The York County Agricultural Business Council will issue a "legacy challenge" during its annual banquet, said organization official Michele Grove.

"We have a brief memorial for John T. Smith," Grove said, "and a challenge to our audience to contribute to the York County 4-H Endowment Fund in his memory."

Smith, a county agent with the Penn State Cooperative Extension, founded the York County Agricultural Business Council 60 years ago. Smith died in 2012 at age 92.

He will be remembered during the 27th Annual York County Agricultural Recognition Banquet, which will begin with a social at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at the Old Main Hall at the York Expo Center, 334 Carlisle Ave. in West Manchester Township.

"John T. Smith started (the council) as a networking group between businesses in York County and the agricultural community," Grove said. "He had a heart for seeing that our farmers and youth were well-educated in agricultural practices. He promoted leadership. He was a very generous man. He gave financially."

The agricultural business council will match banquet attendees' "legacy challenge" donations up to $500, she said.

Also during the banquet, the council will announce winners of the Tony Dobrosky Future Leaders, the Outstanding Farm Family and Outstanding Ag Industry awards.

Youth also will be recognized for their agricultural work, Grove said.

The event's keynote speaker is leadership expert Rhett Laubach, founder/operator of YourNextSpeaker, based in Arcadia, Okla. He will speak on "Legacy in Agriculture," Grove said.

Laubach will run the council's Young Leaders Conference from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, at the York County 4-H Center at 771 Stoverstown Road in West Manchester Township.

That conference is for youth - ages 13 to 20 - who are serious about learning leadership skills, how to make differences in their communities, and making new friends and networking.

This is the conference's second year. It was first held in 2011, with about 30 youth attending, Grove said. This year, there is room for about 100 young attendees.

"We hope youth gain the motivation and the communication and leadership skills they need to make their dreams come true and be able to have an impact in their community," Grove said.

-Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at emcmillan@yorkdispatch.com.