Finalists in this year’s State Young Leader Discussion Meet were, left to right, Laura Meyer of Adams County, Sara Mitchell of Grundy County, Gracelynn Dale of Bureau County and Jesse Faber of Livingston County. The final four emerged from a field of 26 at the state meet to kick off the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting in Chicago. (Photo contributed)

PRINCETON - Gracelynn Dale, Bureau County Young Leader Chair, recently participated in the Illinois Farm Bureau State Young Leader Discussion Meet. In her second year of competition, Dale qualified for the Final 4 Discussion Meet, which was held Dec. 2 at the Palmer House in Chicago as part of the Illinois Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting. 

The Farm Bureau Discussion Meet is a competitive event, designed to simulate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each participant. This competition is evaluated on an exchange of ideas and information on a pre-determined topic. Participants build basic discussion skills, develop a keen understanding of important agricultural issues and explore how groups can pool knowledge to reach consensus and solve problems. Successful participants are productive thinkers rather than emotional persuaders and assist the group in creating ways to implement the solutions discussed and highlight Farm Bureau’s involvement in those actions/steps.