The Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo has named its first round of grand champion exhibitors at the 2026 Agricultural Prepared Public Speaking and Discussion Meet contests.

Introduced in 2023, the Agricultural Prepared Public Speaking and Discussion Meet contests are designed to strengthen exhibitors’ communication, message development and critical-thinking skills while introducing youth to agricultural issues, challenges and innovations.

“We started these contests because exhibitors had a message and a story to tell,” said Mason Parish, co-chair of the Agricultural Prepared Public Speaking and Discussion Meet contests.

Exhibitors may compete in one or both contests, with students spending months preparing speeches and researching assigned agriculture-related discussion topics.

Bella Birkelbach of Magnolia West FFA earned the grand champion title in both senior divisions of the Agricultural Prepared Public Speaking and Discussion Meet contests. Birkelbach said the experience will have a lasting impact on both her future and the future of the agriculture industry.

“I currently plan on becoming an environmental lawyer, and public speaking is a huge part of that,” Birkelbach said. “The ag industry needs a voice, and we need young students to step up and become those voices.”

Eli Redwine of Montgomery Dobbin 4-H also earned grand champion honors in both junior divisions. Redwine said winning the contests was especially rewarding.

“I’m around a lot of great public speakers in my life,” Redwine said. “You can’t teach the ability to communicate, but you can learn it.”

Although the two contests use different formats, both have helped develop the communication skills of numerous exhibitors in Montgomery County. The 2026 contests drew a combination of 72 entries, the highest total in the event’s four-year history.

2026 Agricultural Prepared Public Speaking and Discussion Meet champions:
Grand Champion Senior Public Speaking: Bella Birkelbach, Magnolia West FFA
Reserve Champion Senior Public Speaking: Wiley Sallas, Evening Star 4-H
Grand Champion Junior Public Speaking: Eli Redwine, Montgomery Dobbin 4-H
Reserve Champion Junior Public Speaking: Genevieve Miller, Montgomery 4-H Shooting Sports
Grand Champion Senior Discussion Meet: Bella Birkelbach, Magnolia West FFA
Reserve Champion Senior Discussion Meet: Preslin Rutherford, Splendora FFA
Grand Champion Junior Discussion Meet: Eli Redwine, Montgomery Dobbin 4-H
Reserve Champion Junior Discussion Meet: MaCaelyn Schultz, Conroe FFA

The Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo brings families, youth exhibitors, and visitors together for livestock shows, rodeo events, live entertainment, and family-friendly attractions annually. The fun kicks off at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Conroe, Texas on Thursday, April 9 and will conclude on Sunday, April 19.

For more information, visit mcfa.org or follow the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo on Facebook and Instagram.