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Passion for speaking earns Husker national championship at AFBF competition

A Nebraska student’s passion for dialogue and ag policy has earned her a championship at the American Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet.

Virginia native Abby Durheim is a senior ag and environmental sciences major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “I have been watching YFNR (Young Farmers and Ranchers program) since I was a little kid and discussion meet was always something I was drawn to and absolutely enjoy watching. Being a competitor in the event was really magical and a childhood dream come true.”

Durheim tells Brownfield the contest is designed to simulate a committee meeting where contestants are given five questions to evaluate with her winning answer on enhancing rural economies. “When I approached the question, I thought of a two-pronged solution that we have to have a conversation about profitability because when agriculture does well, rural economies do well.”

Durheim says she wants to be an ag lobbyist on Capitol Hill for a farming organization.

The discussion meet was held during the 2021 FUSION Reimagined Conference, held virtually, last month.