Aina Perez of the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities finished in the top sixteen of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Collegiate Discussion Meet, held March 13-16 during the AFBF YF&R Conference in Portland. 

 

“Competing in the AFBF Collegiate Discussion Meet was a rewarding experience.” Perez says, “I was grateful to represent Minnesota, and I learned so much about other states and the issues farmers are facing.”

 

This year’s competition featured 36 participants from across the country. The AFBF awards scholarships to all Collegiate Discussion Meet participants in partnership with the CHS Foundation, with each competitor receiving a $100 scholarship for advancing to the national competition. Students who reach the Sweet 16 round earn an additional $500 scholarship. Final Four competitors each receive a total of $2,100 in scholarships, while the national champion receives a $3,100 scholarship. In total, the CHS Foundation contributes $18,500 to fund national-level scholarships for this event. 

 

The Collegiate Discussion Meet simulates a committee meeting in which participants engage in open dialogue, collaboratively analyze issues, and work towards solutions on key agricultural topics. Perez qualified to represent Minnesota at the national level after winning the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities competition in the fall and the state collegiate competition in January.