Michigan Farm Bureau’s Champions of Excellence Awards recognize county Farm Bureaus for outstanding grassroots efforts implementing member-developed policy, advocating organizational positions and promoting Michigan agriculture.
Activities are evaluated based on the innovation and effectiveness of programs executed over the preceding program year. Successful programs are shared with other counties so great ideas can spread, enriching Farm Bureau and Michigan agriculture overall.
This is the third batch of Michigan’s 12 district-level winners; look for more next month.
Clare
When Clare County’s Young Farmers learned the county’s population leads the state in food insecurity — 18%, almost 72% higher than the national average — they did more than hashtag thoughts and prayers, they took assertive action.
The group coordinated a Harvest for All golf scramble to raise awareness, split the proceeds between local food pantries, then amplified those donations by partnering with the Agent Charitable Fund (ACF).
Clare’s whole Young Farmer group (including a new member and three previously uninvolved) worked tirelessly behind the scenes — and outside their comfort zones — to cold-call local businesses for support. They scoured the community for hole sponsors and prize donations while the chair worked with the golf course on the players’ experience and meal arrangements.
The event was open to the public and promoted to members, regular and associate, as well as to existing local golf leagues. Courting interest via the wide net of social media also helped broadcast the county Farm Bureau’s mission to a much larger audience than the organization has traditionally reached.
Its success was an eagerly embraced ‘win’ for a county where the Young Farmer program has seen involvement flagging in recent years.
After everything was paid for, the proceeds totaled $930 — doubled by an ACF Double-Up grant. Both local food pantries received checks just before Thanksgiving, dealing a righteous blow to local food insecurity at an especially heartfelt time of year.
Genesee
Genesee County Farm Bureau’s ‘Grow With Us’ greenhouse-outreach event focused on two key goals:
- Encouraging members to buy at local, member-owned greenhouses to encourage economic growth in the local farm community.
- Identify associate members who might qualify for regular membership, utilizing a survey of ag-profile questions to determine respondents’ appropriate classification.
Planning started with developing surveys for both membership classifications. Associate members were asked if they owned land leased for farming, if they work in agribusiness, or own horses or livestock. Regular members took questions about Farm Bureau events, goals and policy topics.
In return, both membership groups were invited out to local greenhouses for spending vouchers and a simple meal. Greenhouse owners did a great job welcoming Farm Bureau members to their operations — a first-of-its-kind activity this engaged this group of members in a new way.
Of the 200+ regular members who took part, 143 were new to Farm Bureau involvement, even despite several long-term memberships.
Among other positive outcomes was the “conversion” of more than 30 associates to regular-member status, based on their survey responses. Another was the improved dialogue between the organization, farming members and associates, who now better understand Farm Bureau is an active non-profit helping local farmers — not just an insurance company.
Grow With Us showed members the organization supports their businesses and appreciates their continued membership and involvement. The county Farm Bureau also gained valuable insights into members’ outlooks on the organization — what’s being done right and where there’s room for improvement.
Look for more Champions of Excellence district winners in the next Farm Gate, Oct. 1.
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