AgriPac announces Nov. 5 general election endorsements

Michigan Farm Bureau’s AgriPac announced Tuesday 11 candidates joining the organization’s Friend of Agriculture roster ahead of the Nov. 5 general election. This is in addition to the 78 candidates the organization endorsed in the primary election who were successful. 

2024 AgriPac Friends of Agriculture

The news expands the list of farm-friendly candidates to include endorsements for president, U.S. Senate, Michigan Supreme Court, MSU Board of Trustees and four additional candidates for state representative. 

AgriPac chair and Washtenaw County farmer Mike Fusilier touted the organization’s grassroots candidate evaluation process as “second to none,” and he thanked the county Farm Bureaus for their hard work interviewing candidates and crafting recommendations, but also urged them to continue investing time to help candidates who appreciate and respect agriculture. 

“Talk to your neighbors, talk to your friends about getting out the vote for Friends of Agriculture,” Fusilier said. “And put signs out on your property — that’s one thing Farm Bureau members have most other organizations don’t, is land frontage on roads. 

“If people can contribute (financially) to Friends of Agriculture that would be a great thing too.”

AgriPac now accepts donations through PayPal. 

Newly endorsed candidates

• President: Donald Trump (R)
• U.S. Senate: Mike Rogers (R)
• Supreme Court: Patrick William O’Grady and Andrew Fink
• MSU Board of Trustees: Mike Balow (R) and Julie Maday (R)
• State House: Dist. 47 – Teresa Spiegelberg (R), Dist. 50 – Jason Woolford (R), Dist. 64 – Joseph Pavlov (R), Dist. 103 – Lisa Trombley (R), Dist. 109 – Karl Bohnak (R)

View the complete list.

Candidates with agriculture experience

Among the roster of now 89 endorsed candidates are several who currently farm or have previous experience in agriculture and are seeking election or reelection in the Michigan House of Representatives. 

• Jennifer Wortz, a Branch County Farm Bureau member, is running for the 35th House District (all of Branch and Hillsdale counties and the city of Hudson in Lenawee County). 
• Cady Ness-Smith, Ingham County Farm Bureau member and member of the MFB Equine Advisory Committee, is running for the 77th House District (portions of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties, including Lansing, DeWitt and Watertown Township).  
• Rep. Rachelle Smit, an Allegan County Farm Bureau member, seeks reelection to the 43rd House District (most of Allegan County and portions of Barry, Eaton and Ottawa counties). 
• Rep. Sarah Lightner, a Jackson County Farm Bureau member, looks to again represent the 45th House District (portions of Calhoun and Jackson counties).   
• Rep. Luke Meerman, an Ottawa County Farm Bureau member, seeks reelection to the 89th House District (portions of Ottawa and Muskegon counties).  
• Rep. Bryan Posthumus, a Kent County hops farmer, looks to again represent the 90th House District (portions of Kent County). 
• Rep. Jerry Neyer, an Isabella County Farm Bureau member, seeks reelection in the 92nd House District (Isabella County and a portion of Gratiot County).  
• Rep. Greg Alexander, a Sanilac County Farm Bureau member, seeks reelection in the 98th House District (Huron County and portions of Lapeer, Sanilac and Tuscola counties).  
• Parker Fairbairn, an Emmet County Farm Bureau board member, is running for the 107th House District (All of Charlevoix and Emmet counties and portions of Cheboygan, Chippewa, and Mackinac counties).