By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Challenges in agriculture were the focus of Texas Farm Bureau’s 2023 Collegiate Discussion Meet. Ryan Heitschmidt from West Texas A&M University was named the winner of this year’s contest following a discussion on agricultural tax policies.
The Collegiate Discussion Meet is designed to replicate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each student.
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, Heitschmidt and 31 other college students participated in the competition.
“This contest helps college students develop problem-solving skills through research and collaborative discussion, as well as learn more about agriculture and Farm Bureau,” McKenna Bush, TFB Youth Outreach coordinator, said. “TFB is the largest general farm and ranch organization in the state, and we welcome active participation and ideas from college students to help grow agriculture’s future.”
The remaining four finalists included:
- Tyson Schneider, West Texas A&M University
- Clayton Stevenson, West Texas A&M University
- Catherine Hall, Tarleton State University
Participants were scored based on their speaking skills, effective problem solving and cooperative communication with other contestants.
As the top contestant, Heitschmidt took home a $2,500 cash prize and a plaque. He will also represent Texas in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2024 Collegiate Discussion Meet contest.
Heitschmidt is studying animal science and serves as the vice president of the WTAMU Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter. He is also a member of the WTAMU Meat Judging and Meat Science Quiz Bowl teams. He was runner up in the 2022 Collegiate Discussion Meet and won the TFB District 2 Free Enterprise Speech contest.
Heitschmidt plans to pursue a career in meat science and later establish a local meat packing and processing business.
Schneider, the runner-up, received a $1,500 cash prize and a plaque.
Schneider is majoring in agricultural business and economics with a minor in plant and soil sciences. He is active in WTAMU Collegiate Farm Bureau and is a member of the WTAMU Crops Judging and Quiz Bowl teams.
The remaining finalists—Stevenson and Hall—each received a $750 cash prize and plaque.
Stevenson is pursuing a degree in animal science at WTAMU Collegiate Farm Bureau and previously participated in TFB’s Free Enterprise Contest and virtual Youth Leadership Conference.
Hall is majoring in agricultural services and development with a minor in agricultural economics. She is a member of the Tarleton Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter and participates in the Sisterhood Bible Study.
Other participants included:
- Jaden Woodyard, WTAMU
- Kyleigh Hemken, Tarleton State
- Breanna Beckendorf, Tarleton State
- Niquole Knapp, WTAMU
- Abby Law, Tarleton State
- Jayci Mekelburg, WTAMU
- Kelli Ressman, Tarleton State
- Hayden Holwick, WTAMU
- Katie Bird, Tarleton State
- Olivia Rosenbaum, Tarleton State
- Jacob Byers, Texas Tech
- Catherine Hicks, Tarleton State
- Anna Bonnet, WTAMU
- Jayda Johnson, Tarleton State
- Kaitlyn Collins, Tarleton State
- Harrison Sides, Tarleton State
- Coalton LaFoy, Tarleton State
- Carter Crabtree, WTAMU
- George Graybill, WTAMU
- Jett Mizer, WTAMU
- Kacyn Kessinger, WTAMU
- Leanna Sarman, WTAMU
- Will Hauerland, WTAMU
- Wyatt Stecklein, WTAMU
- Zachary Rich, WTAMU
- McKinley Lee, Texas A&M
- Macie Miller, Texas Tech
- Marshal Gillit, Texas Tech
- Taylor Gillit, Texas Tech
- Tirey Bow, WTAMU
- Kaitlin Lavender, Tarleton State
Learn more about TFB opportunities for collegiate students at texasfarmbureau.org/collegiate.
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