Following the completion of the organization’s 104th annual meeting in Grand Rapids, the Michigan Farm Bureau Board of Directors convened for the annual reorganization of the board’s executive committee.
MFB board members serving as the executive committee for 2024 include:
- Carl Bednarski, Tuscola County, At-Large, President
- Patrick McGuire, Antrim County, District 11, Vice President
- Stephanie Schafer, Clinton County, District 5, Third Member
- Ben LaCross, Northwest Michigan, District 9
- Jeff Sandborn, Ionia County, District 4
During the annual meeting, delegates elected two at-large director positions, including first-year incumbent Paul Pridgeon of Branch County. He will be joined by newcomer Abe Pasch of Isabella County, filling the vacancy left by longtime at-large director Doug Darling of Monroe County, who chose not to seek re-election.
Larry Walton, who previously held an at-large position on the MFB board for two years, was elected to represent District 1 (Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties).
Other district directors reelected to their positions were:
- Mike Fusilier — District 3 (Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne)
- Stephanie Schafer — District 5 (Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Ingham, Shiawassee)
- Michael DeRuiter — District 7 (Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola)
- Ben LaCross — District 9 (Benzie, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford)
- Patrick McGuire — District 11 (Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Otsego, and Presque Isle)
Not up for reelection this year were directors representing even-numbered districts, including:
- Jennifer Lewis — District 2 (Branch, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee)
- Jeff Sandborn — District 4 (Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Ottawa)
- Travis Fahley — District 6 (Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, St. Clair, Tuscola)
- Michael Mulders — District 8 (Bay, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw)
- Leona Daniels — District 10 (Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Huron Shores, Iosco, Ogemaw)
- David Bahrman — District 12 (the entire Upper Peninsula)
State Committees
Also new to the board is Abby Vittore of Lenawee County, who will represent the State Young Farmer Committee as its chair, succeeding Montcalm County’s Lane Grieser. Vittore and her husband Ben live near Britton with their daughter Rosie.
Rounding out the MFB board is Osceola County’s Jess Erler, who will continue in his role as chair of the state Promotion & Education committee for a second year.