Any farmer knows there are plenty of obstacles and issues to overcome in the industry. That’s why boards and committees are set up to help create solutions, but before someone can make their voice heard, it’s important to have the communication tools and agricultural knowledge to bring ideas to the table. That’s where Michigan Farm Bureau steps in with their annual Discussion Meets.
A Discussion Meet is a competition that simulates a real-life committee meeting and each participant is expected to be active in the discussion. The topic is chosen ahead of time, so participants have time to prepare their thoughts and ideas.
There are three different levels of these competitions – high school, collegiate, and young farmers.
This fall, Elizabeth Wernette, an appraiser with GreenStone, helped a group of college students prepare for their collegiate competition – sharing the tips she learned when she competed in it in the past and the knowledge she has as a farmer and as a GreenStone appraiser of eight years.
“My representative from Michigan Farm Bureau that works in our county reached out to me to see if I would be willing to come and basically teach this group of students how to do a Discussion Meet and how it's useful in real life, and talk a little bit about my role too because they're always learning about other careers in agriculture as well. “
Elizabeth loved coaching and sharing about what she gets to do at GreenStone each day.
“It’s always nice to just get out there. My job in appraisal isn’t something that people have ever thought of or heard of. It’s nice to be explaining what I do and how it ties into agriculture.”
And Elizabeth was quite the coach! Several of her students moved on to the State Collegiate Discussion Meet at Michigan Farm Bureau’s annual meeting on November 29th.
“Their teacher told me he was just really grateful that I had taken the time to work with them because they were a lot more comfortable when they actually had to go do it in a formal setting.”
Elizabeth wasn’t just a coach this year, though. She also competed at her own level in the Young Farmer Discussion Meet – open for young adults up to 35 years old.
Elizabeth Wernette competing in her own discussion meet this fall.
This year, Elizabeth made it to the sweet sixteen round meaning she also got to compete at Michigan Farm Bureau’s annual meeting on November 29th.
“I actually did do the collegiate level one when I was in college about ten years ago at Michigan State University. Now I’m on the young farmer level. Essentially, the difference is just the level of the competition and who you are competing against. Typically, at the young farmer level, they’re asking a little bit more out of you. We have more years under our belt. “
In the end, Elizabeth says staying plugged into the agriculture community and keeping up-to-date on issues that affect growers is important to her, and even helps her in her role at GreenStone.
“I do genuinely find being involved in agriculture is actually helpful when doing this job because I do relate very well to the customers that I go out and see on their farms. I know how to talk the farm lingo.”
If you or someone you know may be interested in joining a Discussion Meet competition in the future, you can find more information here.
