Stay Informed

Indiana Farm Bureau is working to make it easier to participate in the Young Farmers & Ag Professionals Discussion Meet by offering a package of materials designed to better prepare contestants for the competition.

Designed to help young Farm Bureau members learn how to share and build upon ideas that address important agricultural issues, the discussion meet simulates a committee meeting where each participant is expected to be actively involved in the discussion.

The winner receives a $4,000 cash prize from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance and an all-expenses paid trip to compete at the American Farm Bureau Federation Discussion Meet at the AFBF annual convention, to be held Jan. 7-12, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia (pending COVID-19 restrictions at the time of the event).

INFB’s website should be a prospective competitor’s first stop because it offers many resources to help participants prepare, including:

• Frequently asked questions.
• The discussion topics for the 2021-22 competitions at both the state and national levels.
• Eligibility requirements.
• Video of previous meets.
• Tips and best practices.

“I am very excited about the resources we’ll be able to offer,” said Katie Wilson, who chairs the State YF&AP Committee’s subcommittee on awards and competitions. “We’ll be coming out with more, and I think it will be very valuable to our participants.”

Another source for preparation materials, Wilson said, is The Hoosier Farmer. One upcoming issue will feature interviews with past judges who will talk about what they look for and how they do their scoring.

“We just want to make sure these competitors have all the tools necessary, and what better resource than past judges?” Wilson said.

Also planned are an article that will offer tips and tricks and one that will include interviews with past Final Four participants.

Links to some of these materials also will be distributed through social media, Wilson added.

The first two rounds of this year’s discussion meet will be held remotely on Aug. 21, while the final two rounds will be held at INFB’s 2021 convention, planned for Dec. 9-11 in French Lick.