August 10, 2025 • 12 mins
Standing on the docks of Manteo, North Carolina, surrounded by gleaming boats and generations of craftsmanship, we witness something extraordinary happening at the 22nd Annual Carolina Boat Builder Foundation Tournament. This isn't just about fishing competitions and prizes – it's about how a community comes together to build pathways for its young people.
The tournament's impact extends far beyond the water. Last year alone, it generated $1.2 million in scholarship funds for Dare County students. But what truly captured our attention was "First Class" – a fully functional skiff designed and built entirely by seventh-grade students over five months. These 12 and 13-year-olds worked from blueprints to finished product, guided by dedicated teachers and local boat builders who shared generations of knowledge.
Dare County has created something remarkable: a seamless educational pathway that honors traditional craftsmanship while preparing students for meaningful careers. Middle schoolers build boats that become high school projects, which connect to pre-apprenticeships with local manufacturers like Bayliss. Some students follow in the footsteps of parents and grandparents who built boats before them, creating powerful connections across generations.
"We believe education is about providing options for students," explains one educator, capturing the philosophy that drives this approach. Rather than pushing every student toward college, Dare County Schools recognizes the value of trade skills and hands-on learning. From boat building to culinary arts programs, students discover passions that can translate directly into viable careers.
Known as "The Land of the Beginning," Dare County demonstrates how education can both honor heritage and build futures. The partnership between schools, local industry, and community creates educational experiences deeply rooted in place and tradition while providing students with skills relevant in today's economy.
Want to see how communities can transform education through meaningful partnerships? Listen to our full conversation with educators from Dare County Schools and discover how boat building is creating waves of opportunity for the next generation. Share your thoughts on how schools in your community are connecting classroom learning to real-world skills!
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https://www.wardsmarine.com/
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https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Season 4 of the Wardsway Podcast.
We're here live in Manteo,north Carolina, at the 22nd
Annual Carolina Boat BuilderFoundation Tournament.
Join us as we celebrate 75years in business and we're just
(00:22):
getting started.
Welcome to Season 4 of theWardsway Podcast.
We're here live in Manteo,north Carolina, at the Boat
Builders Tournament, and I'mhere with my friends Shannon,
steve and David from Dare CountySchools.
Welcome, guys.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Thank you for coming.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Thank you for having us Tell me how the Dare County
Schools is involved in theCarolina Boat Builder Tournament
.
Tell me the connection.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Well, I think the huge connection is the fact that
they do this tournament andthen take those funds and
provide scholarships to ourstudents next spring.
That's amazing.
Last year I think it wassomething like 1.2 million
million that they provided, andthose funds are raised from this
tournament.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
From this tournament.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
So direct connection there.
But secondary connection is ourmiddle schools built a boat
this year, a skiff, in theirclassroom.
It's called First Class.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
And we'll take pictures audience, because it's
inside and it's not just like afake skiff, it's a real boat.
It's a real boat, it is.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
They built it in the classroom.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
The teacher's father came in and helped the kids
actually build the boat.
They did all the workthemselves, picked it up and
carried it outside of the school.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
How long did it take?
Was it like a whole semester orLike five months, five months
Wow.
Like five months.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Five months, wow, that's incredible they designed
the boat from the blueprints allthe way up they did.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Oh, wow, and it's beautiful, yeah, and inside I
mean, I would have never knownthat.
I just thought somebody donateda boat to be auctioned off.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
I know Tomorrow night .
Speaker 1 (01:54):
That's going to be great Are any of the kids, going
to get them into a business ofboat building maybe.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
So we started building a boat at the high
school that the students willfeed into, and it's a 21 foot
center console um boat using thecold mold process, which is
still what they use today inMonchies, and so they're still
using the traditional method andum.
So when the students go fromthe middle school to the high
school, they can continue in thecarpentry class with building
(02:31):
the boat and we've partneredwith Bayless in building the
boat and we've also started anapprenticeship program.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
I was just going to ask that apprenticeship yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
So Bayless has an apprenticeship program and we've
been able to establish apre-apprenticeship in the high
school level to feed right intothe Bayless apprenticeship.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
You know, I think that's so important, especially
when I see that the majority ofthe boat building businesses
here are all family-owned,multi-generational and even
multi-generational people thataren't related which I have that
in my business as well thatthere are multiple generations
of family that aren'tnecessarily related to our
family, but we're all one family, and so I think it's wonderful
that you're keeping that in thelocal high schools and middle
(03:12):
schools.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
We were just talking inside about.
