Meet Your Staff: Government Relations Specialist Matt Kapp

Matthew Daniel Kapp grew up on a farm in Washtenaw County, just a few miles north of Ann Arbor. 

“My dad raised dairy and beef cattle, grew cash crops and hay; I worked for him throughout middle and high school. 

“I was involved in 4-H, showing dairy, swine and rabbits. At Michigan State I started in the Institute of Agricultural Technology Dairy Management program, then got my bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Natural Resources Communications.”

His Farm Bureau career started with three years as the North Regional Manager, working with members across the northernmost Lower Peninsula. In 2007 he came into the home office, where his role as Government Relations Specialist includes a couple distinct roles.

“My job is split in two: First is serving as our Local Issues and Land Use Specialist, providing member education and helping county Farm Bureaus engage in local issues. 

“I get excited when I can help members out and support a county Farm Bureau influencing local politics,” Kapp said.

“My other role is related to elections and AgriPAC. I assist county Farm Bureau Candidate Evaluation Committees and state AgriPAC committee. 

“Once AgriPAC endorses candidates, I’m heavily involved in MFB’s efforts in electing Friends of Agriculture. I believe strongly that Farm Bureau can impact elections for the betterment of agriculture.

“I’m pretty passionate about that!”

Finally, Kapp is a co-lead of the organization’s Academy for Political Leadership, which brings things full circle, supporting his work on local issues and elections. 

Wait. Did Kapp just say he was ‘passionate’?

When it comes to Spartan football, ‘passionate’ doesn’t quite cover it. He’s as feverish a booster of the Green & White as Green & White boosters get. Matt’s missed only a handful of Sparty’s gridiron tussles — home or away — since his college days. He follows most MSU sports as well, but his love of the glorious institution that is college football is unmatched. 

His other recreational pursuits include hunting and running — even ran his first marathon in 2014!