Aina Perez, a senior at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, won the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Collegiate Discussion Meet, held during the organization’s annual Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Promotion (LEAP) Conference, January 30-31 in Bemidji.

Perez will represent Minnesota at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Collegiate Discussion Meet during the Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference, scheduled for March 13-16 in Portland. Perez represents Washington/Ramsey County Farm Bureau and is majoring in political science, global studies, sustainable agriculture, and applied economics.

Mary Lanoue, also a student at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, placed second in the competition.

In addition to Perez and Lanoue, campus-level winners included: Michael Vetsch and Wyatt Wilson (Ridgewater College), Mason Attig and Conner Tangen (Riverland College), Nathan Goettl and Jonathan Yokiel (South Central College), Lauren Hunt and Shantel Koering (Southwest Minnesota State University), and Cole Sundeen and Stephen McFadzen (University of Minnesota – Crookston).

Saturday’s competition saw Hunt, Koering, Lanoue, McFadzen, Perez, Sundeen, Vetsch and Wilson competed in the semifinal rounds. Lanoue, Perez, Sundeen and Vetsch advanced to the final four round.

The Collegiate Discussion Meet gives students from across Minnesota the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of critical agricultural issues, and their ability to engage in cooperative problem-solving and idea exchange. Last fall, a total of six campuses hosted meets, with a combined 56 students participating.