First-time makeup YF Discussion Meet Sept. 4

Did you miss your district’s Young Farmer Discussion Meet? Or participate and face stiff competition? It’s not too late to get in on the discussion again, or even for the first time!

Join Young Farmers from across the state in a virtual Discussion Meet, 6 p.m. Sept. 4, to discuss farm portfolio diversification and take your shot at getting into the State Young Farmer Discussion Meet.

Participants who advance not only receive a prize for competing in the state contest, but the winner takes home $2,000 and a trip to the national competition in San Antonio at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2025 Annual.

The virtual competition is open to all Young Farmer members, age 18 but not yet 36 before Jan. 31, 2025. The top three competitors will move on to the state preliminary rounds in November. (If more than 10 participants, four will move on). 

Ready? Register here by Aug. 28.

Here’s this year’s district-level discussion topic: Young farmers and ranchers are finding they need to diversify their farm portfolio. What are some ways young farmers and ranchers can utilize diversification to explore new revenue sources? How can Farm Bureau support YF&R members as they strengthen their farm and ranch businesses?

All the rules from district contests will apply and can be found in the guidebook. If multiple rounds are needed, the backup question can also be found in the guidebook on page 12.

Never heard of a Discussion Meet? 

Discussion meets are a leadership competition designed to help Young Farmers refine their conversational skills — vital skills that come in handy next time you want to chime in at a county Farm Bureau board meeting, school board or just around the kitchen table.

Both the makeup Discussion Meet and the preliminary rounds of the state contest will take place virtually on Zoom, while the Sweet Sixteen and Final Four rounds will take place in person at MFB’s 2024 State Annual Meeting, Dec. 3.

More information on Discussion Meets can always be found at www.michfb.com/yfdiscussionmeet or the Michigan Farm Bureau YouTube Discussion Meet 101 playlist.