You know we've got kids inthese programs whose granddad
built boats and dad built boatsthat is amazing.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And now?
Speaker 3 (03:20):
they're actually in school learning the same craft
and hopefully to be able to comeout and go right into the
business with experience andtraining straight out of high
school wow, that's incredible.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Do any of them, you think, get to fish on some of
these boats?
Speaker 4 (03:36):
oh yes, ma'am.
Okay, well, that's importantnow.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Have any of you guys gone out fishing on these boats?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
absolutely, oh, okay, several times, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
I haven't shannon saying I need you okay.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
All right, yes, it's on your list okay but you know,
it's an opportunity for thesechildren to learn where their
families came from you know howhard work they've done into
building a successful buildingcompany.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Absolutely, and that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
So the other kids that are wanting to do that,
it's an opportunity.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Sure, sure.
And they say in this day andage, especially as educators,
that you know we really need tobe talking to our kids about the
trades.
And they say the nextmillionaires are going to be
plumbers.
I personally think it'selectricians, I'm just saying
that'll work um, that'll worktoo, um, but I I do think that
that's important.
I mean, and back when I was inschool, um, you know, you did
have trade type um skills thatwere being taught, and I feel
(04:28):
like that went away.
But it's so nice to see that inyour in Dara County, that
that's not the case.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
We hear all the time.
You know, school should beteaching kids how to do this job
or that job plumbing orcarpentry or boat building or
electrical and we're doing thatyeah, and we're not just
teaching them in a classroom.
They're building a boat.
They're building a a boat.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
These are all transferable skills into any
part of the industry.
100 um and I do want to makesure we say so, the boat that's
inside.
To me that is the picture ofcommunity involvement and what
we have right here in mania.
I mean I look at all thevarious boat builders that are
right in our backyard thatdonated not only materials, not
(05:08):
only only money, but their owntime to come in and meet with
the students and give bestpractices, things they've
learned on the job, as they'rebuilding this boat.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
And that right there is the picture of community
involvement so invaluable, andespecially as they grow up and
to know that they can startexperiencing this at 12.
How old were these kids thatbuilt this?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
boat.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
These were seventh graders.
Yeah, is that 12, 13?
, 12, 13.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
My gosh.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It's a pathway.
It really is.
It really is.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
It's a truly pathway for them to have something to
look forward to, and I would saythat once these kids have that
pathway, doesn't that help theirgrades, doesn't?
Speaker 3 (05:45):
that help them in being successful You're
connecting them with things thatthey like, enjoy, want to come
to school to do oh, it'sabsolutely-.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
And know what they're gonna be when they grow up.
I mean, I didn't have all thattogether in ninth grade.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
You never know what will spark a student's interest?
Speaker 4 (06:00):
And I'd also like to give a shout out to our local
COA, our community college.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
College of Albemarle.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
COA, our community college, College of Albemarle.
They have been very helpful ina lot of other ways not the boat
building, but other pathways,and I just want to say that
they've been really big Well itsounds like if you can get
embraced.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I mean, what are we doing in elementary school?
Here Are we slacking.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
I mean, what are the fifth graders doing?
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Okay, okay I just want to make sure they can start
doing the designs early ondesigns.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
We believe that education isn't about getting a
kid to college, unless that'swhere the kid wants to go.
We believe education is aboutproviding options for students
to go this way, that way or thatway, depending on what they
want to do and what theirinterests are and helping get
through school with a, with anKnowing of what you can do.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I feel like kids these days are and I don't mean
to sound like one of those olderpeople, but it's true Like
there's so many options outthere and you get out and you've
got this whole path of go toone of these 2,000 colleges, or
maybe you should be a technicalor maybe you should do something
online, and so it's so nice ifthey can see something that's
real real in their community andreal in their school systems.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Well, those choices can be overwhelming to a 17,
18-year-old student, but ifthey've got something in their
pocket that they've done acertification whether that's
welding or electrical or boatbuilding and it's real time,
it's there, yes.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
And then that is something that they can actually
see a future, see a pathforward and imagine their life.
