By Justin Walker
Communications Specialist
The fourth annual Floyd-Briscoe County Farm Bureau (CFB) Discussion Meet took place last weekend as local high school students took part in an agricultural-related discussion.
Four students from Floydada High School took part in the discussion meet on Saturday, Sept. 8, in Floydada. The event allows students in the area to learn more about agriculture, as well as earn scholarships.
“We decided to model our scholarship contest after the discussion meet Texas Farm Bureau has for collegiate students and young farmers and ranchers to give the high school students the opportunity to talk in front of people, have good conversation and develop their public speaking skills,” Floyd-Briscoe CFB President Garrett Mathis said.
The discussion meet replaced the essay contest Floyd-Briscoe CFB formerly held to award scholarships, Mathis said. This structure gave students more opportunities to be involved and network.
The discussion meet also allows the participants to learn more about Farm Bureau, Mathis said.
“We try to get them informed on what is going on in agriculture right now,” he said. “There’s more than what their parents might believe or what they see on social media. There’s a lot more to agriculture than what the general public knows about.”
The event helps CFB leaders identify candidates for the Youth Leadership Conference and the Free Enterprise Speech Contest.
“We were able to give scholarships to some deserving students,” Mathis said.
All four participants took home a scholarship prize. Cutter Smith received $1,500 for first place in the meet. Second place received $1,000, and the two remaining participants each earned $500. The scholarships were awarded to each student at the Floyd-Briscoe CFB Convention on Sept. 11.
“It was a great opportunity for our members to see what their dues are going to,” Mathis said.