August 29, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY: One new staff appointment and expanded job responsibilities for three current employees are being announced by Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation.

The changes, effective today, reflect new initiatives in technology applications and leadership development programs conducted by Farm Bureau. They were announced by Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President David S. Beck.

Jay D. McCants, a Georgia native who has worked for Farm Bureau in Kentucky since 2001, is being named young farmer director and assistant director of the Organization Division.

McCants has directed the group’s young farmer programs and has administered scholarship programs and a variety of leadership development activities. In his new position, he will help coordinate member and commercial service programs through the 120 county Farm Bureaus.
McCants and his wife Heather have two children. They reside in Shelby County.

Susan Shouse, a Spencer County native, is taking on added responsibilities as director, youth development. The University of Kentucky graduate has served as assistant director, education and volunteer development, for the past two years.

Shouse will have direct responsibility for Farm Bureau’s scholarship programs, and she will provide staff coordination of two key leadership development programs. They are the Institute for Future Agriculture Leaders, conducted annually for high school students considering agriculture careers, and the Leadership Enhancement for Agricultural Development, or LEAD program. That activity, which she and McCants will co-direct, provides a two-year curriculum for young adults looking to improve their leadership skills in Farm Bureau and other organizations.

Shouse will also coordinate Farm Bureau’s outstanding youth programs and will serve as the organization’s liaison with FFA and 4-H groups.

Stephen Kirkland assumes an expanded role as director, support services, and assistant director of the Operations Division.

A four-year employee with Farm Bureau, Kirkland has provided computer and technical support for Farm Bureau state office and field employees. He will now coordinate new technology development and maintenance, software and database training, and assist with building and grounds maintenance for the office facility on Bunsen Parkway.

Kirkland formerly worked for 11 years with 84WHAS Radio in Louisville and is a graduate of the University of Louisville. He and his wife Denise have two children.

Christopher Nowak joins the Farm Bureau staff as assistant director, support services. Nowak has studied computer information systems and has worked on web development and server maintenance for iON and Sumitomo Electrical Wiring Systems.

Nowak will focus on systems support for Farm Bureau employees, and will provide direct oversight for implementing and supporting the organization’s new membership system.

He is a Louisville native and a 2000 graduate of Waggener High School. He is completing a Bachelor of Arts in computer information systems degree at Western Kentucky University.

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