New York Young Farmer Advances to Final Four in National Collegiate Discussion Meet

New York Young Farmer Advances to Final Four in National Collegiate Discussion Meet

Courtney Taibi of Greene County competes in Portland, OR

PORTLAND, OREGON - Courtney Taibi of Greenville, New York (Greene County) advanced to the final four yesterday in the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Collegiate Discussion Meet. The competition was held during AFBF's four-day YF&R Leadership Conference in Portland, Oregon.

Taibi is a sophomore attending Cornell University, where she is studying animal science on a pre-vet track. She qualified for the national competition after winning the New York Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet.

The Collegiate Discussion Meet is designed to replicate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each collegiate participant. Participants are judged on their ability to exchange ideas and information on an agricultural topic and work toward practical answers or solutions. The event helps young Farm Bureau members develop leadership skills and prepare for future roles in agriculture and their communities.

Thirty-six competitors from across the country participated in this year's Collegiate Discussion Meet.

"Courtney Taibi deserves congratulations for her outstanding achievement at the AFBF Collegiate Discussion Meet. Reaching the final four is a testament to Courtney's hard work, thoughtful leadership, and dedication to advancing agriculture through meaningful dialogue. On behalf of New York Farm Bureau, I am incredibly proud of the way Courtney represented our state and the future of agriculture on a national stage," said Richard De Meyer, chair of the New York Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and a New York Farm Bureau board member.

The winner of the competition was Sara Bair of Utah State University. Other finalists who advanced through three rounds of discussion to earn a spot in the Final Four included Torrie Reed of Georgia and Brooke Beamesderfer of Pennsylvania.

CHS Foundation provided a total of $18,000 in scholarships for the competition. National competitors received a $100 scholarship, and contestants advancing to the Sweet 16 round received an additional $500 scholarship. The three finalists, including Taibi, each received an additional $1,500 scholarship, and the winner received an additional $2,500. Taibi received a total of $2,100 in scholarship funds.

AFBF's YF&R program engages young Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35 by offering opportunities to develop as strong, effective leaders for service in both Farm Bureau and their communities.

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New York Farm Bureau is the state's largest general agricultural advocacy organization. Its members and the public know the organization as "The Voice of New York Agriculture." New York Farm Bureau is dedicated to solving the economic and public policy issues challenging the agricultural community.