leadership
Kelly Wilfert: On to the ‘Final Four’ and More A s an American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet participant, Kelly Wilfert celebrated ‘March Madness’ in February. With a goal of just reaching the ‘Final 16,’ Wilfert was successful in reaching the ‘Final Four.’ “Kelly is a very hard-working and determined individual and her participation in the Discussion Meet showed just that,” Kannel added. “Her interest in policy paired with her public speaking and problem solving skills shined throughout the contest.” “Competing in the AFBF YF&R Collegiate Discussion Meet was truly an honor, as well as a lot of fun,” said Wilfert, a junior at UW-Madison who is studying agricultural economics and life sciences communication. “It’s a unique experience with college students from across the nation who are competing but also working towards a common goal of finding solutions to the issues that we face in agriculture.” Friend and former Wisconsin FFA officer team member Ethan Dado from Amery also made it to the Final 16, representing Minnesota Farm Bureau.
In addition to Wilfert (third from left), 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 Kenna Lewis, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Fifty competitors from 35 states participated in this year’s AFBF Collegiate Discussion Meet. Lewis placed first.
Wilfert, who served as a state FFA officer from Section 9 in 2014-15, grew up in Two Rivers on her families’ 138-year-old produce farm, growing everything from asparagus to zucchini. Her mentors include her parents, Dave and Terri, agricultural instructor and FFA advisor Jamie Propson who pushed her to be better and Manitowoc native Norval Dvorak whose life’s work left a lasting legacy on agriculture around the world. “When Norval and I talked about agriculture, he asked me what I wanted to do during my lifetime,” Wilfert said. “I told him that I wanted to be an agricultural attorney. At first he
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Rural Route
didn’t agree but he helped me figure out ways that I could make the most impact.” In her opening statement during the Final Four, Wilfert admitted that it was tough being without her smart phone for “a nerve racking four and half hours” while taking her law school admission test. “Technology is everywhere, every day, including in agriculture where biotechnology, precision agriculture and even smart phones are becoming the norm,” Wilfert said. “We at Farm Bureau must invite and influence the public and the legislators to understand our latest technologies so that we can continue to use them while also developing them to be even greater.” The Collegiate Discussion Meet is designed to replicate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each collegiate participant. Participants are judged on their ability to exchange ideas and information on an agricultural topic and find answers or solutions. Wilfert received more exciting news while traveling from Wisconsin to Kansas City with other Farm Bureau members. “This summer I am very excited to be serving as AFBF’s public policy legislative intern in Washington, D.C.,” Wilfert said proudly. As the public policy legislative intern, Wilfert will assist lobbyists with a wide-range of government policies that impact farm and ranch families through research and summarizing information from briefings or meetings. “After (I graduate) I hope to attend law school,” Wilfert said. “Long-term, I hope to work as an attorney, lobbyist or politician with a special focus on advocating for farmers and agriculture.” To view the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet, visit fbvideos.org.
Wisconsin farm bureau federation