https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/foundation-logo-1-1-768x118.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34f2ffa9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"34f2ffa9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Strengthening rural communities today for a more vibrant tomorrow.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e74e9bd4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e74e9bd4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Serving communities across the United States and Canada.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f3b724b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9f3b724b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f201616 elementor-align-right elementor-mobile-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"0f201616\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/contact\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Bring a Program to Your Community<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b953d98 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"8b953d98\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e4d92da e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4e4d92da\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b828a7f6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b828a7f6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-322b6005 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"322b6005\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Foundation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c05f629c elementor-align-start elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"c05f629c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Home<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/about\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">About the Foundation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/about\/foundation-team\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Foundation Team<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/contact\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Contact<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2071a777 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2071a777\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fece9d7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fece9d7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our Initiatives<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-171ebf91 elementor-align-start elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"171ebf91\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/empoweringminds\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Empowering Minds<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/fair-board-training\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Fairs &amp; Ag Societies<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-business-leadership\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">People Build Prosperity<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-education\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Building the Citizen of Tomorrow<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-civic-leadership\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Public Service, Lasting Impact<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/rural-institute\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Rural Institute<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-480faf66 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"480faf66\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a54161f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0a54161f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Get Involved<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-86221937 elementor-align-start elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"86221937\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/partners\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Partner With Us<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/app.youmakethedifference.com\" target=\"_blank\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Open the YMTD App<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b79c6a1 e-con-boxed e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8b79c6a1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5145d88b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5145d88b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48f548f6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"48f548f6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-249332f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"249332f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a92026 You Make THE Difference Foundation. All Rights Reserved.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa80737e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fa80737e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Website Development and Design by Marketing Igniter<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d61a26c3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d61a26c3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9a779b5 elementor-align-start elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"e9a779b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/privacy-policy\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Privacy Policy<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/opt-out-preferences\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Opt out Preferences<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/footer>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stories People Making the Difference Meet the people strengthening their communities. Explore the learning, leadership, and local ideas behind our six initiatives. Explore our six initiatives From the field<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_canvas","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8545","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Stories | You Make THE Difference Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stories | You Make THE Difference Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Stories People Making the Difference Meet the people strengthening their communities. Explore the learning, leadership, and local ideas behind our six initiatives. Explore our six initiatives From the field\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/stories\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"You Make The Difference\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-21T15:46:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/youmakethedifference.com\\\/staging\\\/stories\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/youmakethedifference.com\\\/staging\\\/stories\\\/\",\"name\":\"Stories | You Make THE Difference Foundation\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/youmakethedifference.com\\\/staging\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-21T15:37:16+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-21T15:46:05+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/youmakethedifference.com\\\/staging\\\/stories\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/youmakethedifference.com\\\/staging\\\/stories\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/youmakethedifference.com\\\/staging\\\/stories\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/youmakethedifference.com\\\/staging\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Stories\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/youmakethedifference.com\\\/staging\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/youmakethedifference.com\\\/staging\\\/\",\"name\":\"You Make The Difference\",\"description\":\"National Initiative \u2014A Grant Opportunity for Your State\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/youmakethedifference.com\\\/staging\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Stories | You Make THE Difference Foundation","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Stories | You Make THE Difference Foundation","og_description":"Stories People Making the Difference Meet the people strengthening their communities. Explore the learning, leadership, and local ideas behind our six initiatives. Explore our six initiatives From the field","og_url":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/stories\/","og_site_name":"You Make The Difference","article_modified_time":"2026-09-21T15:46:05+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/stories\/","url":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/stories\/","name":"Stories | You Make THE Difference Foundation","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-09-21T15:37:16+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-21T15:46:05+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/stories\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/stories\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/stories\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Stories"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/#website","url":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/","name":"You Make The Difference","description":"National Initiative \u2014A Grant Opportunity for Your State","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8545","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8545"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8545\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8558,"href":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8545\/revisions\/8558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youmakethedifference.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8545"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}