That's got to be a huge succor.
Now, do you think that thesekids will stay here, or will
they leave and go to otherplaces with these boat building
skills?
Speaker 4 (07:37):
I certainly would hope they would stay here.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
I mean you are in the oasis of all boat building.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
I certainly would hope they would stay here, but
that's their choice, Right, youknow wherever.
Make their world better forthem and their family in the
future.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
I love it.
Okay, so are we all team,wanchese or Manteo.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Either Dare County, dare County.
There you go.
Good answer, my daddy's fromManteo.
I can't really Uh-oh, uh-oh.
I grew up in East Lake, whichis on the mainland, so you know.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Okay, so we're Dare County.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
That's a very good answer.
I like that.
I like that for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And I there's.
There's an awards as well.
There's a bit, there's an awardceremony for that, and what is
that for what?
Do you know what that's for?
I'm not sure, okay, all right,what's my first time to the
tournament too so what makes theouter banks the best place to
to school your children and andto to live here?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
everything there's something for everybody it's
small, it's, as you can see,it's connected.
Uh, people care about thepeople that are here, um, but
yet we've got things.
We've got options and thingsfor people to enjoy.
Um, if you don't want to gofish on a boat, you can go fish
on the on the beach, um, or youcan go in the sand, or you can
go in the ocean, or or you cango lay on the beach.
(08:51):
I mean mean, so it's not onething that makes the Outer Banks
unique and special, and theculinary too.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
I feel like the food and the seafood and the things
that you can get is amazing.
I mean, in Florida it's notlike we don't have seafood, but
it's different.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
We got a program at First Light High School.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Do you?
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Yes, ma'am, for chefs Culinary arts and we certainly
are very looking forward to ourearly college that we just done
the groundbreaking two weeks agois that right?
Yes, sir, two weeks ago, andyou know, that's there you go.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
You could get the elementary kids into the cooking
side.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
They can start they can start doing yeah, exactly
right we want everybody to beable to choose what they want,
not what we want.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
That's right so have you all been a part of this
tournament since it reallystarted, or since you, I guess,
have been in your careers withDara County.
You've known this is the 22ndannual.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Yes, ma'am, and they've been a part of our
schools.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Part of our schools.
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
That's the important thing.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
I have to tell you, even John, yesterday, in giving
the, he's going through therules of the tournament.
It was also about now, listen,it was about the skiff and who
built it and wanting everybodyto understand it and understand
why they were out there fishingand what they were there to
accomplish and where thewinnings were going to.
And you could just tell thepassion in that that there was
(10:07):
about.
This is what this is about.
So let's have some good timesand let's you know safe, tight
lines and safe travels, travelsfor everybody.
But you could tell it was thepassion that was coming out.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah, the teacher could be here tonight.
She unfortunately had to be outof town, but her.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Okay, what's her teacher?
What's teachers name?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
you be Gallup okay, and and our school coordinator
is Kelsey Oglesby they couldn'tbe here tonight, but Stevie's
dad is also a bill builder, boatbuilder.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Okay, he was pivotal well, shout out to Stevie and
Kelly so that Kelsey, excuse me,got it wrong okay, I mean he
even knew every student's namein the class and I mean it was
really incredible.
So what are they making fornext year?
Well, it depends on what we getout of this boat, all right,
(10:55):
all right, you heard it here.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Right back into another boat.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Okay, they're already talking about the design and
the design of the hull.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
That's exciting.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
When already talking about the design and the design
of the hole, that's excitingwhen these kids transition to
high school too.
You know, working with Bayless,they went down to Bayless Boat
Works to cut the jig and watchthe process take place, to bring
it back to the school andthey're building it in the
carpenter class in school.
It's carpenter three in theschool.
So it's and Bayless is comingin and Crossweight is coming in
and really working with thesekids to answer questions and
(11:31):
show them tricks, and just youknow this is.
