By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Issues facing farmers and ranchers were the focus of Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Virtual Collegiate Discussion Meet. Clayton Elbel from Texas A&M University was named the winner of this year’s contest following a discussion on the public’s perception of family farms.
Elbel is a junior on a combined degree program through the Bush School of Government. He is studying agricultural economics and also working toward his master’s degree in public administration.
The Virtual Collegiate Discussion Meet, conducted using web conferencing this year, is designed to replicate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each collegiate participant.
The annual contest is hosted by TFB’s Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Advisory Committee and offers college students an opportunity to dive deeper into agricultural issues and network with fellow students.
This year, Elbel and 14 other college students from across the state participated in the virtual competition.
“This is a unique contest that helps students develop their problem solving skills through research and collaborative discussion,” Laura Henson, YF&R Advisory Committee member, said.
Topics of discussion included Farm Bureau membership growth and engagement, balancing agriculture’s water needs while maintaining vibrant communities, and how farmers maintain ownership of intellectual and proprietary information.
The four finalists included: Elbel, a junior at Texas A&M; Haylee Young, a junior at Texas Tech; Trace Dodd, a junior at West Texas A&M; and Courtney Herrera, a senior at Sam Houston State University.
Participants were scored based on their speaking skills, effective problem solving and cooperative communication with other contestants.
“I really believe that it’s competitions like this that help expand our knowledge and build that next generation of agriculturalists,” Elbel said.
He wants to pursue a career in agricultural policy and be an advocate for farmers and ranchers.
“I think it’s something we need to keep in mind that our food and fiber system is the cornerstone to successful foreign policy, and to continue America’s global leadership years down the road, agriculture is going to be that first step,” he said.
At Texas A&M, Elbel serves as a state senator in the Texas A&M Student Government Association and is a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences representative.
The Spring Branch native was also a former Texas FFA state officer.
As the top contestant, Elbel took home a $2,500 cash prize and a plaque. He will also represent Texas in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2022 Collegiate Discussion Meet contest.
Young, the runner-up, received a $1,500 cash prize and a plaque.
The remaining finalists each received a $750 cash prize and plaque.
These participants also made the elite eight round preceding the final four: Rebeka Annan of Prairie View A&M University, Saydee Jo Detwiler of Tarleton State University, Morgan Johnson of Texas Tech University and Michael Weinstein of Texas A&M University.
Other participants were Alejandra Camarillo, West Texas A&M; Mallori Christian, Texas A&M; Payton George, West Texas A&M; Gabriel Guiterrez, Palo Alto College; Mason Hines, Texas A&M; Logan Paetzold, West Texas A&M; and Lyndee Yoder, West Texas A&M.
Learn more about TFB collegiate and young farmer and rancher activities at texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.