Stanly County rising North Stanly High School senior Meredith Simpson of New London was recognized for completing N.C. Farm Bureau’s Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders Program. Simpson, third from left, is shown with Antoine Alston and Joy Morgan Fleming, of N.C. State University, and N.C. Farm Bureau President Larry Wooten. The program assists exceptional rising high school seniors from across the state in exploring agricultural-related college majors available at the state’s two land-grant universities — N.C. A&T State University and N.C. State University. (Contributed)