This is the way it's done.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
You know, I I know that it's unique to Dare County
and I certainly wouldn't want to, you know, steal it, but I
almost wish so many others couldcopy it and use it as a model,
so I might.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
I might share that out there and love that.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
I think it would be wonderful for um I know a lot of
other boating communities thatum would be really excited to
hear that this can happen, youknow because sometimes people
think that this is about kidsthis is I agree it's all about
kids are everywhere, so if so,if somebody wants to grab this
and go replicate it somewhereand benefit kids.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I'm all about that and I want to say back to that.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
It's called land of the beginning.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Darragh County, land of the beginning, oh wow, I
didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Yes, ma'am.
Okay, darragh County land ofthe beginning.
Darragh County is the land ofthe beginning.
Love that so the.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Board of Education and the school needs to be the
land, land of the beginning.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Well, you, guys have definitely proven that with the
SCIF and I hope you get the mostamount of money as possible.
Thank you and I look forward toseeing the boat next year and
hearing all about the fifthgrade class and what they did,
and thank you for joining usthis season the wardsway podcast
.
Be sure you subscribe becausethere's much more to come.
Welcome to Season 4 of the Wardsway Podcast.
We're here live in Manteo,north Carolina, at the 22nd
Annual Carolina Boat BuilderFoundation Tournament.
Join us as we celebrate 75years in business and we're just
(00:22):
getting started.
Welcome to Season 4 of theWardsway Podcast.
We're here live in Manteo,north Carolina, at the Boat
Builders Tournament, and I'mhere with my friends Shannon,
steve and David from Dare CountySchools.
Welcome, guys.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Thank you for coming.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Thank you for having us Tell me how the Dare County
Schools is involved in theCarolina Boat Builder Tournament
.
Tell me the connection.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Well, I think the huge connection is the fact that
they do this tournament andthen take those funds and
provide scholarships to ourstudents next spring.
That's amazing.
Last year I think it wassomething like 1.2 million
million that they provided, andthose funds are raised from this
tournament.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
From this tournament.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
So direct connection there.
But secondary connection is ourmiddle schools built a boat
this year, a skiff, in theirclassroom.
It's called First Class.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
And we'll take pictures audience, because it's
inside and it's not just like afake skiff, it's a real boat.
It's a real boat, it is.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
They built it in the classroom.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
The teacher's father came in and helped the kids
actually build the boat.
They did all the workthemselves, picked it up and
carried it outside of the school.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
How long did it take?
Was it like a whole semester orLike five months, five months
Wow.
Like five months.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Five months, wow, that's incredible they designed
the boat from the blueprints allthe way up they did.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Oh, wow, and it's beautiful, yeah, and inside I
mean, I would have never knownthat.
I just thought somebody donateda boat to be auctioned off.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
I know Tomorrow night .
Speaker 1 (01:54):
That's going to be great Are any of the kids, going
to get them into a business ofboat building maybe.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
So we started building a boat at the high
school that the students willfeed into, and it's a 21 foot
center console um boat using thecold mold process, which is
still what they use today inMonchies, and so they're still
using the traditional method andum.
So when the students go fromthe middle school to the high
school, they can continue in thecarpentry class with building
(02:31):
the boat and we've partneredwith Bayless in building the
boat and we've also started anapprenticeship program.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
I was just going to ask that apprenticeship yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
So Bayless has an apprenticeship program and we've
been able to establish apre-apprenticeship in the high
school level to feed right intothe Bayless apprenticeship.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
You know, I think that's so important, especially
when I see that the majority ofthe boat building businesses
here are all family-owned,multi-generational and even
multi-generational people thataren't related which I have that
in my business as well thatthere are multiple generations
of family that aren'tnecessarily related to our
family, but we're all one family, and so I think it's wonderful
that you're keeping that in thelocal high schools and middle
(03:12):
schools.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
We were just talking inside about.
You know we've got kids inthese programs whose granddad
built boats and dad built boatsthat is amazing.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And now?
Speaker 3 (03:20):
they're actually in school learning the same craft
and hopefully to be able to comeout and go right into the
business with experience andtraining straight out of high
school wow, that's incredible.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Do any of them, you think, get to fish on some of
these boats?
Speaker 4 (03:36):
oh yes, ma'am.
