FARGO, N.D. — On January 21, a group of young farmers and ranchers will participate in a discussion meet and have a chance at winning a Polaris four-wheeler. The event will take place at the NDFB Farm and Ranch Conference, January 20-22, 2017 in Fargo at the Holiday Inn.
“This is a great competition. It focuses on current ag issues that young farmers face and it makes everyone think about solutions to help combat those issues,” said NDFB Director of Leadership Development Joey Myers.
The discussion meet is designed to simulate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each participant. This competition is evaluated on an exchange of ideas and information on a predetermined topic. Participants build basic discussion skills, develop a keen understanding of important agricultural issues and explore how groups can pool knowledge to reach consensus and solve problems.
The final four contestants will receive a Yeti cooler and the winner of the discussion meet will win a Polaris four-wheeler and advance to the national American Farm Bureau Federation Discussion Meet in January of 2018 that will take place in Nashville, Tennessee. The winner of the AFBF Discussion Meet will receive a new GMC or Chevy pickup.
Participants must be a NDFB member and can sign up to be a member at the Farm and Ranch Conference. For more information, you can call 701-298-2200 or email joey@ndfb.org.
Topics that will be covered at the discussion meet are:
1. American agriculture depends on a foreign-born labor force. How would you draft a national immigration policy?
2. How can we ensure that farmers and ranchers, not government agencies, are driving the management of natural resources?
3. How can we as farmers and ranchers maintain “ownership” of our intellectual and proprietary information? (Big data, unmanned aerial vehicles, unauthorized videos)
4. The nation’s tax policy has become increasingly complicated and cumbersome. What should a balanced and beneficial tax policy look like for agriculture?
5. Today’s food companies employ many tactics to gain a marketing edge. What is the purpose of food labels? How can Farm Bureau work to ensure that consumers understand the labels and have confidence in the safety and quality of their food?
The Farm and Ranch Conference is held by the NDFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.
— North Dakota Farm Bureau
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