On October 15, FFA members took a cruise down to SCC to compete in the Farm Bureau discussion. Upon arrival, the members waited in line to sign up for a variety of events, including the Farm Bureau discussion.

During the Farm Bureau event, members were paired with three other FFA members from different programs. They engaged in discussions on three key topics. The first topic was, “How can Farm Bureau and FFA work together to boost member engagement and increase participation across all age groups within their communities?”

New Ulm FFA Advisor Jeff Nelson said, “I felt my members did well considering the short notice. We always have areas to improve on, but I believe we will return next year and give it our best effort.”

The next topic for discussion was, “Minnesota agriculture is more than cows and corn. What can Farm Bureau and FFA do to encourage diversification of products and support producers entering specialized markets?”

New Ulm FFA Advisor Holly Covington said, “I think the second topic was the hardest because there are so many ways and ideas that could all work. And it’s up to the judge’s opinion on what was the best idea brought up.”

The final topic was, “Agriculture is an ever-changing industry. How can FFA and Farm Bureau work toward preparing students from all backgrounds for a future career in agriculture?”

New Ulm FFA historian, junior Adam Mages, said, “I felt I could have prepared a little more. I didn’t expect to need to be so quick-witted and have a general knowledge of nearly every agriculture-related subject.”

For each topic, members had 15 minutes to discuss and develop an individual solution. They were then judged on their public speaking skills and the ideas they presented.