June 2009

Discussion Meet topics help participants analyze issues

This year’s Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Discussion Meet participants may talk about how the United States has the safest food supply in the world.

That is one of four topics selected for the 2009 Young Farmer Discussion Meet. The other three are:

• how agricultural producers can reach out to the public for support;
• how young people can be encouraged to get and remain involved in agriculture; and
• how the gap between farmers and lawmakers can be bridged.

For Farm Bureau members ages 18 to 35 who are intrigued by these subjects, it’s not too late to join the competition.

“I would recommend this to everyone,” said 2008 state winner Jonathan Cavin of Lee County.

The competition is designed to build members’ ability to analyze agricultural issues and decide on solutions that best meet their collective needs. The Discussion Meet is not a debate and 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 determined by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

For details contact Ron Saacke, who can provide participants with resource materials, at 804-290-1032 or ron.saacke@vafb.com.

Semifinals will be held Aug. 1 at the Young Farmers Summer Expo, and the final round will be held Dec. 1 at the VFBF Annual Convention in Richmond.

The state-level winner will receive $500 from Dodge, a John Deere Gator utility vehicle from Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. and an expense-paid trip to the 2010 AFBF Annual Convention in January in Seattle.

Achievement Award, Excellence in Agriculture Award and Environmental Stewardship Award

Nominees were accepted earlier this year for three other VFBF Young Farmer recognition programs.

The Achievement Award recognizes producer members ages 18 to 35 for their efforts and leadership in agriculture. The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes members from the same age group who are actively involved in Farm Bureau and agriculture. The Environmental Stewardship Award, which was first presented in 2008, recognizes young farmers who use environmentally friendly practices on their farms.

The Achievement Award winner will receive $500 from Virginia Farm Credit Associations, $500 from Chesterfield County Farm Bureau and 200 hours’ or one year’s use of a Kubota tractor. 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 from Kubota, with lease payoff up to $5,000 from 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.

The Environmental Stewardship Award winner will receive $500 from Bayer CropScience, and the runner-up will receive $250. Both will get a sign to display at the entrance to their farms.

National competition

State-level VFBF award winners will receive travel packages to the AFBF Annual Convention and the VFBF Young Farmers Winter Expo. Runners-up also will receive travel packages to the AFBF convention.

The AFBF Achievement Award winner will receive a 2010 Dodge Ram pickup and paid registration to the 2010 Young Farmer & Rancher Leadership Conference Feb. 20–22 in Tulsa, Okla. Four runners-up will receive a Case IH Farmall 31 tractor.

The AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award winner will receive a 2010 Dodge Ram pickup and paid registration to the 2010 YF&R conference. Three runners-up will receive a $6,000 savings bond and Farm Boss chain saw from Stihl.

The AFBF Discussion Meet winner will receive a 2010 Dodge Ram pickup and paid registration to the 2010 YF&R conference. Three finalists will receive a $6,000 savings bond and a Farm Boss chain saw from Stihl.