Kenna Lewis, a senior at Cal Poly San Lois Obispo, was named the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Collegiate Discussion Meet winner.  The meet, designed to simulate a committee meeting to  exchange ideas and find solutions to a topic of concern to agriculture, was held last week at the #ShowMeYFR Annual Leadership Conference.

Lewis is currently working towards a degree in agricultural communication.  Her success has earned her a $2,500 scholarship from the competition sponsor, CHS Foundation.

In addition to Lewis, three finalists participated in three rounds of discussion before making it to the Final Four round. Finalists were Tanner Beymer, University of Idaho; Kole Kelley, Adams University; and Kelly Wilfert, University of Wisconsin-Madison. They each received $1,000 courtesy of CHS Foundation.

Fifty competitors from 35 states participated in this year’s AFBF Collegiate Discussion Meet. All competitors received $250, courtesy of CHS Foundation, in recognition of their efforts and making it to the national level.

Before being announced the winner Lewis took part in four rounds of the discussion meet.  The final discussion centered around the topic of protecting a farmer’s ability to access new technology while ensuring public acceptance and encouraging innovation.