Piper Merritt of Owasso, Oklahoma, was the winner of the high school discussion meet held by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers. Dalton Miller, Joseph Pfeiffer, Katie Symes and Parker Terrell were the other four finalists. The contest was held in conjunction with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau 74th Annual Meeting Nov. 13-15 in Oklahoma City.
The high school discussion meet allows high school students to participate in an event that promotes basic discussion skills, develops an understanding of agricultural issues and explores how groups can pool knowledge to solve problems. This event is designed to build crucial skills to aid in analyzing problems and deciding solutions to best meet one’s needs.
“We’re excited to help prepare these students to discuss agricultural issues with the public,” said Zac Harris, state YF&R chair. “Agriculture needs these young people to help tell its story.”
Merritt is a student at Owasso High School in Owasso. She is active in the Owasso FFA Chapter, which she said helped prepare her for this contest.
“FFA gives me a really unique opportunity to speak on a variety of issues in a public setting,” Merritt said. “One of my speeches was actually over the Right to Farm, State Question 777.”
Merritt said the event was an excellent way to discuss current agricultural issues with her peers.
“I loved it,” she said. “It was so awesome to be able to sit and speak with younger FFA members and also to have a healthy discussion about issues that are currently plaguing the agriculture industry.”
Merritt received a MacBook Air laptop computer as the winner of the discussion meet. Miller, Pfeiffer, Symes and Terrell all received an iPad Mini as the remaining top four finalists.
