November 12, 2018

Erickson wins collegiate event

Topic: Leadership

Alyson Erickson, of Fargo N.D., (pictured above at left) won the NDFB Collegiate Discussion Meet this past weekend, November 10, 2018, at the NDFB Annual Meeting in Bismarck. Erickson attends NDSU and is majoring in agriculture economics.

Erickson won $500 and will compete at the Farm Bureau FUSION Conference, March 15-18, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“I decided to participate to gain greater knowledge about agriculture through Farm Bureau,” said Erickson. “I have gained more respect and knowledge for this grassroots organization and all that it does for its members and the agriculture industry.”

The discussion meet simulates a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each participant. The competition is evaluated on an exchange of ideas and information on a pre-determined topic.

“NDFB offers a collegiate and a young farmer and rancher discussion meet challenge,” said Joey Myers, NDFB’s Director of Organizational Development. “The contestants develop discussion skills to help pool knowledge to reach consensus and solve problems, develop knowledge of agricultural issues and grow skills for future committee involvement.”

NDFB has two Collegiate Farm Bureaus, at North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Dickinson State University (DSU). Each collegiate group sent their top two competitors. Aspen Lenning and Sam Halstengard represented DSU. NDSU’s second representative was Travis Binde.

One representative from each state is allowed to participate in the national competition.