K-State student competes in national discussion meet

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News release prepared by: Shelby Haag, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

K-STATE STUDENT COMPETES IN NATIONAL DISCUSSION MEET

MANHATTAN -- A Kansas State University student recently was selected as one of four finalists in the discussion meet of the American Farm Bureau Federation's Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference.

Sarah Sexton, senior in agricultural economics, Abilene, competed against 26 other students from around the country before winning a seat on stage as a finalist at the conference in Jacksonville, Fla. With her selection, Sexton receives a $1,250 scholarship from American Farm Bureau.

Sexton qualified for the event by participating in the Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers State Contest, where she placed second overall.

"This is actually the first year Kansas has sent a participant to the collegiate meet," Sexton said. "It wasn't until a few weeks after the state competition that I discovered the national contest would even be a possibility."

The discussion meet contest is designed to stimulate purposeful discussion on one of four selected topics. Topics for this contest included how to deal with high land prices, how to make farm policy bipartisan, finding new opportunities in agriculture and the animal identification program. Contestants are judged based on cooperation, constructive criticism and communication while evaluating current agricultural problems and offering solutions.

"The contest can be really difficult," Sexton said. "Your voice must be heard, but not overbearing. Contestants must have purposeful conversation, not just ramblings of a lot of knowledge.

"It was really exciting to make the final group," she said. "I loved the opportunity to compete with such outstanding and talented individuals."