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Farm Bureau’s strength depends on its members’ abilities to analyze agricultural issues and decide on solutions that best meet their needs. Each year, the Discussion Meet competition challenges active young agricultural professionals to build basic discussion skills, develop a keen understanding of important agricultural issues, and explore how groups can pool knowledge to reach consensus and solve problems. 

Successful participants are productive thinkers rather than emotional persuaders. The competition is designed to simulate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each committee member. Through group discussion, participants work together to discover and implement solutions to predetermined issues and highlight Farm Bureau’s involvement in those actions/steps.

Deadline to apply: Sept. 30, 2024 at 5 p.m.

Eligibility

The Discussion Meet is for members 24-34 years old. A separate Collegiate Discussion Meet takes place for college students.

Applicants should be paid members in good standing with his/her county Farm Bureau.

Applicants must be actively engaged in agriculture. 

Applicants may only compete in one YAP competition per year. 

Ineligible: Past and present members of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and/or their spouse are not eligible to compete. 

Previous AFBF Discussion Meet competitors are not eligible to compete. Current employees or agents of county, state and/or the American Farm Bureau organizations and their affiliates are not eligible to compete. An affiliate is defined as an entity owned or controlled in whole or in part by another entity through, for example, ownership (including partial ownership) or positions on the board of directors. 

Professional speakers are not eligible to compete. Professional speakers are those who have received a fee, royalty or honorarium for speaking (i.e., paid speaking appearances or speaking engagements) within 24 months prior to this annual competition. This excludes reimbursement for travel or expenses attendant to the appearance.

Competition Timeline

During each round of competition, competitors will discuss pre-selected topics and be evaluated on cooperation, constructive criticism, problem-solving, and communication.

Semi-Finals (2 Rounds) – Dec. 12, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

All applicants will be invited to participate in the Discussion Meet Semi-Finals to be held at the Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting at 9 a.m. on Dec. 12, 2024. The semi-finals consist of two rounds of competition. Each round will consist of a 30-second opening statement, then move to 25 minutes of open discussion, and end with a one-minute closing statement by each participant. Competitors will be randomly assigned to rooms for both semi-final rounds. The four competitors with the highest combined scores will move forward to the Final Four round of competition.

Topic Round 1: The landscape of American agriculture and the picture of the “typical” American farm continues to change. Meanwhile, Farm Bureau will need to continue to recruit and retain members in order to be a vibrant and effective organization into the future. How can Farm Bureau continue to provide value and opportunity to welcome members from across the broad diversity of modern agriculture and American farmers and ranchers? 

Topic Round 2: Farmers and ranchers are reliant on multiple energy sources to run equipment, heat livestock barns and power storage and maintenance facilities. How can Farm Bureau work with energy companies, local governments and rural communities to increase domestic energy production, minimize loss of agricultural land and protect private property rights? 

Final Four – Feb. 7, 5 p.m.

The four competitors with the highest overall score from the semi-finals will advance to the Final Four round of competition to be held at the Winter Leadership Experience in Sandusky Feb. 7, 2025. This round will include a 30-second opening statement, a 25-minute open discussion, and a one-minute closing statement. The individual with the highest score will be named the state winner and will move on to the Young Farmers & Ranchers competition to be held in Anaheim, California during the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention Jan. 9-13, 2026. 

Topic: Young farmers and ranchers are finding they need to diversify their farm portfolio. What are some ways that young farmers and ranchers can utilize diversification to explore new revenue sources? How can Farm Bureau support YF&R members as they strengthen their farm and ranch businesses?

Prizes:

Thanks to the support of Nationwide and Farm Credit Mid-America, the state award winner receives a complimentary trip to the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention to compete at the national level, an all-inclusive trip to the YAP Winter Leadership Experience and a $3,000 Invest in YOU prize.

Thanks to the generosity of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and Ohio Soybean Council, finalists for the contest receive an Ohio Farm Bureau jacket and complimentary registration for the 2025 YAP Winter Leadership Experience.

Deadline

Deadline to apply: Sept. 30, 2024, at 5 p.m.