Californian wins national Collegiate Discussion Meet

» February 22, 2008 «

Speaking persuasively about the perception of the family farm, a California college student earned victory in a national competition this week, winning the Collegiate Discussion Meet at the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference.

Grace Berryhill of Tulare, a student at California State University, Chico, emerged as the winner after four rounds of competition in the discussion meet held in Baltimore, Md. In the final round, Berryhill competed against students from Alabama, Tennessee and Texas in discussing the public perception of the family farm, and how that perception affects agricultural policies.

As winner of the national Collegiate Discussion Meet, Berryhill earned a $2,500 scholarship presented by the CHS Foundation.

Berryhill qualified for the national competition by winning the Collegiate Discussion Meet at the California Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in Sparks, Nev., last December. Her victory at the American Farm Bureau conference marks the third time in five years that a California college student has won the national competition.

Berryhill is pursuing a double major in animal science and agricultural education at Cal State, Chico, and plans to teach agriculture after completing her education. She is a former state president of FFA and remains actively involved in the National FFA Organization.

The California Farm Bureau Federation, the state's largest farm organization, works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of 92,000 members statewide. The Young Farmers and Ranchers program encourages members aged 18 to 35 to be active leaders in agriculture.

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

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