County Farm Bureau annual meetings are kinda like New Year’s: celebrations of the past 12 months and eager anticipation of the next. If you haven’t yet been invited yet to your county’s 2024 annual, allow Farm Gate to do the honors right now.
Below you’ll find a list of dates and times. Some details still need nailing down, but the bulk of it’s there; we’ll keep sharing updated information ‘til they’re all wrapped up.
From June to November, these annual meetings are the alpha and omega of your county Farm Bureau. They recap and celebrate the accomplishments of the past year while ushering in the next by adopting policies and electing new leaders.
Annual meetings vary from one county Farm Bureau to the next, from homey potlucks to catered shindigs with entertainment and door prizes. Either way, here are the basic elements you can expect:
- A hearty spread. Nobody goes home hungry!
- Reports on your county’s Young Farmer and Promotion & Education programs, recapping activities and achievements over the past year.
- Review, discussion and adoption of changes to your county’s policy slate. More on this below.
- Review and approval of your county Farm Bureau financials.
- Election of members to your county Farm Bureau board of directors: choosing who will lead your organization through the coming year, help set priorities, delegate responsibilities and guide decision-making.
About that policy component: In the months leading up to your annual meeting, a dedicated policy development (PD) committee has formulated a slate of proposals for consideration, including changes to existing policies and/or new measures fresh from the ground up.
Either way, their overall intent is to further Farm Bureau’s mission by amplifying members’ voices in the ears of decision makers at all levels: township, county, state and federal.
These policies are meant to reflect your interests, concerns and priorities. If they don’t — or if you have thoughts on improving them — it’s imperative you take this opportunity to chime in! Even though they’re drafted by a small group of your local peers, your input can only help strengthen the integrity of the final product.
(Some county Farm Bureaus deliberate their policies in a separate, dedicated meeting before or after the county annual. Even so, your input is welcome!)
Policy gets a spotlight but it’s not the only Farm Bureau activity that relies on your involvement. Depending on your own interests and talents, several other programs would welcome your interest and improve with your participation. The best way to learn more is to introduce yourself and start asking questions, and there are few better opportunities for that than your county annual meeting.
Now that you’ve been invited, all that’s left is to R.S.V.P. to your county Farm Bureau office; a quick phone call to your county administrative manager (CAM) is the best way to learn all the necessary details and reserve your spot.
After that you just show up with smiles, handshakes and questions!
2024 County Farm Bureau Annual Meetings
Information current as of July 30.
Look to Farm Gate for ongoing updates.
Allegan — Aug. 27, 5:30 p.m.; C & J Country Gardens, Hamilton
Antrim — Aug. 21, 6 p.m.; Banks Township Hall, 6520 Center St., Ellsworth
Arenac — Sept. 17, 5:45 p.m.; The Flying Pig, 2723 Grove Street Rd., Standish
Barry — Aug. 19, 6 p.m.; MOO-ville Outdoor Pavilion, 5875 S. M-66, Nashville
Bay — Aug. 19, 5 p.m.; Doubletree, 1 Wenonah Park Pl., Bay City
Benzie-Manistee — Oct. 26 p.m.; Blaine Christian Church, 7018 Putney Rd., Arcadia
Berrien — Nov. 18, 8 a.m.; Lake Michigan Gardens, 2584 E. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor
Branch — Sept. 16, 5 p.m.; The Dearth Center, 262 S. Sprague St., Coldwater
Calhoun — Sept. 17, 5:30 p.m.; Old Indian Creek Farm, 22523 Marshall Rd., Olivet
Cass — Sept. 28, 10 a.m.; location TBD
Charlevoix — Sept. 23, 6 p.m.; The Boathouse on Lake Charlevoix, 204 Water St., East Jordan
Cheboygan — Sept. 11, 6 p.m.; Reimann Farm, 6543 W. Birchwood Rd., Cheboygan
Chippewa — Sept. 26, 6 p.m.; Rudyard Twp Hall, 18725 S. Mackinac Tr., Rudyard
Clare — Aug. 14, 5 p.m.; Rooftop Landing Reindeer Farm, 276 E. Stevenson Lake Rd., Clare
