The Discussion Meet is a competitive event promoted by the Alabama Farmers Federation Young Farmers Committee. The Farmers Federation’s strength depends on its members’ abilities to analyze agricultural issues and decide on solutions that best meet their needs. The competitive event is designed to simulate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each committee member. 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. A successful participant is a productive thinker rather than an emotional persuader. He/she will assist the group in creating ways to implement the solutions discussed and highlight Farm Bureau and the Farmers Federation’s involvement in those actions/steps. The state winner will represent Alabama in American Farm Bureau’s national competition in San Antonio, Texas in January 2025.

Eligibility
•Participant shall be an Alabama Farmers Federation member between the ages of 18 and 35 in good standing with his/her county Farmers Federation. The individual shall not have reached his/her 36th birthday by Jan. 31, 2025.

•Participant must be actively engaged in agriculture.

•Participant may only compete in one national YF&R Competitive Event per year.

•Past and present members of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and/or their spouse are not eligible to compete.

•Past state Discussion Meet winners and/or previous AFBF National Discussion Meet competitors are not eligible to compete.

•Current employees of county, state and/or American Farm Bureaus or the Alabama Farmers Federation and their affiliates are not eligible to compete.

•Professional speakers are not eligible to compete. Professional speakers are those who have received a fee, royalty or honorarium for speaking (i.e., paid speaking appearances or speaking engagements) within 24 months prior to this annual competition. This excludes reimbursement for travel or expenses attendant to the appearance.

•Applications received without membership numbers and/or all signatures will not be accepted.

Deadline

Deadline for entry is June 1, 2024. No late applications will be accepted. All applicants must upload a signed copy of the verification form below. Please contact hmcbrayer@alfafarmers.org for any questions.
***NOTE- before beginning, please ensure that you have the signed verification form, available here or at alfayoungfarmers.org. Verification form must be uploaded before submitting.