The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) hosted a regional Collegiate Discussion Meet at Riverland Community College in Austin on Oct. 5. The Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation sponsored a $200 scholarship for the winner and a $100 scholarship for the runner-up for each regional Collegiate Discussion Meet.

This year’s regional winner was Leah Tidemann of Faribault in Rice County, who is studying agricultural science. The runner-up was Anthony Rasmusson of Glenville in Freeborn County, who is studying agricultural science.

Undergraduate students in agriculture from Riverland Community College took part in the meet. Students participated in two rounds of discussion and were judged on their basic knowledge of critical farm issues and their ability to exchange ideas and information in a setting aimed at cooperative problem solving. The two topics discussed by contestants were:

•As the Voice of Agriculture, how can Farm Bureau be more inclusive of all agriculture and production practices? This includes but is not limited to, women in agriculture, organic production, fresh produce, forestry and aquaculture.

•Technology is one of the driving forces for innovation and advancement in agriculture. How can agriculture attract the best and brightest minds from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) into agricultural careers?

Tidemann and Rasmusson will advance to the state Collegiate Discussion meet to be held on Saturday, Nov. 17 as part of the 100th MFBF Annual Meeting at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington. The state winner receives an expense paid trip from the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation sponsored by Christensen Farms to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Collegiate Discussion Meet in March 2019. The winner also receives a $500 scholarship and the runner-up a $250 scholarship from the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation sponsored by Gislason & Hunter.