YF&R National Competitive Events

Achievement Award

The Achievement Award recognizes Young Farmers & Ranchers who have excelled in their farm or ranch and have honed their leadership abilities to superiority. Participants are involved in production agriculture with a majority of their income subject to normal production risks. Judges evaluate competitor’s excellence in management, growth and scope of their enterprise and self-initiative that have been displayed throughout the farm or ranch. Click here for a sample copy of the Achievement Award application.

Excellence in Agriculture Award

The Excellence in Agriculture Award spotlights young Farm Bureau members who are agricultural enthusiasts but have not earned a majority of their income from an owned production agriculture enterprise in the past three years. Competitors are evaluated on their understanding of agricultural issues, leadership experiences and achievement, and their ability to communicate their agricultural story. Click here for a sample copy of the Excellence in Agriculture application.

Discussion Meet

The American Farm Bureau Federation Discussion Meet competitive event simulates a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each participant. This competition is evaluated on an exchange of ideas and information on a pre-determined topic. Participants build basic discussion skills, develop a keen understanding of important agricultural issues and explore how groups can pool knowledge to reach consensus and solve problems. There also is a special Collegiate level Discussion Meet open only to college students. Click here for a sample copy of the Discussion Meet application.

The topics for each round of the Discussion Meet are based on questions that are released in the spring. Having these questions in advance gives competitors the opportunity to research each topic, find appropriate real-world examples to support their ideas and to develop their opening statements. Click here for the Discussion Meet questions for 2024.

Prospective competitors may find it helpful to view previous Discussion Meet competitions. The following links are for the final rounds of several previous Discussion Meet competitions:

2023 Final Four – https://player.vimeo.com/video/807468921?h=e2a9485f72

2022 Final Four – https://vimeo.com/754741693

2021 Final Four (virtual) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIEF6r0Zj5c

2020 Final Four – https://vimeo.com/383370177

2017 Final Four – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3e7d98g1d4

2017 Collegiate Final Four – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42chfubcEuM

2014 Collegiate Final Four – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM1jqcyqvj0

2012 Final Four – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSr89YfyV0c

2011 Final Four – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq1uxwokt_I

2009 Final Four – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiRvUSeS0Kw