Josh Scramlin, whose family has been farming in Oakland County since 1910, began work March 31 as Michigan Farm Bureau’s new associate legislative counsel.
Scramlin comes to MFB after almost four years with the National Pork Producers Council. There he served as the commodity organization’s regional director of producer services, helping pork producers in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky. He worked with state pork associations to ensure proper funding levels and facilitate grassroots member involvement.
In his new role with MFB’s State Government Relations Department, Scramlin will be responsible for legislative and regulatory advocacy for environmental and labor issues at the state level.
“I like fighting for farms. I like defending farms,” Scramlin said. “That's just where my passion lies — in advancing the interest of agriculture in the state of Michigan. This role will allow me to do that each and every day.”
Previously Scramlin graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in applied arts. He began his career in broadcasting and spent time as an agribusiness reporter with the Midwest Farm Report in Madison, Wisconsin, where he produced daily commodity and livestock reports and covered ag policy issues at the Wisconsin capitol.
Scramlin has been a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting since 2019.
He and his extended family have deep roots in Michigan agriculture, where many have been long-time members and leaders at Oakland County Farm Bureau.
“The organization has always meant a lot to me and my entire family,” Scramlin said. “My time as a farm broadcaster has prepared me for every role that I've had since then. If you can connect with people and make them feel comfortable and just have genuine relationships with them, I see that as being incredibly advantageous.
"I'm ready to hit the ground running in Lansing.”