Louisville, KY (February 26, 2015) – Fleming County’s Adam Hinton became Kentucky’s first graduate of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) “Partners in Agricultural Leadership” (PAL) program yesterday as he and nine other participants from across the United States were recognized during a special ceremony in Washington, DC.

PAL is a two-year program designed to help agricultural leaders age 30-40 accelerate their leadership skills and solidify their roles as advocates for agriculture. The program offers young farmers and ranchers the opportunity to continue building their skills after they have served as AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee members/officers or competed in national YF&R events.

“This group of PAL graduates represents the very ‘best of the best’ among today’s farmers and ranchers,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “They are the top-tier agricultural advocates, and we look forward to having them as vital contributors to our outreach efforts.”

Hinton, Kentucky Farm Bureau’s 2011 Excellence in Agriculture winner, is vice president of Hinton Mills, a family-owned and operated business that was first opened by Adam’s great grandfather, Frank L. Hinton, in 1918. The business originated as a general store to serve rural Fleming County but has since transitioned into the farm supply and packaged feed manufacturer Hinton oversees today. Hinton is an active member of the Fleming County Farm Bureau, serving on its Young Farmer, Local Affairs and Commodity Feed and Grain Committees, and is involved in numerous civic and industry organizations on both the local and state level.

The PAL program is sponsored by AFBF, Agri-Pulse Communications, the Farm Credit System and Monsanto Company.

To learn more about PAL, visit the program’s informational page on the AFBF website.