Each spring, the Virginia Council of Farmer Cooperatives sponsors a Youth Leadership Conference for up to 64 Virginia high school youth at Graves Mountain Lodge. The primary objectives of the conference are to educate youth about the cooperative form of business, and to enhance teamwork, leadership and communication skills.

This is accomplished through an interactive, educational and entertaining conference that includes seminars by representatives from Virginia's various cooperatives, a student led computer simulation called, "Who's Minding the Store," plus team building and the famous meals of Graves Mountain Lodge.

As part of their attendance, students also compete to represent Virginia at the annual National Institute on Cooperative Education Conference or NICE. Participants are selected based upon their overall conference participation and what they have learned from the weekend's activities. The 2007 NICE conference will be held at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania.

To read more about the Youth Leadership Conference, see what past participants had to say about the conference and look at photos from previous conferences, be sure to view the power point presentation linked on this page. Teachers or students who wish to receive more information on the VCFC Youth Leadership Conference should contact Phil Miller, VCFC executive secretary, at 804-281-1211 or Phil.Miller@sscoop.com