Michael R. Mulders of Essexville joined the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Board of Directors in December 2006 when he was elected District 8 Director. The district represents Farm Bureau members in Bay, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw counties.
Mulders farmed with his father while attending Garber High School and studying mechanical engineering at Saginaw Valley State University. The fourth-generation farmer and his family operate a 600-acre produce and cash crop farm in Bay County.
The farm produces beef, sugar beets, soybeans, wheat and corn, dry beans, as well as fresh market produce. The produce is sold wholesale throughout the state.
Mulders has been an active Farm Bureau member at both the county and state levels. He served on the Bay County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for six years, including three spent as president. His county-level involvement also includes serving on and/or chairing a number of committees, including the Executive, Policy Development, Candidate Evaluation, Land Use, Local Affairs, State and National Affairs, Membership and Investment committees.
At the state level, Mulders has chaired the MFB Study Committee and Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee. He's also vice chaired the MFB Policy Development and Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Advisory committees. At the national level, Mulders has chaired the American Farm Bureau Federation's Sugar Advisory Committee.
Mulders' past Farm Bureau accomplishments also include winning the prestigious MFB Farmer Idea Exchange and Young Farmer Achievement Awards.
Outside of Farm Bureau, Mulders serves on many boards, including 13 years on the Hampton Township Planning Commission. He's also served on the Michigan Sugar Co. Board of Directors. Mulders and his family are members of St. Jude Thadius Catholic Church.