Dec. 21—DIXON — Two members of the Lee County Farm Bureau represented the county at the 2024 Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders State Discussion Meet on Dec. 7.
Alec Wetzell of Franklin Grove and Kim Ewald of Compton were selected to participate after winning the District Discussion Meet. Both are dedicated members of the agricultural community. Wetzell brought experience as an agricultural educator, and Ewald has experience as an agricultural and commercial lender.
“It was a great experience for my first time attending an annual meeting,” Wetzell said in a news release. “I enjoyed networking and building relationships with the other participants in the Young Leaders Discussion Meet.”
The state competition took place during the 2024 Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Chicago, where participants demonstrated their ability to engage in dynamic group discussions, exchange ideas and develop constructive solutions to current agricultural issues.
“It was a great networking opportunity to meet other young leaders from across the state,” Ewald said in the release. “I enjoyed the challenge of public speaking, and it was a great opportunity to hear other agricultural advocates’ solutions to today’s top concerns in agriculture.”
Wetzell and Ewald competed against other competitors from across the state, where they were judged on their ability to analyze agricultural issues, communicate effectively and propose practical solutions that benefit the agricultural community.
“The Discussion Meet was more than just a competition,” said Perry Harlow, IFB State Young Leaders program coordinator. “It was an opportunity to explore critical challenges facing agriculture and collaborate on innovative approaches that can help farmers and rural communities thrive.”
The Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders program offers individuals ages 18 to 35 the opportunity to participate in farming regardless of prior experience.
Participants can participate in events such as the State Young Leaders Conference, Young Leaders Ag Industry Tour and Discussion Meets. They can also compete for awards such as the Young Leaders Achievement Award and Excellence in Agriculture Award. The events are intended to promote professional development and personal growth.
Young leaders can also benefit from the IFB’s Collegiate Farm Bureau program, which provides students with opportunities to engage in leadership, education, law and networking through hands-on experiences. The CFB has chapters throughout the state, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University and several other campuses.
For more information about the Young Leaders program, please email youngleaders@ilfb.org.
