The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Committee held the preliminary rounds of the Discussion Meet competition Jan. 30-31 during the Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Promotion (LEAP) Conference at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.

Nineteen competitors participated in the preliminary rounds, with eight semifinalists advancing to the final rounds. The finals will be held during the MFBF Annual Meeting in November in Minnetonka.

Finalists include Jeanne Anderson (Chippewa County Farm Bureau), Emily Bosch (Chippewa County Farm Bureau), Jesse Haarmann (Steele County Farm Bureau), Philip Horsager (Chippewa County Farm Bureau), Lily Krona (West Polk County Farm Bureau), Mary Lanoue (Lyon County Farm Bureau), Braden Lertourneau (Washington/Ramsey County Farm Bureau), and Kloe Wadd (Waseca County Farm Bureau). 

The Discussion Meet evaluates participants on their knowledge of key agricultural issues and their ability to exchange ideas and collaborate in a problem-solving environment, highlighting the leadership skills of agriculture’s next generation of leaders.

The winner of the November competition will represent Minnesota at the national YF&R Discussion Meet during the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention, scheduled for Jan. 8-13, 2027, in Charlotte, North Carolina.