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Cumberland County Farmer Wins PA Farm Bureau’s YAP Discussion Meet Award

HERSHEY, Pa. – Andrea Brown of Cumberland County has been named Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s (PFB) winner of the 2021 Young Ag Professions (YAP) Discussion Meet at PFB’s 71^st Annual Meeting in Hershey.

Brown, a farmer from Mechanicsburg, grows corn, soybeans and wheat, and raises beef cattle with her husband and two children. She also serves on her county Farm Bureau board as both board member and secretary.

“I am excited to represent PA as the state YAP discussion meet winner.” said Brown. “I feel really encouraged by the support from the state of Pa. and Farm Bureau members near and far from me.”

The discussion meet contestants were put in situations where they had to analyze agricultural problems and decide on solutions that best meet their needs. The discussion meet is designed to help young agriculture professionals build communications skills, develop an understanding of important agricultural issues and explore how groups can pool resources to reach a consensus and solve problems.

“The discussion meet provides an opportunity for our young farmers and agriculture professionals to formulate ideas that could help resolve problems facing the industry. It’s also critical for the people representing agriculture’s future to understand key issues and be willing to speak out about them to the public and policymakers,” said PFB President Rick Ebert.  “Congratulations to Andrea for demonstrating her overall knowledge of agriculture and strong communications skills in winning the discussion meet.”

Brown receives a number of prizes, including an expense paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, where she will represent Pennsylvania Farm Bureau in AFBF’s national discussion meet competition.

“I am most excited to attend my first in-person AFBF annual meeting and meet farmers and ranchers from around the country,” said Brown. “The chance to network and learn about agriculture around the nation is exhilarating.”

 Hundreds of farmers from across the state attended Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s 71st Annual Meeting at the Hershey Lodge from November 15-17, to set policy for the statewide organization on issues affecting farm and rural families.

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 Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization, representing farms of every size and commodity across Pennsylvania