The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee is set to host a high school, collegiate and YF&R discussion meet during the organization’s annual meeting Nov. 4-5 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Norman.
The High School Discussion Meet is set for Thursday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m., and the collegiate and YF&R members will participate in a joint discussion meet on Friday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m.
Below are four things to know in preparing for the event.
1. Discuss, do not debate.
The discussion meet is a panel forum, allowing participants the ability to discuss top agriculture issues in a meeting-style format. Participants should discuss the topic and arrive to a conclusion that will provide a solution to the question posed.
2. Come to a solution.
The event is designed to resemble a committee meeting, in which participants address a specific topic to come to a solution. All participants should contribute to the discussion, and participants should work cooperatively to develop ideas and solutions.
3. Use facts in the discussion.
While preparing for the event, read and follow agriculture news, and use reliable sources to include facts during the event. Participants using facts and figures will be better able to support their point of view.
4. Prepare for opening and closing statements.
Each participant will have the opportunity to provide a 30-second opening statement and a 1-minute closing statement covering the topic, which should be directed to the audience. While it is important to prepare for each of these statements, participants should not make the statement sound rehearsed.
The top four high school participants will receive a scholarship ranging from $1,500 to $250. he collegiate winner will receive an all-expense paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The YF&R winner will receive an all-expense paid trip the AFBF Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, to compete in the AFBF Discussion Meet, in addition to a John Deere Z355E ZTrak Mower.
Register for either discussion meet by Oct. 29 on OKFB’s application center. For more information, contact Zac Swartz at (405) 523-2300.
