See you next week in Grand Rapids!

The kickoff was kicky and the district meetings met.

All that’s left of your 2023 State Annual Meeting is three days in Grand Rapids, where delegates representing all of Michigan’s 65 county Farm Bureaus will make their final deliberations and put a bow on the 2024 Policy Book.

Themed “Growing Today for a Better Tomorrow,” Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2023 State Annual Meeting takes place Nov. 28-30 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place Convention Center in downtown Grand Rapids. Click here for the comprehensive website.

At its heart are three delegate sessions, where your county Farm Bureau’s representatives will put the finishing touches on policy recommendations that began taking shape months ago at your own county Farm Bureau. 

But that’s not nearly all of it, of course; here’s the full run-down:

Tuesday, November 28

12:30 - 9 p.m. — Registration; DeVos Secchia Lobby

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. — Young Farmer Discussion Meet registration; DeVos Grand Gallery

1:30 - 2 p.m. — Young Farmer Discussion Meet briefing; DeVos Grand Gallery

2 - 3 p.m. — Young Farmer Discussion Meet, Sweet 16, Round 1; DeVos Grand Gallery A-D

3:30 - 4:30 p.m. — Young Farmer Discussion Meet, Sweet 16, Round 2; DeVos Grand Gallery A-D

4:30 - 5:30 p.m. — Young Farmer Award Finalist and Discussion Meet Sweet 16; networking with sponsors; DeVos Grand Gallery Overlook

5:30 - 7 p.m. — Promotion & Education Showcase; DeVos Secchia Lobby

5:30 - 6:45 p.m. — AgriPac Reception; DeVos River Overlook

6 - 6:30 p.m. — Excellence in Agriculture Presentation; DeVos Grand Gallery D

6:45 - 8 p.m. — Leadership Dessert Banquet; DeVos Ballroom BCD:

• Young Farmer Awards
• Educator of the Year Award
• Young Farmer Discussion Meet Final Four announced

8 - 9:30 p.m. — Networking reception; open to all members; hosted by the state Promotion & Education and Young Farmer committees; Amway Ambassador Ballroom

Wednesday, November 29

6 a.m. - 9 p.m. — Registration; DeVos Secchia Lobby

7 - 8:30 a.m. — Breakfast & Young Farmer Discussion Meet finals; DeVos Ballroom BCD

8 - 8:15 a.m. — High School & Collegiate Discussion Meet registration; DeVos Grand Gallery

8:15 - 8:30 a.m. — High School & Collegiate Discussion Meet briefing; DeVos Grand Gallery B (High School), D (Collegiate), F (judges)

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. — High School & Collegiate Discussion Meet Round 1; DeVos Grand Gallery A-E

8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. — Delegate Session; DeVos Ballroom A

9 a.m. - Noon — Children’s Museum Field Trip; preregistration required; meet in DeVos Grand Gallery

9:45 - 10:45 a.m. — High School & Collegiate Discussion Meet Round 2; DeVos Grand Gallery A-E

11:15 - 11:30 a.m. — High School & Collegiate Discussion Meet finalist announcement; DeVos Grand Gallery A-E

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — High School & Collegiate Discussion Meet finals; DeVos Grand Gallery DE (High School), AB (Collegiate)

12:30 - 2 p.m. — Member Engagement Lunch; DeVos Ballroom BCD

• Key Club Recognition
• Membership Awards
• High School & Collegiate Discussion Meet winner announcement
• Young Farmer Discussion Meet winner announcement

2 - 6:30 p.m. — Promotion & Education Showcase; DeVos Secchia Lobby

2:30 - 5:30 p.m. — Delegate Session; DeVos Ballroom A

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. — Promotion & Education Workshops, Session 1; DeVos Grand Gallery AB, DE

3:30 - 4:30 p.m. — Promotion & Education Workshops, Session 2; DeVos Grand Gallery AB, DE

6 - 7 p.m. — Consumers Energy Reception; DeVos Grand Gallery

7 - 9 p.m. — Annual Banquet; DeVos Ballroom BCD

• President’s Address
• Volunteer of the Year Award
• Live Auction

Thursday, November 30

6:30 - 11 a.m. — Registration; DeVos Secchia Lobby

7 - 8 a.m. — Delegate Breakfast; DeVos Ballroom BCD

8 - 11 a.m. — Closing Delegate Session; DeVos Ballroom A