What is a Discussion Meet? An exercise in Cooperative Problem Solving: committee meeting style!

The strength of Farm Bureau is largely dependent upon its ability to involve members in analyzing their agricultural problems and deciding on the solutions, which best meet, their needs. The Discussion Meet is an exercise in cooperative problem solving involving a moderator, timekeeper, and several contestants who exchange ideas and viewpoints on a given topic.

The contest is open to young farmers, between the ages of 18 and 35.

This year, the Discussion Meet Round Robin Competition will be held on Thursday Nov. 1, at the Holiday Inn Syracuse/Liverpool on Electronics Parkway from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. A brief contestant orientation session will be held prior to the Round Robin Competition.

The top four contestants from the Round Robin Competition will become the finalists that compete at the State Annual Meeting. The finalists’ State Annual Meeting expenses for Tuesday, Dec. 4, which includes a hotel room and meals (lunch & dinner) will be paid for by the State YF&R Committee. The State Young Farmer Discussion Meet Finals will be held at 11:15 am on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the NYFB Annual Meeting in Niagara Falls.

The topics for this year’s Discussion Meet contest are:

1) In light of recent decisions affecting private property, what steps should be taken to secure the rights of property owners? Land Value Assessment; Zoning; Water/Mineral Rights; Production Practice Limitations.

2) What role will U.S. agriculture play in responding to today’s global issues? Promise and Challenge of Developing Economies; Trade Issues; Agriterrorism; Climate Changes and Natural Disasters.

3) What is the public perception of the family farm and how does that perception impact future agricultural policy discussion? Corporate Farms; Lifestyle Farms; Government Payments/Privacy; Media; Agritainment/ AgriTourism.

4) In today’s environment, with the increasing demand for water, how does rural America maintain a strong voice among competitors? Preserving Rights; Residential vs. Rural; Storage (reservoirs); Government Regulations/Laws; Proper Usage.

A list of reference information for the Discussion Meet topics is available on the New York Farm Bureau Web site, www.nyfb.org or call New York Farm Bureau at 1-800-342-4143 to have the list of reference information sent to you. The state winner will receive a $500 cash award from Dodge and a $500 cash award from the State Young Farmer & Rancher program. The three other finalists will also receive a cash award.

The NYFB State Discussion Meet winner will also receive an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting, Jan. 13-16, 2008 in New Orleans to compete for the national title. (Covered expenses include: approved airfare, hotel room for 5 nights at NYFB assigned hotel, AFBF registration, NYFB group event and meal allowance.)

The National Grand Prize winner of the AFBF YF&R Discussion Meet will be awarded a nicely equipped 2008 Dodge truck. The three AFBF Discussion Meet runners-up will each receive a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond courtesy of the Cummins Engine Company.

All Young Farmers interested in competing in the Discussion Meet must compete in the Round Robin Competition on Nov. 1. To receive registration material for the contest, contact your State YF District Representative, your Field Advisor, NYFB @ 1-800-342-4143 or visit www.nyfb.org. Registrations are due Oct. 19, 2007. Preregistered contestants will have lunch provided by the NYFB State YFR Committee. If you have questions regarding the Discussion Meet Round Robin Competition, contact Patti Dugan, Deputy Director of Organization at NYFB: 1-800-342-4143.