Changing seasons often bring changing leadership at Farm Bureau, from county boards to state-level committees. A grateful Michigan Farm Bureau congratulates these four State Young Farmer Committee leaders for their service to the organization, and applaud the work they’ve completed during their terms.
Joe Ankley
Lapeer County’s Joe Ankley operates an agrotourism business with his family, featuring cut flowers, pumpkins, baked goods and produce. His Young Farmer journey began with discussion meets, where he made it to the state finals and achieved a national runner-up finish for American Farm Bureau Federation’s Excellence in Agriculture Award.
“We reevaluated the discussion meet format with the goal of making it less intimidating at the district level,” Ankley said of his work revamping the time-honored gateway experience still introducing Young Farmers to the organization. “We wanted it to be more comfortable for members who aren’t as confident, or who lack public-speaking experience, but still have something to say. Through participant surveys and increased participation, we saw positive results from our changes.”
The biggest takeaway from his time on the committee was exposure to the immense diversity of Michigan agriculture — and the people who make it happen.
“Everybody has something different to bring. It’s really cool to meet people who engage in agrotourism, row crops, and livestock,” he said. “It reinforces why Michigan is the second most agriculturally diverse state.”
Ankley also emphasized the value the organization brings to the table.
“Farm Bureau does an excellent job advocating for agriculture and providing opportunities for those in the industry to learn more, do more, and succeed more.”
Dannie Dryer
Ionia County Farm Bureau member Dannie Dryer hails from Portland where her family and two children farm corn and soybeans. By day she works next door in Clinton County as a Pioneer Sales Associate for Pat Feldpausch Farms.
Dryer’s Farm Bureau involvement started with county-level Promotion & Education work in Ionia County, and stepped up her Young Farmer leadership game by joining the state committee four years ago. She takes some well-earned pride in realizing her goal of increasing District 4’s participation in Young Farmer Discussion Meets during her time on the committee.
“You can always learn something new,” she said. “As each successive farming generation gets smaller, we need to keep adapting programs to get more people involved.”
Dryer’s passion for the organization is most apparent when you catch her encouraging prospective new members to check it out.
“Farm Bureau is like a giant family — always willing to help — and I have seen great things happen because of the community, resources and opportunities,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to check it out, and go to county annuals or a conference when you can. The relationships you build and knowledge you gain and bring back to your own farm and county is worth it.”
Lane Grieser
With his wife Holly and their two kids, Lane Grieser raises sheep, horses, sweet corn and pumpkins near Carson City. He also works for a dairy farm, where a peer encouraged him to get involved in the Young Farmer program.
A member of the Montcalm County Farm Bureau, Grieser served the State Young Farmer Committee for four years, including time on its executive board as both chair and third member.
Most meaningful was being able to amplify the voice and opinions of his fellow Young Farmers. He also enjoyed taking a group of Young Farmers to the national Young Farmer & Ranchers Conference in Omaha, Nebraska.
“The relationships you make and the people you meet are incredibly rewarding,” Grieser said. “For me, Farm Bureau has meant creating connections with people all over the state — people with similar experiences I never would have known otherwise.”
He encourages others to take advantage of any opportunity to get involved with the state committee.
“It will be the greatest experience, I assure you. It’s taught me to be a better leader.”
Abby Vittore
Lenawee County’s Abby Vittore manages and handles marketing for her family’s greenhouse business outside Adrian where they sell hanging baskets, patio boxes and a deep inventory of other decorative plants. This time of year the focus shifts toward the agrotourism side of the business: pumpkins, corn mazes, hayrides and donuts.
Vittore’s involvement started with high school discussion meets, continued through collegiate Farm Bureau, and finally Lenawee County Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer program.
As outgoing chair of MFB’s State Young Farmer Committee, Vittore’s had a hand in a resurgence in Young-Farmer involvement, post-Covid. The most recent innovation along those lines has been the launch of a statewide makeup Discussion Meet to squeeze as much participation as possible from busy contestants.
“It was rewarding to see the makeup Discussion Meet come to fruition,” she said. “It’s something I’ve been supportive of for a long time because I’ve been in a position where I wanted to compete but the date didn’t work or an emergency came up.
“I loved giving people a chance to try again and hope it will gain popularity in the future.”
Altogether, Vittore has found her time leading the state committee to be an encouraging boost.
“The committee is a fantastic group with great ideas and the motivation to get things done,” she said. “They’re the next generation of Farm Bureau leaders. It’s been an awesome four years, and an honor.
“Through Farm Bureau I know there is whole group of people collaborating and supporting me, which is vital for a small business owner and farmer.”
Webberville native Cassie Bosworth is interning with Michigan Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Collegiate programs.
Share Story
Article Tags
