By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Issues facing farmers and ranchers were the focus of Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Collegiate Discussion Meet. Hannah Sims of Texas A&M University was named the winner of this year’s contest.
Sims and 18 other college students from across the state competed in Waco during the TFB Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Conference held March 29-31.
The event, which is hosted by TFB’s YF&R program, offers college students an opportunity to dive deeper into agricultural issues and network with students from other colleges.
“This is a unique contest that helps students develop their problem solving skills through research, collaborative discussion and personal experiences,” Melody Kneupper, TFB YF&R Advisory Committee chair, said. “They discussed issues facing farmers and ranchers and their role in agriculture’s future. They also learned more about the efforts of Texas Farm Bureau to protect the future of agriculture in our state.”
The contest was a roundtable discussion. Topics included food labeling and ways Farm Bureau can help first generation farmers and ranchers get involved in agriculture.
“I was really excited to discuss these issues with other college students,” Sims said. “This contest gave me an opportunity to meet other students, hear different perspectives and talk through how we can each be involved in the solutions and new ideas in agriculture.”
The finalists held a 25-minute conversation on the role of young farmers and ranchers in growing membership and member engagement for county, state and national Farm Bureau organizations.
They were scored based on their speaking skills, effective problem solving and cooperative communication with other contestants.
“It’s an honor to win this contest and to grow my skills as an advocate for agriculture,” Sims said. “But I think the best part was meeting students from the other schools. Our network grew this weekend, because we were able to make connections with students at other schools and with young farmers and ranchers across the state.”
Sims is a sophomore at Texas A&M where she is majoring in Agricultural Leadership and Development.
Haleigh Erramouspe of Texas Tech University was the runner-up in this year’s contest. The other two finalists were Melody Shannon of Oklahoma State University and Tyler Schuster of Tarleton State University.
Other students who participated include: Hadley Butler and M’Lynn Prewitt of Tarleton State University; Jacob Darnell and Sydney Reed of Stephen F. Austin State University; Bailey Hufnagle of Texas Tech University; Corie Depue, Marshall Halfmann, Norman Murchison, Payton Ramsey and Roy Ward of Texas A&M University; Troy McDonald of Texas A&M University-Commerce; Danyella Longoria of Hill Junior College; Sarah Winters of West Texas A&M University; and Kensley Rice of Sul Ross State University.
As the contest winner, Sims took home a $2,000 scholarship and a plaque. She will also receive an expense-paid trip to TFB’s annual meeting in San Antonio and represent Texas in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Collegiate Discussion Meet contest in March 2020.
As the runner-up, Erramouspe will also receive a $500 scholarship, plaque and and an expense-paid trip to TFB’s annual meeting.
The three finalists each received a $500 scholarship and plaque.