Wharton County farmer wins Texas Farm Bureau Discussion Meet

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas—Zach Eder, a Wharton County farmer, won the 2014 Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Discussion Meet during the organization’s 81st annual meeting. The winner was announced during the meeting’s general session Dec. 7 at the American Bank Center.

In addition to farming, Eder is the area agronomist in charge of research for the Gulf Coast Region of Jimmy Sanders, a national agricultural distributor.

TFB’s Discussion Meet encourages problem-solving through cooperative discussion among young farmers and ranchers. Four finalists discussed issues facing Texas agriculture, including the privatization of federally owned and managed lands.

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

Eder will receive a Polaris Sportsman ATV, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company; $5,000 cash award, courtesy of Farm Credit; $750 service voucher, courtesy of Chevrolet; and a plaque representative of the award. He also will receive an expense-paid trip to San Diego, Calif., in January 2015 to compete in the national Discussion Meet Contest at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Annual Meeting. 

The Discussion Meet finalists were Cody Archie of Coryell County, Colin Chopelas of San Patricio County 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.