LORMAN — Darnella Burkett Winston of Lorman has been selected as a Mississippi Food & Health Fellow and National Rural Leader in the Rural Development Leadership Network, a multicultural program that assists community leaders in developing their communities and themselves at the same time.

Winston recently began a month-long Rural Development Institute at the University of California, Davis, as part of this fellowship leading toward a master’s degree in rural community development from Antioch University Midwest.

Winston, who is cooperative field specialist and director of the farm-to-school project at the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, will work on a farm-to-school marketing and nutrition project in the Delta during her RDLN participation.

A graduate of Alcorn State University, she will work toward food safety as part of an effort to make locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables eligible for purchase by local schools.

Winston’s sponsoring organizations in the RDLN program are the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, Alcorn State University and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives.

Winston’s field project and institute participation will count for credit toward the master’s degree.