Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Agricultural News and Information

Greg Gibson, Coordinator
Public Relations / Multimedia
1-800-227-8244 ext. 4154
or 601-977-4154
email: ggibson@msfb.org

Bailey wins Farm Bureau Discussion Meet

Stephen Bailey, a sweet potato farmer from Calhoun County, was selected winner of the 2007 Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet. Bailey bested three other contestants in the final round, held at Farm Bureau’s 86th Annual Meeting in Jackson.

The Discussion Meet is a competition that allows contestants to discuss in detail an issue pertinent to agriculture. It is not a debate or speech contest. The participants are judged on their ability to organize their thoughts and on their ability to reach a logical conclusion in relation to the issue at hand. They are also judged on how well they involved the other contestants in the discussion process, working toward gaining a consensus among those contestants.

Bailey won a 4-wheeler ATV, compliments of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. He also received cash awards from Federal Land Bank Associations and Dodge Corporation.

Stephen and his wife Kisha were also named the Statewide Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award winners. They will represent Mississippi at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in New Orleans in mid-January.

Bailey and Kisha operate a 200-acre sweet potato farm outside of Vardaman. The Baileys have two children, Britton who is 5 and one year old Rivers.

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The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general farm organization with more than 230,000 member-families statewide.  There are Farm Bureaus in all 82 counties in Mississippi where agriculture comprises a fundamental part of Mississippi 's economy.  Headquartered in Jackson , the federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is not associated with any arm of the government.  For more information about Farm Bureau, visit our website at www.msfb.com.