By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Collegiate Discussion Meet offers college students the opportunity to strengthen their public speaking skills and critical thinking while engaging in conversations about issues impacting agriculture.

This year’s contest is set for April 17-18 at TFB’s Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Spring Conference in Waco.

The contest, which is hosted by TFB’s YF&R Advisory Committee, is a roundtable discussion that encourages college students to explore challenges and better understand issues facing all sectors of agriculture, including farming, ranching, agribusiness, the food supply chain and more.

Preliminary discussions covering two of five possible topics will take place Friday, April 17. The top four contestants will advance to the final round on Saturday, April 18.

“Collegiate Discussion Meet allows students to sharpen their communication skills, apply their knowledge and engage in constructive dialogue on issues impacting agriculture,” said Roger Hall, TFB YF&R coordinator. “The contest also opens the door to network and connect with folks across the state with common interests.”

To participate, contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, enrolled in an undergraduate degree program and have an interest in agriculture.

Professional speakers and former Collegiate Discussion Meet winners are not eligible to compete.

The winner will take home a $2,500 cash award and will receive expense-paid trips to the TFB Annual Meeting in December and the American Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet in March 2027.

The runner-up will receive a $1,500 cash prize and an expense-paid trip to the TFB Annual Meeting.

The remaining finalists will each receive $750.

Registration for the YF&R Spring Conference and Collegiate Discussion Meet is open through March 22.

Contest details, including topics and guidelines, along with registration fees and the sign-up link, can be found online at texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.

For questions related to the contest or the organization’s YF&R program, contact youngfarmers@txfb.org.

YF&R Spring Conference
College students participating in the Collegiate Discussion Meet can also attend the YF&R Spring Conference.

The conference will feature breakout sessions on estate planning and financial management, as well as barbecue and drone demonstrations. Other sessions will include a grant writing workshop, a panel on agricultural policy and guided tours of local agribusinesses.

For more information on the conference, visit texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.