Chad and Derica Burns of Warren County were sponsored by Caney Fork Electric Cooperative to participate in the 2016 Young Leaders Conference held Feb. 26-27. 
More than 300 young people from across the state gathered at Drury Plaza Hotel in Franklin for the conference.  The annual event brings couples and individuals together from rural communities to learn about cooperatives, share their views about agriculture, and discuss current issues facing rural Americans.
The Tennessee Council of Cooperatives co-sponsors the conference with Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers organization.
This year’s event covered a variety of subjects aimed at educating leaders about cooperatives and agricultural issues and strengthening their leadership skills. Attendees discussed issues facing rural Tennessee and were given an overview of Farm Bureau’s Ag-in-the-Classroom program.
Tennessee State University’s Dr. John Hall led a breakout session on “Core Values,” and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture’s Lisa Stearns discussed “Raising the Profile of Tennessee Agriculture.” Amy Gallimore, chief executive officer of Four16 Training Solutions, taught valuable lessons in perseverance and attitude, and David Turner and entertained attendees.
Joe Jackson, retired Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association director of member services and a pivotal leader in establishing the Young Leaders Conference, was presented an annual award given by TCC to an individual who has shown dedication to the cooperative cause in Tennessee.
The Tennessee Council of Cooperatives made a $1,000 contribution in Jackson’s honor to the John Willis Memorial Scholarship fund, which provides financial aid to deserving college agriculture students in the state.