The American Farm Bureau Convention is just a few weeks away in Nashville, TN and preparations for the event are in full swing.  In addition to details regarding, registration, hotel accommodations and workshop and event arrangements, many Young Farmer and Rancher members are preparing to compete in national competitions for some seriously amazing prizes. 
MFBF will be sending, Sophi Davis, a rancher from Park County to compete in the Discussion Meet.  Sophi won the Discussion Meet held during the MFBF Annual Convention and was the recipient of a brand new Polaris Ranger.  She now has the opportunity to compete for even more prizes in Nashville—good luck, Sophi!
Eligible Young Farmer and Rancher members have the option to compete in three national contests; the Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture.  Each of these contests offer their own variety of unique opportunities and challenges and winners are generously rewarded.  The three winners of the YF&R Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitive events will each have their choice of a 2018 Ford truck and paid registration to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Reno, Nevada on Feb.16-19, 2018. The Achievement Award truck is provided courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance. The Discussion Meet truck is provided courtesy of Farm Bureau Financial Services, and the Excellence in Agriculture truck is provided courtesy of Country Financial.
The runners-up (second place) of the YF&R Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitive events will each receive a Case IH Farmall 50A tractor, courtesy of Case IH.
Third place finalists of the YF&R Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitive events will receive a Case IH 40” Combination Roll Cabinet & Top Chest and $500 Case IH parts card, courtesy of Case IH and $2,000 of Stanley Black & Decker merchandise (PROTO, Dewalt, Stanley, Lenox & Irwin) courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker. Fourth place finalists of the YF&R Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitive events will receive a Case IH 40” Combination Roll Cabinet & Top Chest and $500 Case IH parts card, courtesy of Case IH.
The winners will be determined during AFBF’s 99th Annual Convention on Jan. 5-10, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee!
These generous prize packages would not be possible without the wonderful sponsors who support the YF&R program.  Please join us in taking the time to sincerely thank these sponsors for their generosity:
 

If you’d like to learn more about the Discussion Meet and follow along with Sophi as she prepares for the national competition, be sure to tune into the MFBF Facebook Page each Friday for a Facebook Live feature video.  Sophi will be live, each Friday, to discuss one of the topics up for discussion in Nashville.  You’ll have the opportunity to hear her thoughts plus ask questions and share insights and advice.
 

Here's the schedule: 

Friday, Dec. 8: Farmers are a shrinking percentage of the population. How can Farm Bureau help first-generation farmers and ranchers get started in agriculture?

Friday, Dec. 15: With a growing demand for US farm products abroad, how can agriculture overcome public skepticism of foreign trade to negotiate new trade agreements and open new world markets?

Friday, Dec. 22: Formation of family farm corporations is common practice. How can Farm Bureau work to ensure that the public’s positive perception of the family farm is not lost?
Friday, Dec. 29: How can farmers and ranchers maintain their buying power with the continued trend of input supplier and provider consolidations?