The Hoosier Farmer

Registration is now open for the Indiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ag Professionals Discussion Meet.

This year’s competition will take place Dec. 12-13 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Ag Gathering in French Lick.

The Discussion Meet is an annual competition designed to help young farmers and ag professionals learn how to effectively share and build upon ideas that foster understanding and collaboration to address important agricultural issues. The competition simulates a committee meeting where each participant is expected to be actively involved in the discussion.

Registration for the 2025-2026 Discussion Meet is available through the general registration link for the Indiana Ag Gathering (formerly INFB State Convention).

To find out the eligibility requirements and to register, as well as to find out more information about the Indiana Ag Gathering, follow the personalized registration link emailed to you. If you don’t have an email address or didn’t receive an email, visit infb.infb.org/AgGathering.

The state Discussion Meet winner will receive $4,000 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 in Anaheim, California, Jan. 9-14. The three runners-up will receive a $1,000 cash prize from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance and a plaque; all four finalists will be recognized during the Indiana Ag Gathering.

A variety of materials are available to help potential competitors prepare for the competition. AFBF hosted Zoom trainings, which were recorded and are now available on INFB’s website at infb.infb.org/YFAPDM.

The discussion questions for both the state and national contests have already been selected and can be found at the same website. The topics are:

• Responsible growth in communities.
• Effectively leveraging digital engagement to connect Farm Bureau members with their local, state and national officials.
• Farm Bureau’s role in helping to facilitate the smooth transition of land and capital from one generation to the next.
• How to effectively advance environmental stewardship while balancing the needs of farms.
• Ways to keep members fully informed about the savings on products and services available to them through their Farm Bureau membership.

INFB has had some success at the national level. In 2024, Kylie Wagoner of Henry County made it to the Final Four, while Rachel Hyde of Hamilton County and Amie Osborn of Miami County reached the Final Four in 2023 and 2020, respectively.

Logan Springstun (left) and Jared Thomas compete in the 2024 YF&AP Discussion Meet, which was eventually won by Springstun.

Contact Editor

Robert Herrington

(317) 692-7871

RHerrington@infb.org