Troy and Stacy Hadrick, whose passion for agricultural evangelism vaulted them into the limelight, will deliver the keynote address and conduct an ag issues workshop at the first Young Farmers Summer Conference on July 23-25 at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s home office in Montgomery.The Hadricks are fifth-generation cattle farmers who became active in their Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program, and quickly realized the best way to combat negativity toward agriculture was to stand up and tell their own story. Soon, what began as a 25-minute speech at the South Dakota Women in Agriculture Conference evolved into Advocates for Agriculture with its own speaking circuit, website and a widespread use of social media.”This summer conference will give many of our young farm families a chance to catch up and learn from some of the best in the industry,” said Brandon Moore, director of the Young Farmers program. “We look forward to making this a great event.”State Young Farmers Chairman Jeff Maze will preside over the two-day event that is expected to draw young farm families from across the state for district meetings, workshops and competition in its annual Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet. Lamar County dairy farmer Will Gilmer, chairman of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s State Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, will also speak.The event will also feature a legislative update and a workshop conducted by Alabama State Troopers.The Hadricks are active in the South Dakota Farm Bureau and the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association. Through Farm Bureau, they have both won the State Discussion Meet and, as a couple, they won the state Excellence in Agriculture Award. In 2004, they were awarded the National Excellence in Agriculture Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation.They were also chosen to participate in Farm Bureau’s most prestigious leadership training program, Partners in Agricultural Leadership.