Activities designed to encourage leadership development and strengthen communication skills for local youth were recognized by Texas Farm Bureau.

Montgomery County Farm Bureau (CFB) hosted the first Youth Discussion Meet and Public Speaking Contest at the Montgomery County Fair.

For these leadership development efforts, Montgomery CFB was one of three county Farm Bureaus recognized by Texas Farm Bureau during the organization’s 90th Annual Meeting Dec. 1-3 in Frisco. The award, County Activities of Excellence, recognizes unique, volunteer-driven programming by county Farm Bureaus.

Montgomery CFB was also one of 24 county Farm Bureaus nationwide to receive a County Activities of Excellence Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).

The events were inspired by Texas Farm Bureau’s Discussion Meet that is held annually for young farmers and ranchers.

Students ages nine to 18 learned more about agriculture and problem solving through the contests.

“The workforce has placed an urgent demand to equip the next generation of agricultural advocates,” Mason Parish, Montgomery CFB board member, said. “Montgomery County Farm Bureau identified a gap in youth development and urban outreach. Inspired by the YF&R Discussion Meet contest, the county designed the Youth Discussion Meet and Prepared Public Speaking Contests, equipped with pre-, mid- and post-training experiences, to be delivered at the most prominent agricultural event in the area.”

There were 63 students representing various organizations—including FFA, 4-H, Debate, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts—who participated and received personalized feedback. The students practiced written and oral communication, critical thinking and research—all vital skills to help prepare the next generation.

“We wanted to create an activity to support the Farm Bureau’s mission of being a ‘unified voice of agriculture,’ so we decided to design the Youth Discussion Meet and Public Speaking Contests to prepare the next generation of agricultural ambassadors in the county,” said Shannon Parish, a Montgomery CFB member who played a large role in the events.

The contests not only provided a learning environment for participants, but fair attendees, too. Shannon noted over 75,000 people attended the Montgomery County Fair, and the contests helped build awareness for Farm Bureau and agriculture in the county.

Montgomery CFB displayed a booth at the TFB 90th Annual Meeting in Frisco. The county organization was recognized on stage and received a $1,250 cash award and a County Activities of Excellence plaque.

Montgomery CFB will also be highlighted during AFBF’s Annual Convention and Trade Show Jan. 19-24 in Salt Lake City, Utah.