Okay, well, that's importantnow.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Have any of you guys gone out fishing on these boats?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
absolutely, oh, okay, several times, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
I haven't shannon saying I need you okay.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
All right, yes, it's on your list okay but you know,
it's an opportunity for thesechildren to learn where their
families came from you know howhard work they've done into
building a successful buildingcompany.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Absolutely, and that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
So the other kids that are wanting to do that,
it's an opportunity.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Sure, sure.
And they say in this day andage, especially as educators,
that you know we really need tobe talking to our kids about the
trades.
And they say the nextmillionaires are going to be
plumbers.
I personally think it'selectricians, I'm just saying
that'll work um, that'll worktoo, um, but I I do think that
that's important.
I mean, and back when I was inschool, um, you know, you did
have trade type um skills thatwere being taught, and I feel
(04:28):
like that went away.
But it's so nice to see that inyour in Dara County, that
that's not the case.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
We hear all the time.
You know, school should beteaching kids how to do this job
or that job plumbing orcarpentry or boat building or
electrical and we're doing thatyeah, and we're not just
teaching them in a classroom.
They're building a boat.
They're building a a boat.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
These are all transferable skills into any
part of the industry.
100 um and I do want to makesure we say so, the boat that's
inside.
To me that is the picture ofcommunity involvement and what
we have right here in mania.
I mean I look at all thevarious boat builders that are
right in our backyard thatdonated not only materials, not
(05:08):
only only money, but their owntime to come in and meet with
the students and give bestpractices, things they've
learned on the job, as they'rebuilding this boat.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
And that right there is the picture of community
involvement so invaluable, andespecially as they grow up and
to know that they can startexperiencing this at 12.
How old were these kids thatbuilt this?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
boat.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
These were seventh graders.
Yeah, is that 12, 13?
, 12, 13.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
My gosh.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It's a pathway.
It really is.
It really is.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
It's a truly pathway for them to have something to
look forward to, and I would saythat once these kids have that
pathway, doesn't that help theirgrades, doesn't?
Speaker 3 (05:45):
that help them in being successful You're
connecting them with things thatthey like, enjoy, want to come
to school to do oh, it'sabsolutely-.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
And know what they're gonna be when they grow up.
I mean, I didn't have all thattogether in ninth grade.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
You never know what will spark a student's interest?
Speaker 4 (06:00):
And I'd also like to give a shout out to our local
COA, our community college.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
College of Albemarle.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
COA, our community college, College of Albemarle.
They have been very helpful ina lot of other ways not the boat
building, but other pathways,and I just want to say that
they've been really big Well itsounds like if you can get
embraced.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I mean, what are we doing in elementary school?
Here Are we slacking.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
I mean, what are the fifth graders doing?
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Okay, okay I just want to make sure they can start
doing the designs early ondesigns.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
We believe that education isn't about getting a
kid to college, unless that'swhere the kid wants to go.
We believe education is aboutproviding options for students
to go this way, that way or thatway, depending on what they
want to do and what theirinterests are and helping get
through school with a, with anKnowing of what you can do.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I feel like kids these days are and I don't mean
to sound like one of those olderpeople, but it's true Like
there's so many options outthere and you get out and you've
got this whole path of go toone of these 2,000 colleges, or
maybe you should be a technicalor maybe you should do something
online, and so it's so nice ifthey can see something that's
real real in their community andreal in their school systems.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Well, those choices can be overwhelming to a 17,
18-year-old student, but ifthey've got something in their
pocket that they've done acertification whether that's
welding or electrical or boatbuilding and it's real time,
it's there, yes.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
And then that is something that they can actually
see a future, see a pathforward and imagine their life.
That's got to be a huge succor.
Now, do you think that thesekids will stay here, or will
they leave and go to otherplaces with these boat building
skills?
Speaker 4 (07:37):
I certainly would hope they would stay here.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
I mean you are in the oasis of all boat building.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
I certainly would hope they would stay here, but
that's their choice, Right, youknow wherever.
Make their world better forthem and their family in the
future.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
I love it.
Okay, so are we all team,wanchese or Manteo.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Either Dare County, dare County.
There you go.
Good answer, my daddy's fromManteo.
I can't really Uh-oh, uh-oh.
I grew up in East Lake, whichis on the mainland, so you know.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Okay, so we're Dare County.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
That's a very good answer.
I like that.
I like that for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And I there's.
There's an awards as well.
