YF&R Discussion Meet

Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet Eligibility

• Participant shall be a Farm Bureau member between the ages of 18 and 36 in good standing with his/her county Farm Bureau. The individual shall have reached his/her 18th birthday at the time he/she qualifies for the national competition and shall not have reached his/her/their 36th birthday by the AFBF Convention Closing General Session, Monday, January 8, 2027. 
• Participant must be actively engaged in agriculture.
• Participant may only compete in one national YF&R Competition per year.
• Past and present members of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and/or their spouse are not eligible to compete.
• Previous AFBF Discussion Meet competitors are not eligible to compete.  Past state YF&R Discussion Meet winners are eligible if they have not previously competed at the national level.  
• Current employees or agents of county, state and/or American Farm Bureau organizations and their affiliates are not eligible to compete.  An affiliate is defined as an entity owned or controlled in whole or in part by another entity through, for example, ownership (including partial ownership) or positions on the board of directors. 
• Past employees who were responsible for implementing any of the YF&R Competitive Events at the state or national level are ineligible.
• Professional speakers are not eligible to compete. Professional speakers are those who have received a fee, royalty or honorarium for speaking (i.e., paid speaking appearances or speaking engagements) within 24 months prior to this annual competition. This excludes reimbursement for travel or expenses attendant to the appearance.
• Each state may submit one entry to be considered for national recognition and must use the AFBF entry form and application.

2026 DM Questions 

2026 Best Practices 

2026 Competitors Manual 

AFBF Training Calls

Discussion Meet Training Call #1 

Discussion Meet Training Call #2 

Discussion Meet Training Call #3 

NC Farm Bureau Training

Farm Bureau Training Videos password - northcarolinafb

 

Judges will use the Discussion Meet Scoring Rubric when judging the competition.

NC Farm Bureau Entry Form Instructions

 

Your completed entry form should be submitted by FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026

 

Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet Opening Rounds and Finals will be held on Sunday, December 6, 2026, during NC Farm Bureau's Annual Convention at Raleigh Convention Center. 

 

Revisions to your entry form can be made by clicking on the Edit Link provided in your Confirmation Email.

Email Ashley McMahon or call (919) 783-4361 with questions regarding the entry form

Email Tadashi Totten or call (919) 306-6321 with questions regarding the compeition