CSU Senior Wins American Farm Bureau YF&R Collegiate Discussion Meet

CSU Senior Wins American Farm Bureau YF&R Collegiate Discussion Meet

Colorado State University Senior Ryan O'Reilly was named the winner at the American Farm Bureau's Young Farmer and Rancher Collegiate Discussion Meet. O'Reilly is studying environmental and natural resource economics. The deciding meet topic was really in his wheelhouse of knowledge as it addressed how farmers and ranchers are actively managing natural resources rather than government agencies.

O'Reilly: "It's finding the balance between society's values and private values and showing society that we can actually meet those standards. At times society's opinion is swayed by a few bad apples or even a few errors. I think what I really brought to the table was the knowledge that I have of the battle that we will face. because we are only one percent of the population. When we are talking about changing national policy that affects only one percent of the population it becomes a David and Goliath type battle."

He says that he really appreciates all the support he received.

O'Reilly: "We've got such a great team in Colorado at Colorado State, the Farm Bureau in Colorado and the farmers and ranchers — John Paul Brown and Bruce Talbot. Reaching out to them and hearing their stories — because I'm not a farm kid. Reaching out to them and listening to what they had to say and the passion they have and their history — when they had seen government failures first hand. It put meaning behind my words. Proud to be there and proud to be representing Colorado."

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