LEXINGTON, Ky. — Last month, the Alltech "REBELation," as it was billed, took over the Lexington Convention Center and Rupp Arena. The opening session began with local schoolchildren singing the Beatles classic "Revolution," setting the theme for the entire symposium.
Alltech founder and President Dr. Pearce Lyons wasted no time in getting the crowd excited with an enthusiastic speech about the possibilities that await those in attendance, and talking about rebels who have created change in the world. He also told the 3,000 attendees that Alltech has a goal to build a better world.
"Hopefully that’s your goal, too," he noted.
The opening session continued with former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell, who shared many of his military and government experiences. First, he talked about Alltech.
"The purpose is very, very clear to me, and that is to feed the world; feed the world that is growing in population; to feed a world that is being challenged by environmental issues; to feed a world where poverty is still endemic even though so many of us are so well-fed and doing well; to feed a world where one of the most essential elements is water and it is starting to become a problem," he said.
He said it takes a conference such as this symposium where people from all over the world come together to rebel against conventional wisdom and say: "We can do better."
Powell received the Alltech Medal of Excellence Award, an honor bestowed annually upon someone of great achievement and character.
He set the stage for much of the conference, which dealt with feeding the world and being good leaders. Speakers with varying backgrounds shared information with the audience, including Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market; Dan Glickman, former USDA secretary; and Jim Stengel, the former global marketing officer with Proctor and Gamble.
Being held in one of the most famous basketball arenas in the world, it was only fitting that University of Kentucky men’s basketball Coach Jon Calipari was the main speaker at the closing session. He spoke about coaching individuals with extreme talent and how it’s about not only coaching their bodies but also their minds.
"It all starts with players first. Their dreams become our dreams" he said. "Last year we started the season with a goal, and you may think that goal was to win a national title; win all the games – it was to get eight players drafted.
"The state’s mission for me is to win titles; my mission is greater. My mission is to be a vehicle to help others reach their dreams, to be the stone that creates the ripple in their lives that goes on and on."
In the last six years 26 of Calipari’s players have gone on to play in the NBA. He received the 2015 Alltech Humanitarian Award at the conference.
Lyons left his guests with: "My challenge to you is to see the world as it is. Are you impacting the world or is the world impacting you? It is all about risk, action and reward." But, he added, you’ve got to love the journey.
He also quoted the late Sen. Edward Kennedy when he said, "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die."
