Allison Schafer breathing new life into Clinton’s Young Farmer program

Last year Clinton County Young Farmers (from left) Allison Schafer, Andrea Meade, Kyle Schafer and Andrew Braun let off some post-harvest steam with a little axe throwing.

Date Posted: October 25, 2022

Megan Lopresto, Michigan Farm Bureau

A seventh-generation dairy farmer at Jem-Lot Dairy near Westphalia, Allison Schafer’s involvement in agriculture and Farm Bureau has always been second nature. Recognizing the opportunities Young Farmers provides, she’s taken on chairing the program in Clinton County, upping her own involvement game and encouraging her local peers to do the same.

To that end Schafer’s looking forward to some upcoming programs she’s spearheading: Clinton County’s second annual Post-Harvest Unwind offers Young Farmers an opportunity to enjoy a relaxed day after a long harvest season. And adding a euchre tournament to the agenda promises to boost turnout at the District 5 Young Farmer Christmas Party.

Among her more innovative efforts is starting Clinton County Farm Bureau’s newest — and youngest — Community Action Group (CAG), cleverly dubbed the Young and the Restless. A vital component of Farm Bureau’s grassroots processes for identifying issues and developing policy recommendations, CAGs engage members in practical discussions on local-level matters affecting their immediate farming communities.

After an eager start, the Young and the Restless CAG remains very active, and Schafer feels confident they’re on track toward gelling into a successful and influential Farm Bureau group.

Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer program strives to serve the needs of farmers ages 18-35, developing new leaders and providing members with a better understanding of the organization’s purpose — and engaged chairs like Schafer are vital to its success.

Especially in a post-Covid world in which rallying involvement can prove challenging, dynamic young leaders are invaluable. Members interested in getting involved in their county Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer program are encouraged contact their county Farm Bureau office.

This is the first in a series looking at the accomplishments of county-level Young Farmer chairs; look for more in upcoming issues of Farm Gate.

Megan Lopresto is currently interning with MFB’s Center for Education and Leadership Development.