Wharton County farmer wins Texas Farm Bureau Discussion Meet

(ARLINGTON, Texas)—Timothy Gertson, a Wharton County farmer, won the 2015 Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Discussion Meet during the organization's 82nd annual meeting. The winner was announced during the meeting's general session Dec. 6 at the Arlington Convention Center.

Gertson grows rice, organic corn, grain sorghum, soybeans and wheat in Wharton County.

In addition to farming, Gertson serves as the Wharton County Farm Bureau president and on the board of directors for the USA Rice Foundation. He is also a member of the foundation's sustainability and marketability committees.

TFB's Discussion Meet encourages problem-solving through cooperative discussion among young farmers and ranchers. Four finalists discussed technology and government regulations in agriculture.

The finalists held a 25-minute conversation and were scored based on their speaking skills, effective problem-solving and cooperative communication with other contestants.

Gertson will receive a Polaris Sportsman ATV, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company; a $5,000 cash award, courtesy of Farm Credit; a $750 service voucher, courtesy of Chevrolet; and a plaque representative of the award. He also will receive an expense-paid trip to Orlando, Fla. in January 2016 to compete in the national Discussion Meet contest at the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual meeting.

The Discussion Meet finalists were Cody Archie of Coryell County, Alisha Hedrick of Dumas and Justin Mitchell of Smith County. The three finalists will receive a $500 cash award, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company; a power tool valued at $200, courtesy of Grainger; a new pair of Justin Boots, courtesy of Justin Brands, Inc.; and a plaque representative of the award.