February 18, 2000

Valerie Diller of Texline led an all-star honors day for the Texas Farm Bureau in Houston recently at the 81st annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Diller talked about farm issues all the way to the winner’s circle in the 2000 American Farm Bureau Federation Discussion Meet competition. Diller, who farms in the Texas Panhandle, edged out her competition in the annual multi-round, debate-style tournament. She is the first Texan to win the annual competition.

"I’m elated," Diller said after presentation of the award. "But I want to share one thing. I had a lot of prayers at home, a lot of people that were working for me to say—not something so that I could win—but to say the right thing.

"There are a lot of desperate times in agriculture right now and it’s very near and dear to my heart. I personally know a lot of people who are hurting and I wanted so much to share a part of my faith and positive feelings toward the growth of agriculture."

Diller said the discussion meet is set up to simulate a county Farm Bureau board meeting, "to arrive at mutually acceptable solutions and ways to implement them."

Issues discussed at this year’s meet included water quality and quantity, wildlife crop predator damage, alternative income sources for agriculture and obstacles facing new producers.

Diller and her husband, Michael, farm corn and wheat, and run a crop insurance business. In earning the victory, she bested a field of contestants from across the nation.

Diller was awarded a 2000 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 pickup as winner of the competition, courtesy of the Dodge Truck Division of Chrysler, and an Arctic Cat ATV, courtesy of Arctic Cat. She also received free registration to the 2000 AFBF Leadership Conference.

Another Texan, Darrell Glaser of Milam County, placed in the top 10 for the AFBF Achievement Award in competition against young producers from across the nation. Glaser competed as a result of winning the Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Award at the TFB state convention in December.