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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: Oct. 1, 2025.

Eligibility

• Must be an active/voting member of a county Farm Bureau.
• Must be at least 18 years of age upon applying and shall not have reached 36th birthday by Jan. 11, 2027.
• Must not have received a public speaking fee or honorarium in the past 24 months.
• Previous state winners cannot apply.
• YAP State Committee members may not apply until the year in which they retire from the committee. The YAP State Committee Class of 2026 is eligible to apply for the 2026 award.
• Trustees serving the Ohio Farm Bureau Board are eligible to compete.
• Past and present members of the AFBF YF&R Committee may not apply.

Competition schedule

During each round of competition, competitors will discuss pre-selected topics with three to five other participants. Each round consists of a 30-second opening statement, 25 minutes of open discussion and a 1-minute closing statement by each participant.

Semi-Finals (2 Rounds) – Dec. 11

All applicants will be invited to participate in the Discussion Meet Semi-Finals to be held at the Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Dec. 11, 2025. The semi-finals consist of two rounds of competition. Competitors will be randomly assigned to rooms for both semi-final rounds. The four competitors with the highest combined scores will advance to the Final Four round of competition.

Topic Round 1: Urban sprawl presents significant challenges for farmers and ranchers, impacting access to land and resources. We see that 1.9 million acres of agricultural land are lost to development each year. How can Farm Bureau help promote responsible growth in communities while mitigating the loss of farms, ranches, and the agrarian way of life?

Topic Round 2: Farm Bureau offers a diverse range of member benefits at the state and national levels. What strategies can be implemented to ensure members are fully informed about the savings on products and services available to them? Additionally, how can young farmers and ranchers leverage these industry relationships to strengthen local partnerships and increase utilization of these discounts to keep their operations running smoothly.

Final Four – Jan. 23

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 Newark Jan. 23, 2026. 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 Charlotte during the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention Jan. 8-12, 2027. 

Topic: Farmers and ranchers are at the forefront of environmental stewardship. From soil
health to local ecosystems, producers are concerned about how to be both environmentally
and financially sustainable. How can farmers and ranchers effectively advance environmental stewardship while balancing the needs of their farms?

Prizes

Thanks to the support of our Heritage Partner Nationwide and support from Farm Credit Mid-America, the state award winner receives:

• Expense-paid trip to represent Ohio at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Charlotte Jan. 8-12, 2027
• $3,000 cash award
• Complimentary trip to the 2026 Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Columbus
• Media package

Thanks to the generosity of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and Ohio Soybean Council, finalists for the contest receive:

• Expense-paid trip to the 2026 YAP Winter Leadership Experience Jan. 23-24
• Embroidered Ohio Farm Bureau branded apparel
• $100 cash award.

Semi-finalists receive a $50 cash award.

Note: Abby Campbell of Washington County, pictured above, is the 2025 American Farm Bureau Discussion Meet winner and won a $35,000 credit toward a new Ford vehicle.

Deadline

Deadline to apply: Oct.1, 2025.

Please send questions about the contest to [email protected]