Dr. Pearse Lyons presented the Alltech Medal of Excellence to former U.S. Secretary of State and retired General Colin Powell this week during the Alltech REBELation in Lexington, Kentucky. The Medal of Excellence is Alltech’s highest distinction, awarded annually to someone of great achievement and character.
“What is the number one thing missing from agriculture and business today? Leadership, and when I think of leadership, General Powell comes first to mind,” said Dr. Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. “He is decisive, courageous and a ‘force multiplier of perpetual optimism.’ He broke down barriers as the first African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and brought stability to tumultuous situations through his ability to build trust and develop alliances. For inspirational leadership, we need not look any further than General Powell, and, for this reason, he is the ideal recipient of our 2015 Medal of Excellence.”
Gen. Powell then addressed the conference focused on food and the business of animal agriculture and offered his thoughts on the importance of feeding the growing world population.
Listen to an excerpt from Colin Powell’s remarks here: Colin Powell Remarks at Alltech Rebelation