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 second batch of Michigan’s 12 district-level winners; look for more in the weeks to come.
Livingston
Ag in the Park 2024 helped raise Livingston County Farm Bureau’s profile in the community and promoted interest in 4-H, which has seen declining interest and participation in recent years. The goal was to provide an opportunity to showcase project areas, meet local young families and promote agriculture, all at the same time.
Working with MSU Extension, Farm Bureau members and Livingston County 4-H clubs collaborated on interactive displays, games and farm animals to engage with local youth. Livingston’s P&E team worked with Extension leaders to identify needs and plan the program to address them. They chose an accessible, walkable site ideal for family-friendly activities, and set up ag-related games and activities like a straw maze and a roping ring toss.
By showing how youth can absorb farm-focused learning — and how Farm Bureau supports local agriculture and its members — the outreach found a wide audience. More than 20 volunteers helped out, and twice that many new contacts were added to Livingston’s prospect list!
The great turnout wasn’t Ag in the Park’s only measure of success; many families came and stayed the whole day — grandparents brought grandchildren; even passers-by dropped in and stayed. Grown-ups appreciated the membership career wheel and agritourism guides, and freely shared memories of their farm experiences.
Livingston County focuses on events and programming to add value to membership. Working with MSUE demonstrates cooperation and parallel focus in the value of educating the public about agriculture, and creating a contact base with local farm families.
Young Farmers staffed a membership display explaining the county Farm Bureau’s role as distinct from that of the local Farm Bureau Insurance agents who were on site to promote their products. The local non-farming community can now tie Farm Bureau with a purpose other than insurance, and have a source of contact for information.
Hillsdale
Hillsdale County boasts four FFA chapters, but several schools lack ag-education programs that could spark interest in farm work among those aging toward their first jobs outside school.
Seeing the critical need for more young farmers and farm workers, Hillsdale County Farm Bureau’s inaugural Agriculture Career Day offered high-school students a chance to learn about vocations related to agriculture. The event aimed to inform its audience about the diversity of available opportunities, how to work toward those careers and where to find more information.
A planning committee started by identifying the target audience: grades 9-12 at several area schools. Speakers were chosen for maximum interest, both in their areas of expertise and their talent for communicating with passion and enthusiasm.
School leaders helped encourage student attendance, but the ag-education downturn made Farm Bureau member participation a priority; the labor shortage crops up in policy discussions, outreach activities and in conversation with other ag groups.
Hillsdale County Farm Bureau started with its most engaged members, then shifted focus to the uninvolved. Members’ roles included venue choice and preparation, speaker contacts, topic selection, sponsor arrangements, setup, tear-down and event communications.
Choosing a member farm to host the event added valuable exposure to a real-world agricultural setting.
The event brought new focus to the county Farm Bureau’s mission to link local young people into the farming community — specifically those nearing the age when their first work experiences outside school make a big impression.
The outcome far exceeded expectations, with about 100 students in attendance; 30 Farm Bureau members supporting behind the scenes; 12 sponsors; and 14 school districts taking part. Feedback from participants confirmed the event was successful enough to warrant revisiting in the fall.
This event advanced Farm Bureau policy by helping boost the number of older students learning about ag careers, connecting with those prospective future workers, and promoting the organization’s role in workforce development.
Look for another batch of Champions of Excellence district winners in the next Farm Gate, Sept. 17.
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