One of West Virginia Universitys newest student organizations, the Collegiate Farm Bureau, will host a Young Farmers Conference at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, in room 2001 of the Agricultural Sciences Building on WVU s Evansdale Campus.

The conference will serve as the organizations introduction to interested students. Sponsored by the West Virginia Farm Bureau, the organization is intended to help students interested in agriculture, forestry, consumer sciences, and rural life and development cultivate leadership skills and awareness of contemporary issues.

Betty Wolanyk, director of education and research for the American Farm Bureau, will deliver the keynote address for the conference,Misconceptions of Agriculture,at 1:45 p.m.

Bob Williams, executive director of the West Virginia Farm Bureau, will discuss the mission and history of the Farm Bureau at 3:15 p.m. The group will discuss the Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet at 4:45 p.m., and dinner will be provided for participants at 6 p.m.

The event has been organized by Jamie Kinsey, field representative for the West Virginia Farm Bureau and Young Farmers and Ranchers. He worked with WVU Collegiate Farm Bureau President Andy Yost, an agribusiness management and rural development major from Baker, W.Va.; Julie Roop, an agricultural and extension education major from Thurmont, Md.; and Kellen McNutt, an agribusiness agricultural and extension education major from Gandeeville, W.Va..

Denny Smith, associate dean of the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences, and Paul Lewis, director of the Davis Colleges Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, serve as co-advisors for the group.