Eighty young people from across the Commonwealth will be on the University of Kentucky campus this week for the 62nd annual Kentucky Youth Seminar (KYS). These high school students will spend three days and two nights learning more about the American economic system and global economy through individual and group study.Benjamin Locke of Larue County participated in the program last year."The experience for me was epic," Locke said. "Not only did my knowledge in business expand with regard to corporations and cooperatives, but my underlying extrovert side came out. The importance of networking became ingrained in me to spread as far as I can manage. And with networking came strong friendships, which I am beyond grateful for."The 2016 edition of KYS opens Wednesday, June 22, and concludes Friday, June 24. The program is a joint effort of the UK Cooperative Extension Service, part of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and other partners. The Kentucky Council of Cooperatives, composed of rural electric cooperatives, co-sponsors the event. Other major supporters include Farm Credit, Central Kentucky Ag Credit, and Kentucky Farm Bureau.During the seminar, participants gain a better understanding of America's private enterprise system by solving problems as they take on the roles of officers and directors of corporations and cooperatives. Workshops help prepare these students both for college and for business with leadership training, communication training, interviewing skills, money management training, and more.The College of Agriculture, Food and Environment's Assistant Dean and Director of Diversity Quentin Tyler, serves as state coordinator of the American Private Enterprise System, which provides program support and case studies for the Kentucky Youth Seminar."I love having the students come from all over the state and experience being on the UK campus for the first time," Tyler said. "Seeing them work in teams and form relationships that will last a lifetime is just terrific. These youth have the best personalities and really are dedicated to learning about cooperatives and corporations."

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