Two South Dakota students selected as Global Youth Institute delegates

Two South Dakota high school FFA students have been selected to represent South Dakota as delegates at the 2019 Global Youth Institute to be held in Des Moines, Iowa, October 16-19. Korbin Leddy, a sophomore at Milbank High School, and Danika Gordon, a senior at Sturgis Brown High School, have been named Borlaug Scholars and will participate in youth activities and represent the state at the international event.

Each year, 200 exceptional high school students from around the world are selected to participate in the three-day Global Youth Institute hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation. During the event, students have opportunities to interact with Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates and discuss food security and agricultural issues with international experts.

Leddy and Gordon earned the opportunity to attend the Institute by researching and writing a report on a critical food security topic of their choosing and presenting it during the state event held in Brookings in April. Leddy researched expansion of beef cattle production through artificial insemination and embryo transfer in China; Gordon explored the development of ag education videos via digital communication platforms for Rwandan farmers. The South Dakota duo will present their papers during roundtable discussions at the Global Youth Institute.

The event will offer a unique opportunity for youth to connect with other student leaders from around the world, as well as network with global leaders in science, industry and policy. The Global Youth Institute is held in conjunction with the Borlaug Dialogue, which brings together over 1,200 people from more than 65 countries to address cutting-edge issues related to global food security and nutrition.