MADISON — Alison Wedig, from Darlington, Wisconsin, took first place at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau State Collegiate Discussion Meet. Wedig is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Life Sciences Communication. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by GROWMARK. Wedig will compete in the National Farm Bureau Discussion Meet in Reno, NV February 16-19, 2018.
The State Competition took place on Sunday, December 3 at the Kalahari Resort during the 98th Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting and Young Farmer and Agriculturalist Conference. Wedig competed against Connor Willems from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Kati Kindschuh and Ashley Bergsbaken from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls; and Brenna Bays and Heidi Smith from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Bays took second and Kindschuh took third, both receiving $500 scholarships sponsored by the Waukesha Farm Bureau.
The contestants discussed how Farm Bureau can help first-generation farmers and ranchers get started in agriculture. Wedig thoughtfully guided the discussion and presented a clear action plan to address the question. “Getting started may be half the battle, but after today’s conversation I know that we can help first generation farmers get started within agriculture. For my action plan, I really want to be able to help farmers understand the resources that they have.”
The Collegiate Discussion Meet is a competition promoted by the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Agriculturist (YFA) Committee. The Collegiate Discussion Meet is designed to simulate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each committee member. The competitors will discuss pre-selected topics.
The Collegiate Farm Bureau is a University of Wisconsin – Madison student organization acting as a voice for agriculture – striving to educate the local college community about agriculture, the food sciences and agribusiness. The Collegiate Farm Bureau is affiliated with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.
— The Collegiate Farm Bureau is a University of Wisconsin – Madison
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