WASHINGTON, March 21, 2018 – American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall received the Distinguished 4-H Alumni Medallion at the ninth annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards. Nearly 450 business leaders, philanthropists, celebrities, prominent alumni, special guests and dignitaries joined National 4-H Council at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night to recognize the accomplishments of our nation’s youth and those individuals who make it possible for millions of young people to learn important life and leadership skills through 4-H youth development programs.

Duvall joins a prestigious group of 4-H Distinguished Alumni Medallion recipients, including such 4-H alumni as Facebook “news feed” inventor Andrew Bosworth, actress and producer Aubrey Plaza, songwriter and musician Jennifer Nettles, and professor and best-selling author Temple Grandin, Ph.D.

“This recognition of Zippy Duvall’s life-long support of investing in young people with a demonstrated interest in not only farming and ranching but also agri-business and food-related careers is well-deserved,” said AFBF Executive Vice President Julie Anna Potts. In 2017, Duvall, a Georgia 4-H alumnus, was honored by National 4-H Council as a founding Alumni Luminary, an exclusive group of accomplished and influential 4-H alumni.

Other notable attendees at the event include Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who received the Abraham Lincoln Vision Award.

The evening also served as an opportunity to formally announce a partnership between National 4-H Council and six-time Olympic medalist, philanthropist and youth advocate, Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The partnership will include the establishment of a 4-H Club at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center in East St. Louis, Illinois as well as agriculture program learning opportunities for urban communities.

Cassandra Ivie, 17, of Utah, was named the 2018 national Youth in Action winner and will receive a $10,000 scholarship, sponsored by HughesNet.

Thanks in part to the support of Legacy Premier Partners Microsoft and New York Life, the event serves as National 4-H Council’s premier fundraising event inspiring supporters to help grow true leaders and reach 10 million young people through 4-H by 2025. View photos from the 2018 National 4-H Council Legacy Awards at www.4-H.org/gala.