CARROLLTON, Ky. -- Unlike a lot of teens, Jonathan Oaks and Ryan Figgins have no doubt what they want to do with their lives.
They want to farm.
"It's all I know and all I want to do," said Jonathan, 17, of Demossville, Ky., in Pendleton County.
So Jonathan, Ryan and other members of the Future Farmers of America at Pendleton County High School were among 2,000 people jammed inside Carroll County High School to listen to President Clinton talk Thursday.
"It's amazing seeing the president," Ryan said, after Mr. Clinton passed by to shake hands with several students.
"I'll never forget it. It's probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing."
But his awe was tempered by concern that Mr. Clinton's policies may damage the economy of his hometown of Falmouth, which is still recovering from last year's devastating flood.
"A lot of people in and around Falmouth depend on tobacco," Ryan said. "It makes them money they need to get by."
Jonathan was more optimistic.
"The program he is talking about sounds pretty good," said Jonathan, whose family grows about 10,000 pounds of tobacco annually. "It sounds like he wants to help the farmers. I hope he can do it."
Mr. Clinton received a warm welcome at the high school, where students from Carroll, Trimble, Gallatin and Pendleton counties seemed to hang on every word and were quick to applaud and shriek at the president's comments.
"This was awesome," said Cassandra Sanders, 16. "It was the most exciting thing we have ever seen in this town."
Honor student Jacqueline Jones, 18, found out Wednesday night she would be introducing the president.
Although she claimed to be nervous, her introduction was nearly flawless and delivered without notes. She credited her smooth address to the president.
"I was so nervous, but (Mr. Clinton) talked to me before we came out on stage and he really calmed me down," she said. "He was great, very nice and very friendly."
Several Northern Kentuckians were invited to Mr. Clinton's speech. They included Shirley Huelsmann, chairwoman of the Kenton County Democratic Executive Committee, and her husband, Martin, of Fort Mitchell; Democratic Party activists Christy Nelson and Milly Diehl; and Liz Poore of Walton, who is coordinating U.S. Rep. Scotty Baesler's U.S. Senate campaign. Mr. Baesler is a Lexington Democrat.
