UAM Students Participate In Farm Bureau State Discussion Meet (1/17/12)

MONTICELLO, AR — Six University of Arkansas at Monticello students joined Arkansas Farm Bureau members from around the state to compete in a discussion of important issues facing the agriculture industry at the 2011 State Farm Bureau Discussion Meet in Little Rock.
            UAM students representing their home counties in the competition were Amy Hughes, Ashley County; Chris Church, Bradley County; Andrew Aycock, Chicot County; Brett Stewart, Jefferson County; Zach Altom, Lincoln County; and Brittany Harpole, Union County.  
            The Discussion Meet is modeled after a committee meeting format with participants discussing a current agricultural issue. Points are given for analysis of the topic, problem solving and implementation, a cooperative attitude, and general delivery.  Each participant makes individual opening and closing statements of their own composition with all participants engaging in a general discussion period. Harry Willems, Arkansas Farm Bureau associate director of organization and member programs, coordinated the state event. Dr. Bob Stark, UAM Collegiate Farm Bureau faculty advisor, prepped the UAM students.
            The opening topic, “How Can We Convince the Public that the Animal Agriculture Industry Balances Production Efficiencies With the Public’s Expectations of Animal Care?” featured a competition between 12 Farm Bureau members. Four members of the 12 were chosen to compete in the final round, including Andrew Aycock of Chicot County.  The topic was “Are the Current and Proposed Renewable Energy Policies Beneficial to All Segments of American Agriculture?” Kevin Smith of Benton County won the state competition and represented Arkansas in the National Farm Bureau Convention Discussion Meet held in Hawaii during January.  

PHOTO CAPTION: UAM students competing in the 2011 State Farm Bureau Discussion Meet were (from left, first row) Amy Hughes, Ashley County; Brittany Harpole, Union County; Brett Stewart, Jefferson County; Dr. Bob Stark, UAM College Farm Bureau faculty advisor; (second row) Andrew Aycock, Chicot County; Zach Altom, Lincoln County; and Chris Church, Bradley County.