There's a bit, there's an awardceremony for that, and what is
that for what?
Do you know what that's for?
I'm not sure, okay, all right,what's my first time to the
tournament too so what makes theouter banks the best place to
to school your children and andto to live here?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
everything there's something for everybody it's
small, it's, as you can see,it's connected.
Uh, people care about thepeople that are here, um, but
yet we've got things.
We've got options and thingsfor people to enjoy.
Um, if you don't want to gofish on a boat, you can go fish
on the on the beach, um, or youcan go in the sand, or you can
go in the ocean, or or you cango lay on the beach.
(08:51):
I mean mean, so it's not onething that makes the Outer Banks
unique and special, and theculinary too.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
I feel like the food and the seafood and the things
that you can get is amazing.
I mean, in Florida it's notlike we don't have seafood, but
it's different.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
We got a program at First Light High School.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Do you?
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Yes, ma'am, for chefs Culinary arts and we certainly
are very looking forward to ourearly college that we just done
the groundbreaking two weeks agois that right?
Yes, sir, two weeks ago, andyou know, that's there you go.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
You could get the elementary kids into the cooking
side.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
They can start they can start doing yeah, exactly
right we want everybody to beable to choose what they want,
not what we want.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
That's right so have you all been a part of this
tournament since it reallystarted, or since you, I guess,
have been in your careers withDara County.
You've known this is the 22ndannual.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Yes, ma'am, and they've been a part of our
schools.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Part of our schools.
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
That's the important thing.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
I have to tell you, even John, yesterday, in giving
the, he's going through therules of the tournament.
It was also about now, listen,it was about the skiff and who
built it and wanting everybodyto understand it and understand
why they were out there fishingand what they were there to
accomplish and where thewinnings were going to.
And you could just tell thepassion in that that there was
(10:07):
about.
This is what this is about.
So let's have some good timesand let's you know safe, tight
lines and safe travels, travelsfor everybody.
But you could tell it was thepassion that was coming out.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah, the teacher could be here tonight.
She unfortunately had to be outof town, but her.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Okay, what's her teacher?
What's teachers name?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
you be Gallup okay, and and our school coordinator
is Kelsey Oglesby they couldn'tbe here tonight, but Stevie's
dad is also a bill builder, boatbuilder.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Okay, he was pivotal well, shout out to Stevie and
Kelly so that Kelsey, excuse me,got it wrong okay, I mean he
even knew every student's namein the class and I mean it was
really incredible.
So what are they making fornext year?
Well, it depends on what we getout of this boat, all right,
(10:55):
all right, you heard it here.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Right back into another boat.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Okay, they're already talking about the design and
the design of the hull.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
That's exciting.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
When already talking about the design and the design
of the hole, that's excitingwhen these kids transition to
high school too.
You know, working with Bayless,they went down to Bayless Boat
Works to cut the jig and watchthe process take place, to bring
it back to the school andthey're building it in the
carpenter class in school.
It's carpenter three in theschool.
So it's and Bayless is comingin and Crossweight is coming in
and really working with thesekids to answer questions and
(11:31):
show them tricks, and just youknow this is.
This is the way it's done.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
You know, I I know that it's unique to Dare County
and I certainly wouldn't want to, you know, steal it, but I
almost wish so many others couldcopy it and use it as a model,
so I might.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
I might share that out there and love that.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
I think it would be wonderful for um I know a lot of
other boating communities thatum would be really excited to
hear that this can happen, youknow because sometimes people
think that this is about kidsthis is I agree it's all about
kids are everywhere, so if so,if somebody wants to grab this
and go replicate it somewhereand benefit kids.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I'm all about that and I want to say back to that.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
It's called land of the beginning.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Darragh County, land of the beginning, oh wow, I
didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Yes, ma'am.
Okay, darragh County land ofthe beginning.
Darragh County is the land ofthe beginning.
Love that so the.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Board of Education and the school needs to be the
land, land of the beginning.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Well, you, guys have definitely proven that with the
SCIF and I hope you get the mostamount of money as possible.
Thank you and I look forward toseeing the boat next year and
hearing all about the fifthgrade class and what they did,
and thank you for joining usthis season the wardsway podcast
.
Be sure you subscribe becausethere's much more to come.
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