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John Buck of Marion County has been selected as one of 10 young agricultural leaders to participate in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Partners in Agricultural Leadership (PAL) honors program.

The program, carried out with support from the Monsanto Co., Farm Credit Foundation and AFBF, is designed to strengthen participants’ leadership skills and put their abilities to work for the benefit of agriculture.

According to AFBF President Bob Stallman, young farmers and ranchers in the program will have the opportunity to hone their leadership skills. By participating in PAL, they will enrich their skills in problem solving, persuasion and consensus building. At the same time, they will be deepening their knowledge of specific agricultural and public policy issues.

Upon completion of the PAL program, participants will be fully equipped to represent agriculture in the media, on speaking circuits or in legislative activities. PAL graduates serve as "advocates for agriculture," promoting awareness on issues important to those in the farm-to-consumer food chain.

To be eligible to apply for the PAL program, participants either had to be current-year "Sweet 16" finalists in the AFBF Discussion Meet; top 10 finalists in the Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award or the Excellence in Agriculture Award competitions; and/or former members of the AFBF Young Farmer and Rancher committee.

Buck was runner-up in the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award this year. He joins PAL participants from Kansas, South Carolina, Wyoming, New York, Iowa, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Virginia.