By Julie Tomascik
Editor
College students tackled issues facing farmers and ranchers and their role in agriculture’s future during Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Collegiate Discussion Meet. McKenna Bush of Texas A&M University was named the winner of this year’s contest.
Bush and eight other college students from across the state competed in Waco on Saturday, April 14.
The event, which was hosted by the Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Advisory Committee, offers college students an opportunity to dive deeper into agricultural issues and network with students from other colleges.
“The collegiate discussion meet is a unique contest designed to build problem solving skills through research, personal experience and collaborative discussion,” Sara Holloway, vice chairman of the YF&R Advisory Committee, said. “Students tackle tough agricultural issues facing farmers and ranchers and oftentimes learn more about the efforts that Texas Farm Bureau takes to protect the future of agriculture in this state.”
The contest was a roundtable discussion. Topics included how to build membership value and broaden the base of support in the Farm Bureau family and how Farm Bureau can help protect farmers’ and ranchers’ access to production technology options.
“This was my first time competing in the discussion meet,” Bush said. “It was an interesting experience getting to discuss issues affecting agriculture and Farm Bureau and how we, as college students, can be part of those solutions going forward. This contest gave me an opportunity to meet other students and hear different perspectives on the issues we all know agriculture is facing.”
The finalists held a 25-minute conversation on the use of market trends and responsive business plans to generation value-added ventures and increase farm profits. They were scored based on their speaking skills, effective problem-solving and cooperative communication with other contestants.
Tyler Schuster of Tarleton State University was the runner-up in this year’s contest. The other two finalists were Sydney Reed of Stephen F. Austin State University and Kyler Palmer of Texas A&M University.
Others who participated were Blake Pustejovsky and Delaney Schmidt of Tarleton State University, Joseth Barrera of Tarrant County College, Jonathan Smith of Texas A&M University-Commerce and Marshall Halfmann of Texas A&M University.
As the contest winner, Bush took home a $2,000 scholarship and a plaque. She will also receive an expense-paid trip to TFB’s annual meeting in Corpus Christi in December and represent Texas in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Collegiate Discussion Meet contest in February 2019.
As the runner-up, Schuster will also receive an expense-paid trip to TFB’s annual meeting.
The three finalists each received a $500 scholarship and plaque.