YFA Members Shine in National Light Sweney of Dodge County made it to the Sweet 16 J ulie Round of American Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers &
Ranchers Discussion Meet.
"While virtual, the overall experience was wonderful and I'm grateful for this unique opportunity. It certainly would have been great to have competed in person, but doing so virtually challenged competitors in a unique way that provided a more courteous type of discussion to take place. I also would suggest that the experience was less intimidating since the only people I was aware of were the other competitors and the room moderator. I have thoroughly enjoyed this as a virtual experience." - Julie Sweney The Discussion Meet contest is a panel discussion in which Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35 are judged on their ability to express their ideas and opinions and reach a solution on current issues affecting agriculture. The competition was held virtually this year. Sweney grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Dodge County. She is a 2011 graduate of the WFBF Leadership Institute and serves on the Dodge County Farm Bureau board of directors as membership chair. She is the director of marketing and communications at FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative, serving dairy farmers throughout the Midwest. Marquee Ricks of Idaho won the Discussion Meet. The runner-up in the Discussion Meet contest was Clarissa Cauthorn of Missouri. Garrett Love of Kansas won third place. The fourth-place finalist was Tyler Pittman of Florida. FEBRUARY | MARCH 2021
Natasha Paris represented Wisconsin in AFBF's Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award where she made the Top 10.
"Competing at the national level, even virtually, was a surreal experience. To be showcased alongside so many others who have done so much for agriculture, and then to be named to the Top 10, was such an honor. While traveling is fun, I loved being able to watch it all from home and to get to meet my competitors during our downtime and rehearsals." - Natasha Paris The Excellence in Agriculture Award is presented to a Farm Bureau member between the ages of 18 and 35 who is actively engaged in agriculture but derives the majority of his or her income from an off-farm agricultural career. Paris is an agri-science teacher and FFA advisor at Ripon High School. She and her husband, Jordan, own ParKelm Farm, a pasture-based livestock farm. Paris has been a Farm Bureau member since 2015 and serves as the YFA chair and vice president of Green Lake County Farm Bureau. Jackie Mundt of Kansas won the Excellence in Agriculture Award. The runners-up in the Excellence in Agriculture contest were Casey and Kelli Snider of Utah. wfbf.com
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