Clinton — Sept. 23, 6 p.m.; AgroLiquid Conference Center, 3055 M-21, St. Johns
Copper Country — Oct. 1, 6 p.m.; Continental Fire Co., 408 E. Montezuma Ave., Houghton
Eaton — Sept. 12, 6 p.m.; Hidden Creek Farms, 2191 E. Vermontville Hwy., Charlotte
Emmet (policy) — Aug. 12, 6 p.m.; Megan Nothelfer Farm Bureau Insurance Agency, 2780 Charlevoix Ave., Suite 15, Petoskey
Emmet (annual) — Sept. 16, 6 p.m.; LTBB Government Center, 7500 Odawa Circle, Harbor Springs
Genesee — Aug. 16, 6 p.m.; Davison Country Club, 9512 E. Lippincott Blvd., Davison
Gladwin — Sept. 21, 2 p.m.; Gladwin County Fairgrounds, 401 S. State St., Gladwin
Gratiot — June 27, 12 p.m.; The Fields Golf Course, 158 N. State St., Ithaca
Hiawathaland — Oct. 28, 6 p.m.; Delta Chamber Visitors Center, 1001 N. Lincoln Rd., Escanaba
Hillsdale — Sept. 14, 4 p.m.; The Dawn Theater, 110 N. Broad St., Hillsdale
Huron — Aug. 28, 5:30 p.m.; Franklin Inn, 170 E. Huron Ave., Bad Axe
Huron Shores — Oct. 7; mail-in ballots: P.O. Box 157, Alpena
Ingham — Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m.; Ingham County Fairgrounds Community Building, 700 E. Ash St., Mason
Ionia — Aug. 7, 6 p.m.; Shadow Ridge Golf Course, 1244 Kelsey Hwy., Ionia
Iosco — Sept. 25, 5 p.m.; Brycelynn's Pumpkin Patch, 530 Miller Rd., Tawas City
Isabella & Midland — Sept. 17, 4 p.m.; Back Orchard Barn, 11001 Wilkinson Rd., Freeland
Jackson — Aug. 17, 10:30 a.m.; Gee Farms Nursery & Greenhouses, 14928 Bunkerhill Rd., Stockbridge
Kalamazoo — Aug. 15, 6 p.m.; Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo
Kent — Sept. 5, 5:30 p.m.; Fairway Event & Banquet Center, 6650 Crossings Dr. SE, Grand Rapids
Lapeer — Sept. 16, 5 p.m.; Ankley Family Farm, 6767 Clear Lake Rd., Imlay City
Lenawee — Aug. 16, 6 p.m.; Carpenter Farms, Adrian
Livingston — Sept. 11, 6 p.m.; Chemung Hills Golf and Banquet Center, 3125 Golf Club Rd., Howell
Mac-Luce-Schoolcraft — Oct. 10, 6 p.m.; N6760 M-117, Engadine
Macomb — Sept. 12, 6 p.m.; Armada Fairgrounds, 74280 Fair St., Armada
Mason — Aug. 28, 6 p.m.; Farmview Resort, 6700 N. US-31, Free Soil
Mecosta — Sept. 7, 5:30 p.m.; Haymarsh Hunt Club, 11959 Jefferson Rd., Morley
Menominee — Oct. 8, 6 p.m.; Belgiumtown Restaurant, W4346 Belgiumtown Rd., Stephenson
Midland & Isabella — Sept. 17, 4 p.m.; Back Orchard Barn, 11001 Wilkinson Rd., Freeland
Missaukee — Aug. 24, 6 p.m.; Cow Camp, South Green Road, McBain
Monroe — Sept. 19, 5 p.m.; Matthes Tree Farm, 13416 Lulu Rd., Ida
Montcalm — June 18, 5:30 p.m.; MSU Potato Research Facility, 4629 W. McBride Rd., Lakeview
Muskegon — Aug. 13, 6 p.m.; Folkert Community Hub, 640 Seminole Rd., Norton Shores
Newaygo & Oceana — Sept. 21, 4 p.m.; West Michigan Research Station, 5185 N. Oceana Dr., Hart
Northwest Mich. — Aug. 21, 6 p.m.; Bay View Weddings at Gallagher Farms, 8629 E. Lincoln Rd., Cedar
Oakland — Sept. 26, 6 p.m.; Activity Center at the Springfield Oaks County Park, 12451 Andersonville Rd., Davisburg
Oceana & Newaygo — Sept. 21, 4 p.m.; West Michigan Research Station, 5185 N. Oceana Dr., Hart
Ogemaw — Oct. 15, 7 p.m.; 426 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch
Osceola — April 14, 1 p.m.; AJ's Event Center, 11377 US-10, Evart
Otsego — Sept. 8, 2 p.m.; Livingston Township Hall, 3218 Old 27 North, Gaylord
Ottawa — Sept. 18, 5 p.m.; Spring Meadow Nursery, Grand Haven
Presque Isle — Aug. 19, 6 p.m.; Brush Creek Mill, 121 S. State St., Hillman
Saginaw — Aug. 22, 5:30 p.m.; Uptown North Main, 975 N. Main St., Frankenmuth
Sanilac — Aug. 26, 6 p.m.; 3169 W. Shabbona Rd., Snover
Shiawassee — Aug. 28, 5:30 p.m.; Fortitude Farms & Events, 4377 S. M-52, Owosso
St. Clair — Sept. 12, 6 p.m.; 8254 County Park Dr., Goodells
St. Joseph — Oct. 16, 6 p.m.; Sturges-Young Center for the Arts, 201 N. Nottawa St., Sturgis
Tuscola — Aug. 22, 5 p.m.; MSU Saginaw Valley Research & Education Center, 3775 S. Reese Rd., Frankenmuth
Van Buren — Aug. 26, 6 p.m.; location TBD
Washtenaw — Sept. 16, 4:30 p.m.; Historic Blum Barn, 10383 E Austin Rd., Manchester
Wayne — Oct. 4, 5 p.m.; Wayne County Fairgrounds, Belleville
Wexford — Sept. 19, 6 p.m.; The Greenhouse, 916 S. Mitchell St., Cadillac
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