2010 Young Farmers & Ranchers
State Committee

The Young Farmers & Ranchers Program provides opportunities
for young men and women to earn recognition for their achievements
in agriculture!

YF&R Leadership Conference

YF&R Achievement Award Contest

Young farmers and ranchers age 35 and under can enter the Missouri YF&R Achievement Award Contest.   ► Application & Entry Form

After receiving applications, judges narrow the field down to five entries. Those five prepare a more extensive entry form and a new set of judges choose the winner, along with two runners-up. The winners are recognized at the MFB Annual Meeting each December.

The winner of the state YF&R Achievement Award receives $500 from the MFB Foundation for Agriculture and $500 from Dodge. In addition to cash prizes, the winner receives a year's free use of a Kubota M Series diesel tractor (350 hour limit) with the option to purchase at the end of the year. The runners-up also receive cash awards and plaques. The state winner moves on to compete in the national contest at the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting each January for a chance to win a brand new Dodge pickup and receives three nights lodging at the national convention hotel.

If you have any inquiries about the Achievement Award, please contact the MFB Field Services Department.

Deadline for the YF&R Discussion Meet contest is November 12, 2010. Farm Bureau members must enter the contest through their county Farm Bureau. The county secretary will email to Field Services the entrant’s name, address, phone number, county of residence, date of birth and membership number.

Those selected will compete at the MFB Annual Meeting at Tan-Tar-A in December. Contestants will discuss one of five topics:

1. Farm Bureau is the leading voice for agriculture but not the only voice. How do we encourage other agricultural groups to work together for the common good of our industry?

2. Government has always been involved in agriculture. Is the current level of government involvement a net hindrance or a net benefit to agriculture?

3. How will food movements such as “foodie” and “locavore,” which are focused primarily in urban centers, influence national agricultural production and federal programs?

4. Has technology become essential for American farmers? Should Farm Bureau influence and encourage all generations of farmers, ranchers and agriculturalists to embrace technological opportunities? 

5. Given recent challenges, such as volatile food prices and limited world food supplies, do American consumers adequately appreciate the importance of US-produced food? Will American consumers consider American agriculture important to our security in the future?

The State Discussion Meet winner receives $500 from the MFB Foundation for Agriculture and $500 from Dodge.  In addition to cash prizes, the winner receives a year's free use (150 hour limit) of a Case-IH Farmall tractor. The winner moves on to compete at the national level during the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting each January for a chance to win a brand new Dodge pickup and receives three nights lodging at the national convention hotel.

Excellence in Agriculture Award

This award is designed as an opportunity for young farmers and ranchers, while actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture, to earn recognition. Participants will be judged on their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other civic, service and community organizations.  ►Rules & Entry Form

THE STATE WINNER WILL RECEIVE:

• A $500 cash award from the RAM Truck Division of Chrysler Corporation.
• A $500 cash award from the Missouri Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.
• Expense paid trip to the AFBF Convention in Atlanta, GA, January 2011, and a chance to win a 2011 RAM 4x4 pickup.

RULES OF ELIGIBILITY ARE:

1. Must be a Farm Bureau member in good standing with their county Farm Bureau.
2. Must not have derived a majority of their income from an owned production agriculture enterprise for the past three years.
3. Competitors can be either an individual or a married couple (husband and wife) and shall be at least 18 and no more than 35 years of age as of January 31, 2011. If married, husband and wife may apply as individuals or as co-applicants.
4. Past state Achievement Award winners are not eligible to compete.
5. Entries are due by November 2, 2010. 

Collegiate Farm Bureau is an excellent opportunity for today's college agriculture students who will become the agriculture leaders of tomorrow. The first Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter in the nation began in 1986 at the University of Missouri. Today there are chapters at six of our state universities. (Sanctioned by Missouri Farm Bureau)

University of Missouri - Columbia
Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University
University of Central Missouri
Truman State University
Northwest Missouri State University

Purposes of the Collegiate Farm Bureau:

• To foster active participation in legislative and lobbying activities
• To gain information about the work of farm organizations
• To keep up to date on agriculture policies and activities
• To promote the profession of ag-related occupations

Join your university’s Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter and learn more about the exciting opportunities available now and in the future. And, have some fun at the same time.

Club activities include:

• Monthly meetings with top-notch speakers
• Annual Legislative Tour to State Capitol
• Social activities & service projects
• Participation in Farm Bureau policy process
• Interaction with local county Farm Bureaus
• Hosting Ag Forums
• Discussion Meet

Collegiate Farm Bureau Discussion Meet

The Discussion Meet is designed to simulate a committee meeting with questions, answers and statements coming from any person at any time.  Contestants discuss preselected topics as an exercise in cooperative problem solving, with discussion and active participation expected from each committee member.

Contestants in the 2010 contest will discuss one of five topics:

1. Farm Bureau is the leading voice for agriculture but not the only voice. How do we encourage other agricultural groups to work together for the common good of our industry?

2. Government has always been involved in agriculture. Is the current level of government involvement a net hindrance or a net benefit to agriculture?

3. How will food movements such as “foodie” and “locavore,” which are focused primarily in urban centers, influence national agricultural production and federal programs?

4. Has technology become essential for American farmers? Should Farm Bureau influence and encourage all generations of farmers, ranchers and agriculturalists to embrace technological opportunities? 

5. Given recent challenges, such as volatile food prices and limited world food supplies, do American consumers adequately appreciate the importance of US-produced food? Will American consumers consider American agriculture important to our security in the future?

Contestants must be a member of the Collegiate Farm Bureau Chapter at their university and must be classified as an undergraduate student.

Individuals placing first in a previous state level discussion meet are ineligible to compete.

Awards

Prizes at the state level include one night's lodging and banquet tickets at the Missouri Farm Bureau Annual Meeting for each chapter winner. First place earns $300, second place $200 and third $100. In addition, the first and second place winners will have expenses paid to represent Missouri at the Collegiate Farm Bureau National Contest in February. The national winner receives $2,500, with runners-up earning $1,000 and all other participants receiving $250 each.

Contest Timeline

From September 1 - November 13, Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters conduct discussion meets on campus to determine chapter representatives for the state contest held the first weekend in December at the Missouri Farm Bureau Annual Meeting at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach, Mo.

In February, the Collegiate Farm Bureau national contest takes place in Orlando, Florida.