Sidney Stiers, of Williamsfield, took first place in Illinois Farm Bureau’s Collegiate Discussion Meet, held on Oct. 30.
Stiers, a sophomore at the University of Illinois, is a member of the Knox County Farm Bureau and the University of Illinois Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter. She will go on to represent Illinois in the national Collegiate Discussion Meet at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference March 12-15, 2027, in New Orleans.
In addition to a $200 cash prize, Stiers earned an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference and the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in December, as well as a $1,500 scholarship courtesy of GROWMARK, Inc.
The Illinois Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet evaluates participants’ ability to exchange ideas, solve problems, and work collaboratively in a discussion-based setting. Competitors demonstrate their understanding of agricultural issues while showcasing communication, critical-thinking and leadership skills. The competition includes opening statements, open discussion, and closing statements, with judges scoring participants on topic analysis, problem-solving, implementation of ideas, cooperative attitude and delivery.
This year’s event marked a record level of participation, with 33 students competing at Illinois Farm Bureau’s home office in Bloomington. Due to the continued growth of the competition, a Sweet 16 round was held for the first time in the event’s history, with the top 16 contestants advancing following preliminary rounds of competition.
Final Four contestants were:
- Second place: Haley Bode, Southern Illinois University, Monroe County
- Third place: Rylee Skillman, Joliet Junior College, Will County
- Fourth place: Alex Paul, University of Illinois, Wayne County
Those who placed in the Sweet 16 included Amanda Niemann, Montgomery County; Ben Bremmer, Stephenson County; Berkley Barnes, Will County; Blake Twenhafel, Clinton County; Chris Smith, Grundy County; Eric Wisely, Washington County; Ethan Bremmer, Stephenson County; Jorri VanDyke, Richland County; Kylie Kocher, Richland County; Maggie Bland, Greene County; Owen Kocher, Richland County; and Wyatt Draper, Crawford County.
***Courtesy of the Illinois Farm Bureau***
