Miss your chance at Anaheim? Register for the Sept. 3 makeup YF Discussion Meet

For the second year in a row, Young Farmers who missed their district-level Discussion Meet, or who didn’t make it as a finalist, have a second chance to compete at the state level.

Join Young Farmers from across the state at the virtual makeup Discussion Meet, 6 p.m. Sept. 3, to discuss environmental stewardship and have a shot at going all the way to Anaheim, where state Discussion Meet winners compete at American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2027 Annual Meeting.

Participants who advance not only receive a prize for competing in the state contest, but the state winner takes home $2,000, professional attire and a free trip to the national competition, sponsored by Harvest Solar.

The virtual competition is open to all Young Farmer members, ages 18 to 35 before January 14, 2026. The top three competitors will move on to the state preliminary rounds in November. (If there are more than 10 participants, four will move on). 

Ready? Register here by Aug. 27.

Here’s this year’s makeup meet discussion topic: Farmers and ranchers are at the forefront of environmental stewardship. From soil health to local ecosystems, producers are concerned about how to be both environmentally and financially sustainable. How can farmers and ranchers effectively advance environmental stewardship while balancing the needs of their farms?

All the rules from district contests will apply and can be found in the guidebook. If multiple rounds are needed, the backup question can also be found on page 12 of the guidebook.

Never heard of a Discussion Meet? 

Discussion meets are a leadership competition designed to help Young Farmers refine their conversational skills — vital skills that come in handy next time you want to chime in at a county Farm Bureau board meeting, school board or just around the kitchen table.

Both the makeup Discussion Meet and the preliminary rounds of the state contest will take place virtually on Zoom, while the Sweet Sixteen and Final Four rounds will take place in person at MFB’s 2025 State Annual Meeting, Dec. 2.

Find more information about Discussion Meets at www.michfb.com/yfdiscussionmeet or MFB's Discussion Meet 101 playlist.