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Tech alumnus wins first place in nationwide speaking competition at American Farm Bureau’s 105th convention
From left: Tennessee Tech alumnus and discussion meet winner Matthew McClanahan, American
Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, Young Farmers and Ranchers Chair Matt
Fimon, and Ford account supervisor Melissa Bufford. Photo credit: AFBF Photo/Michael
LoBiondo.
A Tennessee Tech University alumnus, adjunct instructor and local attorney has taken
home top honors at the American Farm Bureau’s recent convention in Salt Lake City,
Utah.
Matt McClanahan, a 2011 graduate of Tech’s School of Agriculture, won first place
in the Farm Bureau’s “discussion meet.” The competition simulates a committee or board
meeting, and participants are evaluated on their ability to exchange ideas and information
on a predetermined topic.
Young farmers from 37 different states who had each placed first at their respective
state convention competed against McClanahan for the coveted first place prize: a
$35,000 credit toward the purchase of a new Ford vehicle.
“The point is to identify a problem facing American agriculture, identify possible
solutions and enact an action plan,” McClanahan explained. “Your job is to try and
coalesce different people into a shared vision and move that forward with words in
a way that is persuasive.”
For McClanahan, using his words and speaking prowess to win over audiences is nothing
new. The Tech alumnus educates students at his alma mater by teaching an environmental
law course each fall and has racked up an impressive record of verdicts as a lawyer
at his Crossville-based firm McClanahan & Winston, P.C. He also serves as executive
director for the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts.
McClanahan was even part of a legal team that argued before the Sixth U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals to successfully overturn a federal policy impacting restaurant owners
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He explains that his success on the Farm Bureau stage was made even sweeter because
of the times he had competed and come up shy of a first-place finish.
“I had competed at the state level for years and years and had received second place
in the discussion meet no less than seven times,” McClanahan said with a laugh. “At
a certain point, you think ‘I’m never going to win this’, but I stuck with it. I give
God all the glory and thank Him for giving me the words and the opportunity to compete.”
The Cumberland County native credits experiences at Tech, such as being part of Tech
Honors, the university’s honors program, with instilling in him the confidence to
succeed.
As a student, McClanahan also participated in the university’s moot court team, where
he developed a rapport with Tech faculty like Lori Maxwell, chair of the Sociology
and Political Science Department. The longtime professor affectionately called McClanahan
“the cow whisperer” after he was once tardy to a group practice because he had to
deliver a baby calf.
“I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Maxwell,” said McClanahan. “I would say
that the instruction that I received from her on the moot court team and getting to
serve alongside very accomplished colleagues helped set me on a trajectory for today.”
And as for that credit towards the purchase of a new car? McClanahan has another plan
in mind.
“I’m going to give it to my mom and dad,” he explained. “They have always been great
supporters of mine and my biggest encouragers.”
