For half a century, young Farm Bureau members have faced off in a speaking competition meant to test not only competitors’ command of current issues affecting Michigan agriculture, but also their ability to deliver persuasive, well-considered arguments in a distinctly non-argumentative style. The organization’s Discussion Meets emphasize diplomacy and civil discourse over blunt wins and losses, a fundamental tenet emphasized in every moderator’s opening remarks: “This is a discussion, not a debate.”
Recent years have seen the expansion of Discussion Meets into even younger segments of the agricultural community — high school and college students involved in 4-H, FFA and the Collegiate Farm Bureau — further solidifying their role as gateway activities effective at attracting young people’s passion, competitive spirit and enthusiasm for the future of agriculture.
Both the 2025 high school and Collegiate Discussion Meets culminated at Michigan Farm Bureau’s 106th Annual Meeting, Dec. 2-3 in Grand Rapids. The final rounds of both competitions saw contestants talking through issues including rural land use, involvement in leadership programs, and balancing environmental stewardship vs. profitability.
Discussion around the land-use topic showcased every participant’s understanding of the complex pressures today’s farmers face in preserving their livelihood as the primary use of rural land. Decades of urbanization and sprawl — followed by industrial decline and residential erosion — have created in Michigan complicated landscapes that blur the traditional identities of rural and urban environments.
One semifinal group spent a good amount of time on the promise of urban agriculture and the looming threat of continued alternative fuel developments — especially large arrays of solar panels — to productive cropland.
“Renewable energy really is a double-edged sword,” said Capac FFAmember Tommy Clowers, responding to the topic broached by Olivia Searls, an FFA member at the Branch Area Careers Center. Searls noted solar “farms” in her area are gobbling up agricultural land at a worrisome clip.
The same group spent even more time discussing the promise of urban farming in transforming Michigan’s southeastern manufacturing corridor from a region of blight to one of progressive and innovative self-sufficiency.
Clowers was among six contestants advancing to the final round, alongside Ryder Cornett of the Jonesville FFA; Rylee Miller, Ionia FFA; Sydney Protzman, Laker FFA; Ellise Wedge, Hopkins FFA; and Katie Welter, Huron View 4-H.
After a final discussion round — this one addressing young people’s role in advancing consumers’ agricultural awareness — it was Ionia County’s Rylee Miller who came out on top, besting the final field to earn $250 in first-place prize money. Earning the $150 second-place prize was Laker Sydney Protzman.
Other competitors in the state-level semi-final rounds were Harper-Jane Adkins of the Washtenaw County 4-H; Emily Bianco, Bay-Arenac FFA; Frankie Eddy, Lowell FFA; Gavin Fitchett, Perry FFA; Adison Leonard, Bay-Arenac FFA; Owen McMaster, Corunna FFA; Holly Mitchell, Lenawee Tech Center FFA; Maleah Roth, Growing Goers 4-H; Jordyn Schultz, Clare-Gladwin FFA; Olivia Searls, Branch Area Careers Center FFA; Elizabeth Stanke, Charlotte FFA; and Celia Walker, Ravenna FFA.
Collegiate
In Collegiate Farm Bureau competition, Nicole Hollabaugh from Montcalm Community College won the 2025 Collegiate Discussion Meet. Sara Dammann from the MSU Main Campus chapter came in runner-up.
Filling out the Collegiate Final Four was pair competitors from Delta College, Isabelle Diehl and Kaiya Guziak.
Also competing in the state level Collegiate competition were Caiden Geiger, Delta College; Jenna Scheffler, Glen Oaks Community College; Patrick Priesman and Randi Miller from Kellogg Community College; Rayana Slack and Emma Totzke from MSU; and Mia Bontekoe from Northwestern Michigan College.
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Megan Sprague
