Merck Animal Health to Sponsor 2015 FFA National Convention & Expo
Creating a Stronger Voice for Agriculture
MADISON, N.J., Oct. 21, 2015 – Merck Animal Health today announced its sponsorship of the 2015 National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention & Expo, which will be held Oct. 28-31 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. This year’s theme – “Amplify” – brings into focus the need for agriculture advocacy. Throughout the event, FFA members will be provided with opportunities to shape their stories and learn how to have their voices heard – helping educate others about the importance of agriculture and the resources needed to meet future food needs.
“More than 80 percent of the U.S. population resides in urban areas, and an increasing amount of people are four to five generations removed from an agrarian lifestyle,” said Scott Bormann, Vice President, North America, Merck Animal Health. “This ongoing urbanization has created a significant gap in cultural understanding and acceptance of food and food production. As part of the industry, we have a responsibility to help close that gap. That’s why we are proud to partner with the National FFA in shaping the next generation of leaders by arming them with the information and resources needed to bring the story of agriculture to life.”
The company will sponsor daily workshops, hosted by Michele Payn-Knoper, author of No More Food Fights: Growing A Productive Farm and Food Conversation. She will present on the issues facing consumers and farmers, and will share insights on ways that FFA students can help bridge the disconnect between farm and food. Workshop advisor attendees will receive a free copy of Payn-Knoper’s book.
“I see a fork in the road between the farm gate and food plate – a divide that can be bridged through meaningful conversation,” Payn-Knoper said. “I have firsthand knowledge of the overwhelming amount of misinformation working against the science, business and technology of feeding the world. On a daily basis, I see people frustrated about food and believe it’s time to bring people together around the plate.”
A live stream of the convention will be available through RFD TV. The public is encouraged to follow the event on social media channels using the #SpeakAg and #Amplify convention hashtags.
Details are available at www.ffa.org/convention. Those who are interested in learning more should contact their local Merck Animal Health sales representative or visit the Merck Animal Health booth at the Expo (Booth #1129).
About Merck Animal Health
Today’s Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 610,240 student members as part of 7,665 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org, on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization blog.
Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.
The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).