Graves Senior To Attend Ag Leader Conference

Katie Elder of Fancy Farm will represent Graves County at the Kentucky Farm Bureau’s 30th annual Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders this month.



IFAL is a unique five-day summer leadership conference that highlights a variety of careers in agriculture while exposing high school students to a preview of college life. Participants were nominated by their county Farm Bureau board of directors with the assistance of school personnel and youth group advisors. IFAL students are among the top in their class, plan to further their education at the post-secondary level, and have an interest in pursuing a career in agriculture.



During the week-long IFAL conference, attendees will gain a better understanding of the nature and needs of the agriculture industry, see how basic and applied science is utilized in agriculture and learn of the political process used to develop agricultural policy. Participants will engage in team-building and recreational activities, attend classes, hear from speakers focusing on the values of leadership, social, communication and motivational skills, and visit research farms and other agriculture-related industries.



The entire experience is wrapped in a college atmosphere as the students live in dormitories, eat in university dining facilities and become acquainted with life on a college campus. Katie will be attending the conference at the University of Kentucky. She will be a Senior at Graves County High School in the fall. She is active on her family farm, with FFA, at St. Jerome and St. Charles Catholic Churches. Katie is on the Archery and Forensics Teams at Graves County High School. Katie is the daughter of Jimmy and Cynthia Elder of Fancy Farm where she is a 5th generation family farmer.