ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation worked with the Minnesota FFA to sponsor the 16th FFA/Farm Bureau Discussion Meet competition. Thirteen regional FFA finalists from across the state competed at the Minnesota State FFA Convention on April 22 at the Continuing Education Conference Center Building on the University of Minnesota campus.
Macy Rennpferd of the Maple River FFA Chapter won the competition and Molly Lindgren of the Staples-Motley FFA Chapter took second place. John Weston Barber of the Elbow Lake Area FFA Chapter and Laura Shoutz of the Litchfield FFA Chapter also advanced to the final round. Rennpferd and Lindgren both receive a college scholarship sponsored by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation.
Other regional winners participating in the Discussion Meet included: Dakota Cochran, Tracy Area FFA; Ashley Kortekaas, Grand Rapids FFA; Liz Krienke, HLWW (Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted); Tristan Rabbe, Martin County West FFA; Valerie Sauder, Pine Island FFA; Bailee Schiefelbein, Kimball FFA; Levi Schmidt, Belle Plaine FFA; Rebeckah Schroeder, Caledonia FFA; Jenna Skarphal, Forest Lake FFA.
Topics of discussion for this year’s event included:
- What are the roles and avenues that FFA and Farm Bureau can work together in addressing issues surrounding animal care and animal practices?
- How do Farm Bureau, FFA and agriculture education programs continue to help students develop their premier leadership, personal growth and career success?
- How can Farm Bureau and FFA work to ensure that the future of agriculture can meet the demand of producing food for a growing population?
Students participated in two semi-final rounds, and the top four advanced to a final round. Contestants were judged on their basic knowledge of critical farm issues and their ability to exchange ideas and information in a setting aimed at cooperative problem solving.
— Minnesota Farm Bureau
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