Students recognized in California Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet
Becca Hamman, an agriculture education student at California State University, Chico, was named the winner of the California Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet, held Nov. 15 at Modesto Junior College. Hamman earned $2,500 and will represent California in the national competition during the American Farm Bureau Federation's Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference set for March 13-16 in Portland.
Competing were 36 YF&R members from seven colleges. Competitors were from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo; California State University, Chico; California State University, Fresno; Merced College; Modesto Junior College; Santa Rosa Junior College; and University of California, Davis. They advanced to the final competition from earlier rounds in which they were challenged to demonstrate their abilities in exchanging ideas and offering detailed opinions on issues of importance to agriculture and Farm Bureau.
The discussion featured multiple rounds and analyzed the impacts of urban sprawl on farmland, how digital engagement can improve communication with policymakers, ways to help members better understand Farm Bureau benefits, and strategies for farmers and ranchers to effectively advance environmental stewardship.
Joseph Aguiar of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, was the first runner-up and winner of $1,000. Finalists, and winners of $500 each, were Kaylen Jaime of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and Ariana Covarrubias of Santa Rosa Junior College.
The overall high-scoring team, and winner of $500, was Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
This competition is supported by donor contributions. Jim and Normita Spinetta, farmers in El Dorado County, invested $200,000 in a fund established by the California Farm Bureau to advance the organization's Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet contest.
California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches as part of a nationwide network representing more than 5 million Farm Bureau members. Learn more at www.cfbf.com or follow @cafarmbureau on Instagram, LinkedIn, X or Facebook.
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From left, Jim Spinetta, donor; Becca Hamman, winner of the Collegiate Discussion Meet; Ron Peterson, California Farm Bureau second vice president; and Joseph Aguiar, first runner-up.
From left, Nick Simpson, contest chair; Jim Spinetta, donor; Ariana Covarrubias, finalist; Becca Hamman, winner of the Collegiate Discussion Meet; Joseph Aguiar, first runner-up; Kaylen Jaime, finalist; and Ron Peterson, California Farm Bureau second vice president.
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