Red Bay’s Ethan Mobley was, frankly, in disbelief when he heard his name announced as one of four finalists in the State Young Farmers Discussion Meet contest Aug. 5.

“I didn’t expect to make it to the top four,” said Mobley. Some might say this lack of expectation was warranted – Mobley was the youngest of the 17 competitors, going up against participants from 6 to 17 years his senior.

Discussion Meet competitors were tasked with reviewing pressing agricultural issues in a committee meeting-like setting.

“It’s very similar to a debate completion, where you would have a board discussing an issue,” Mobley said. But unlike debate, which can sometimes turn scathing, Mobley said this contest was designed around engaging in kind, fair discussion. “There’s no cutting anyone off, or saying something is wrong or disagreeing with them.” Instead, the constructive discussion centered on a healthy back-and-forth to allow each competitor a chance to demonstrate his or her skills in laying out a problem, detailing the particulars and proposing solutions.

“I competed against 35-year-old men, talking back and forth directly to them,” Mobley said. “I really had to stand my ground when the opportunity came to lead the discussion.”

Mobley said competitors were given five potential discussion topics some months in advance to have the chance to research and prepare. Although those five were later narrowed down to the two that would actually be used in competition, still well in advance of competition day, Mobley missed that memo – and thus put in the effort to prepare equally for all five topics.

The two topics competitors addressed were, how can the Farmers Federation help first-generation farmers better succeed, and secondly, how can the Federation help its members succeed against the regulatory and legislative obstacles facing them in agriculture?

Mobley, who served as chaplain in the Red Bay High School FFA and was also state vice president, said it was Gannon Nunley and Barrett Gilbert who encouraged him to sign up for the Discussion Meet contest.

“They knew I could speak and had some leadership ability,” Mobley said.

Mobley won an award and a Yeti cooler for his Top Four finish. He said he is proud of what he was able to accomplish. He will continue to the final state-based round in December at the Federation’s annual meeting in Montgomery, where the winner will take home a four-wheeler courtesy of First South Farm Credit.

“Ethan is a very talented young man and a leader in his school and community,” Gilbert said. “I knew he would do well in the competition given his public speaking talents, proven by serving as a state FFA officer.

“Ethan understands the issues farmers are currently facing and can efficiently communicate those to others. I look forward to Ethan serving as a leader in Alabama Farmers Federation for years to come.”

A 2017 graduate of Red Bay High School, Mobley is attending Auburn University and majoring in Biosystems engineering this fall, a branch of engineering that impacts agriculture.

He is the son of John and Tracy Mobley.