AgriPac announces candidate endorsements for Aug. 6 primary election

Michigan Farm Bureau’s nonpartisan political action committee, AgriPac, announced Monday its roster of candidates selected to receive the "Friend of Agriculture" designation and the organization’s endorsement in the Aug. 6 primary election. 

2024 AgriPac Friends of Agriculture

AgriPac Chair and Washtenaw County farmer Mike Fusilier said it’s paramount that Farm Bureau members make the time to vote, and support farm-friendly candidates on the ballot. 

"We need leaders in all branches of government who understand our rural communities, and further, appreciate and respect agriculture's contribution to the economy," Fusilier said. "Our voices are more important than ever amid an array of politically divisive issues, including those impeding our ability to produce food, fiber and fuel."

Michigan Farm Bureau’s grassroots endorsement process helps determine a candidate’s ability to support legislative and regulatory proposals that enable the state’s farms and agribusinesses to thrive. 

“Our local candidate evaluation committees conduct candidate interviews, review candidate questionnaires and consider incumbents’ voting records before they recommend who should receive endorsement by AgriPac,” Fusilier explained, adding that the 14-member AgriPac committee reviewed 340 county Farm Bureau recommendations to help them determine the Friends of Agriculture primary election roster. 

AgriPac will meet again in September to make additional endorsements ahead of the Nov. 5 general election. 

Michigan voters will select individuals to serve in the following offices during the 2024 election cycle: President, U.S. Senate, Congress (13 seats), Michigan Supreme Court (two seats), MSU Board of Trustees (two seats), Michigan House of Representatives (110 seats) and numerous county and township positions.

Candidates with agriculture experience

Among the roster of 81 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).

Send in your support today 

AgriPac needs your contributions to support candidates who have the wisdom to listen, an eagerness to learn, and the dependability to advocate for our way of life.

Help AgriPac elect candidates who are capable of crafting bipartisan, common-sense, and science-based policy, and recognize the importance of asking for input and feedback from farmers instead of making assumptions about farms, families and businesses. 

Contributions in any amount are accepted and can be sent to: AgriPac, 7373 W. Saginaw Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917. Personal checks can be made out to MFB AgriPac and farm or business checks can be made out to MFB FarmPac. Credit or debit card contributions can be made by calling 517-323-6740. Thank you for supporting Friends of Agriculture!