May 2008

Discussion Meet coming up; nominations are in for two other Young Farmer honors

Interested members can still sign up to participate in this year’s Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer Discussion Meet.

The competition is designed to build members’ ability to analyze agricultural issues and decide on solutions that best meet their needs. Held like a committee meeting rather than a debate, the meet emphasizes active participation from each person involved.

Participants are judged on their ability to listen, share insights, offer constructive criticism and work toward consensus on agricultural issues. Discussion topics are determined each year by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Rose Bradshaw of Southampton County won the 2007 VFBF Discussion Meet. She said being involved in the program was a positive experience that allowed her to develop leadership and thinking skills and better prepare for meetings.

“It helps you be aware of major issues affecting agriculture,” she said. “The questions are always the hot topics for that year. ... The topics relate to everyone and really pull out unifying issues in the agriculture industry.”

How the aging infrastructure of the United States can support transportation of agricultural commodities in the future, and how land grant universities remain at the forefront of an ever-changing agricultural environment are among the 2008 topics.

The Discussion Meet is open to producer members between the ages of 18 and 35. Practice rounds and semifinals will be held Aug. 2 at the Young Farmer Summer Expo, and the final round will be held Dec. 2 at the VFBF Annual Convention at The Homestead.

The state-level winner will receive $500 from Dodge, a John Deere Gator utility vehicle and an expense-paid trip to the AFBF Annual Convention in January 2009 in San Antonio.

For an entry form and participant resource manual, visit the “Contests & Awards” section of the VFBF Web site at www.vafb.com or contact the Women’s and Young Farmer Department at 804-290-1031 or pat.bradley@vafb.com.

Achievement Award, Excellence in Agriculture Award

More than 100 nominations were accepted by the February deadline for the 2008 Young Farmer Achievement Award and Excellence in Agriculture Award.

The Achievement Award recognizes producer members ages 18 to 35 for their efforts and leadership in their chosen occupation. The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes members from the same age group who are actively involved in Farm Bureau and agriculture.

Prizes will be confirmed later this year; however, the winner of the Achievement Award will receive $500 courtesy of Virginia Farm Credit Associations; $500 courtesy of Chesterfield Farm Bureau; and the use of a Great Plains Drill 50A for 30 days or 200 hours or one year’s use of the Kubota tractor of his or her choice. The runner-up will receive a chain saw from Stihl and the use of a John Deere backhoe from James River Equipment.

The winner of the Excellence in Agriculture Award will receive a one-year lease of a Kubota utility vehicle courtesy of Kubota with lease payoff up to $5,000, courtesy of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., and a chain saw from Stihl.

Winners of both contests will receive $500 from Dodge and an expense-paid trip to the AFBF convention, where they will compete at the national level.

National competition

State-level VFBF award winners will receive travel packages to four AFBF and VFBF events.

The AFBF Achievement Award winner will receive a 2009 Dodge Ram 3500 and a $1,000 product voucher from Valvoline. Four runners-up will receive a Case IH DX compact tractor and a $500 product voucher from Valvoline.

The AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award winner will receive a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. Four runners-up will receive a $6,000 savings bond sponsored by Stihl and a Stihl Farm Boss chain saw.

The AFBF Discussion Meet winner will receive a 2009 Dodge Ram 2500. Three runners-up will receive a $6,000 savings bond from Stihl and a Stihl Farm Boss chain saw.