By Andi Anderson

Emma Kuhns, a senior at the University of Illinois, won first place in the Illinois Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet on Oct. 27. She will go on to represent Illinois in the national competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmer & Ranchers Leadership Conference in March 2023.

The Collegiate Discussion Meet tests participants’ ability to manage small group discussions and exchange ideas and information to solve a problem. Kuhns, a member of the Effingham County Farm Bureau and University of Illinois Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter, was scored by judges based on her problem solving and implementation, analysis of the topic, cooperative attitude, and delivery.

In addition to a $200 cash prize, Kuhns will receive an expense-paid trip to the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference and the IAA Annual Meeting in December, and a $1,500 scholarship courtesy of GROWMARK, Inc. Ten students competed in the meet at IFB’s home office in Bloomington. Final four participants included:

• Second place: Haley Bode, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Monroe County
• Third place: Keely Wixted, Joliet Junior College, DuPage County
• Fourth place: Emma Smith, Illinois State University, Kendall-Grundy County

The Illinois Farm Bureau is a non-profit, membership organization directed by farmers who join through their county Farm Bureau. IFB has a total membership of more than 364,452 and a farmer membership of 75,959. IFB represents three out of four Illinois farmers.

Photo Credit: illinois-state-university