Alabama Youth Attend Rural Voter Event in Iowa

On October 26-27, 2007 the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/LAF’s Youth Agricultural Project participants traveled to Ames, Iowa, to attend and participate in the ‘Rural Youth Summit’ and the 2007 National Summit on Agriculture and Rural Life.  The theme for the youth summit (organized by Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy) was Revitalizing Rural America, and focused on finding solutions to challenges facing young people who may choose to make a living and build their lives in rural communities. Pamela Madzima (Program Coordinator) along with youth participants from the Federation’s 2007 Sustainable Agriculture Program, gave a presentation on “The Role of Community-Based Organizations as Support Systems for Positive Youth Development in Rural Communities”.

(Please see photos of the event below)

From left to right (standing): Pamela Madzima (Program Coordinator), Ralph Paige (Executive Director),
and LaNeatra Rogers (Rural Development Intern) of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/LAF,
and youth development project participants Katia May, Wendell Lawson, DeMarkus Crockett, Kionna Crockett,
Diontye Wilson (Kneeling) Nathaniel Lard and Markus Desmond (not in picture Jeremy Pratt)

Federation/LAF youth development project participant Nathaniel Lard with presidential candiate John Edwards.	Ralph Paige, Executive Director, Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund chatting with Pamela Madzima (project coordinator) and Kionna Crockett of the Federation/LAF's Alabama delegation to the Rural Youth Summit.
Kionna Crockett (Alabama youth development project participant) and LaNeatra Rogers (Rural Development Intern) - both of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives	Kionna Crockett - Alabama youth development project participant
Presidential candidate Barack Obama, Gary Lamb, and Ralph Paige	Presidential candidate John Edwards with Executive Director Ralph Paige