Purdue Agriculture students win bioenergy debate
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Team Mohler, a group of students from agricultural education and agricultural and biological engineering, won the recent Townsend Outstanding Communicator in Agriculture Debate Competition held at Purdue University.The topic for this year's debate was whether bioenergy will improve Indiana's economy and environment. Second place went to a team of students representing the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) student club. The Nov. 9 competition was open to student teams in Purdue Agriculture.
Arguing against bioenergy, Team Mohler members included Chelsea Mohler of South Bend, Ind., Amy Penner of Wabash, Ind., and David Mohler of Lebanon, Ind. The ACT team consisted of Elizabeth Fritz of Winamac, Ind., Hannah Brescher of Ireland, Ind., and Amber Miller of Brownstown, Ind., who argued for the benefits of bioenergy.
"We chose to enter the debate competition partially because the topic is so relevant," Chelsea Mohler said. "Everybody is talking about bioenergy, but we originally knew very little about it."
Competition participants conducted research, interviews and collected resources in support of both sides of the issue. None of the teams knew until a few minutes before the debate which side of the issue they would be arguing.
"All seven debate teams did a wonderful job, and I was very impressed with their research and arguments," said Natalie Federer, agricultural communication academic adviser and Townsend debate coordinator. "Each team approached the topic of bioenergy in a different way, from economics and technology to environmental, social and community issues."
The judges for the final debate were Bernie Engel, department head and professor of agricultural and biological engineering; Deb Abbott, director of marketing and communications for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture; Joe Needham, vice president, Grain Division of The Andersons Inc.; and Belinda Puetz, biodiesel marketing director for the Indiana Soybean Board.
"The thing I enjoyed most about this debate was taking the issue, breaking up all the pieces, laying them out on the table, and putting the facts back together to form a well-credited, factual story," ACT team member Brescher said.
Speaker points were given throughout the day for each participant based on speaking ability, attitude, voice, eye contact and argument content.
Team Mohler received $750 and a trophy. The second place team received $500. The speaker award went to Matthew Sumpter of Plymouth, Ind., who received $100 and a plaque.
Funding for the debate competition is provided by Wayne Townsend, a distinguished College of Agriculture alumnus, farmer, and former Purdue trustee and state politician.
Source: Natalie Federer, (765) 494-8406, nfederer@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu