Since its debut two years ago, a new scholarship program has helped a dozen Farm Bureau members across Michigan take part in external leadership development opportunities they may’ve otherwise missed out on.
Exemplifying the organization’s priority on investing in its members, MFB’s External Leadership Development Scholarships award members committed to taking part in a leadership-development program — and pledging to apply their newfound skills to benefit their county Farm Bureau.
Last summer Kent County Young Farmer Noah Roth used his scholarship award to attend an International Tree Fruit Association study tour in Nova Scotia.
“I wanted to go because we’re planting Ambrosia apples, a Canadian variety that’s new in the U.S.,” said Roth, who farms near Lowell with his wife Zoe. “We’re among the first growers to put ‘em in the ground here. Ours are in their second year; it’ll probably be two more years before they crop.
“We looked a lot at different root stocks and spacings,” he said, referring to one of the variety’s quirks: tall, vertical growth instead of branching out horizontally. That lends itself to tight spacing; Roth’s Ambrosia blocks are spaced only 18 inches apart.
He also brought home valuable insights about Ambrosia-specific pruning and thinning practices.
“ITFA tours in general are very informative,” he said, adding that he heard a lot from his eastern-Canadian peers about climate variation and — of course — labor issues.
Roth’s junket to the Maritimes is just one example; other scholarship recipients have included several familiar names, from Young Farmer standouts and ProFILE participants to relative newcomers looking to wring extra value out of their Farm Bureau membership:
- St. Clair County P&E Chair Katie Blashill attended the 2023 National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Orlando, Fla.
- Bill Cagney from Kalamazoo County used his scholarship last year to attend National Lamb Feeders Association Leadership School.
- Ingham County Young Farmer Julia Chamberlain polished up her networking and communication skills at a Dale Carnegie course in Lansing.
- Charlevoix County leader Isaac Matchett — board member and Public Policy chair — used scholarship funds this year to be part of American Sheep Industry Annual Convention in Denver.
- Mecosta County Young Farmer standout Cora Okkema, a member of the current ProFILE cohort, used her scholarship award to attend the 2023 annual meeting of the American Dairy Science Association in Ottawa, Ontario.
- Ogemaw County shepherdess Elaine Palm used scholarship funds to take part in Michigan Shepherds Weekend in Lansing with her husband Rick.
- Jackson County’s Jackie Sanford took part in a virtual Farmers Coaching Farmers training. Jackie and her husband Chris run Sanford Family Beef near Parma.
Applicants are limited to one award of up to $1,500 per calendar year.
Programs should be rooted outside MFB’s current offerings but align with members’ leadership objectives and priorities: communication, conflict resolution, networking, innovation and engagement techniques for working with consumers and policymakers.
Applicants must provide documentation of acceptance into the program; proof of payment; and proof of attendance/participation.
Eligible applicants are current Farm Bureau regular members who have recently participated in a county Farm Bureau event, and who commit to applying their newly gained experience and skills by contributing back to their county Farm Bureau.
Awards are administered on a first-come, first-serve basis until budgeted dollars are depleted. Online applications are due the first of each month, with recipients notified by the 15th after review by a panel of Michigan Farm Bureau staff.
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