By Jessica Domel
Field Editor

Meet. Discuss. Win!

Sound like a good idea? Now is the time to submit your application to participate in this year’s Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Discussion Meet competition, which will be held Dec. 5-7 at the TFB Annual Meeting in Arlington.

“Discussion Meet is the presentation of innovative ideas on agricultural-related topics,” Coleburn Davis, TFB director of Organization Programs, said. “Four to five contestants sit together to discuss possibilities and share ideas on the selected topic. It’s a great way to develop presentation and problem-solving skills.”

Five agriculture-related topics are selected prior to the contest. The contestants are provided with information about these topics weeks before the contest to prepare.

One of the five topics is chosen for each four-to-five person panel and a 25-minute roundtable discussion is then instigated.

“It’s not a debate or a prepared speech,” Davis said. “We want these agricultural professionals to discuss ideas and share their opinions.”

Contestants must be TFB members under the age of 36 who are actively engaged in farming and/or ranching.

TFB will reimburse up to $200 in travel expenses per contestant to individuals who participate in the contest at the Annual Meeting.

This year’s finalists will receive: a power tool valued at $200, courtesy of Grainger; a new pair of Justin Boots, courtesy of Justin Brands, Inc; a plaque; and $500 cash, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company.

The state winner will take home: a $5,000 cash award, courtesy of Farm Credit; a plaque; an expense paid trip to Orlando, Florida in January 2016 to compete in the National Discussion Meet Contest; a $750 service voucher, courtesy of Chevrolet; and a Polaris Sportsman ATV, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company.

All entrants in this year’s Discussion Meet contest in Arlington will receive $100 service vouchers for Customer Pay service from Chevrolet.

Applications for the Discussion Meet contest and the contest manual can be found here: http://bitly.com/DiscussionMeet.

The deadline to enter is Friday, Oct. 30.