Gain valuable communication skills. Hone leadership abilities. And have an opportunity to earn cash for college. All with Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Free Enterprise Speech Contest.

“We believe in the founding principles of private property and free enterprise, and we want to instill those values into our young people,” said TFB Director of Urban Relations and Youth Activities Coleburn Davis.

In the contest, students are asked to share the advantages of the free enterprise system and having a constitutional government.

“This contest helps students learn more about our country, our economy and how to communicate well with an audience,” Davis said. “All of these things will help students greatly on the road to success.”

Students must have attended TFB’s 2016 Youth Leadership Conference at Tarleton State University in Stephenville to be able to participate in the Free Enterprise Speech Contest.

Contestants must be TFB members.

They are judged on their organization, language, voice, use of notes, eye contact, persuasiveness and application of the topic in the speech.

District contests will be held during October. Contestants will be notified of the date, location and time for the contest by their county Farm Bureau.

One student will be selected as the district winner and one student will be selected as the district runner-up.

Each district winner will be awarded a $1,500 college scholarship. District winners will compete in the state level competition at the TFB Annual Meeting in San Antonio Dec. 3-5.

Four finalists at the state level will receive additional funding to amount to $2,000 each, including the district scholarship.

The runner-up scholarship will increase to $3,000 and the state winner’s scholarship will increase to $6,000 total.

The state winner, runner-up and four finalists will receive a four-day, three-night expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to visit with elected officials, witness the legislative body in session and visit historical sites.

Applications are available online. The forms must be completed and signed by the county Farm Bureau president and received in the state office by Sept. 23.

Contact Davis at cdavis@txfb.org or 254-399-5037 for more information.