Timid no more: Young Farmer Leader John Bowsky

Listen, Reader: We all see things differently. 

Visiting John Bowsky for his Young Farmer Leader Award interview, my coworkers did the heavy lifting: Videographer Aaron Boak shot the footage and asked the questions. Communications Specialist Megan Sprague took the still photos, including the “livestock” — a soft red Husky named Soul and a wary tuxedo cat confidently surveying his domain. 

Me? I lurked in the background, taking it all in, waiting for the “lead” material that would most grab your attention. 

In the end what most struck me was the typical, everyday things John said in the margins of his interview — expected, familiar things, including some gems that probably won’t make it into the final video. 

A good example was his response to the routine “Why do you farm?” question: 

“That’s a hard question to answer. It’s just here, y’know? It’s always been in our blood to farm.”

We hear “farming’s in our blood” all the time, but what struck me was the audible shrug in his voice when he said, “It’s always been…”

Open the 1895 Sanilac County atlas to Elk Township and you’ll see his name right there in section 6 — an earlier John Bowsky, the one who started putting crops in that same dirt three years earlier, in 1892.

Bowsky Farms in the 21st century remains a humble operation: 400 acres of soybeans and red wheat halfway between Brown City and Sandusky. Today’s John Bowsky is the fourth generation working that ground, with sisters Jessica, Jennifer, and fiancé Tracy pitching in when they can, driving tractor and combine, and running into town for parts.

“Since we lost dad this last summer it’s more of a leadership role to see the farm succeed for the next generation.”

Dad’s legacy still weighs heavy in his son’s eyes and deep in his voice, reverently intoning the wisdom of generations past, like the importance of diverse income streams. All three siblings keep jobs off the farm. 

You have to nowadays. 

“That’s one thing that was instilled in us heavily — you need another income off the farm,” he said, channeling dad. “You got good years and bad years on the farm, and things still prosper from there.”

Instilled in us… Good years and bad… Still prosper… If that sounds routine, ask yourself why it sounds routine.

Speaking of, next came the usual question about involvement in Farm Bureau: 

“My first involvement was a discussion meet many, many years ago — not knowing what I was getting myself into, but also being kind of timid. I’m not a public speaker or one to really go out of my way to talk about something.”

Interesting response from a “timid” guy acing an on-camera interview, right? It’s daunting even under ideal conditions, like when you’re just talking about yourself, on familiar ground with your dog at your feet, soybeans rustling in breeze, and a home-team interviewer lobbing you friendly softballs.

“That kinda set the stage for me to be the leader I am now — helped me get out of my shell, work through conversations with my own peers and farmers — which should come naturally, and it does now,” he said, cracking another home run. “It helped me strive to be the best leader I can be moving forward.”

From one angle, earning this year’s state-level Young Farmer Leader Award is a cherry on top as he ages out of the program. But Bowsky’s not done with Farm Bureau; he has more leading ahead, and more to gain from his involvement. He’s currently vice president of the Sanilac County Farm Bureau board and has an active hand in policy development and membership and the county fair.

“Being part of policy development started three or four years ago. It opened my eyes to what the organization has to offer — that kind of involvement and honing-in on things that’re important to a farmer in Sanilac County, that could be totally different to a farmer in Kent County.

“Being part of the county Farm Bureau is kinda what you wanna make out of it,” Bowsky said, casually draining a three-pointer. “If you want to be really involved, there’s people and all the moving pieces that can get you where you want to be. To get involved, start small and work up to where you want to be, because the organization is great as a member-driven, grassroots system.

“Having a voice is key and getting involved in Farm Bureau is great… It helps guide the state and the organization as a whole to where we should be — where we can really help our members strive to be the best.”

Touchdown.

Remember, Reader: It’s a leadership award. And the fact that John Bowsky said pretty much what we expected him to say — everything we hoped he’d say — demonstrated one fundamental truth: The system works.

Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer program exists to build tomorrow’s leaders. And it works. John Bowsky and hundreds of other past and current leaders are living proof. 

If you want some of that for yourself, just follow his example: “Get involved, start small and work up to where you want to be, because the organization is great as a member-driven, grassroots system.”

As winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2024 Young Farmer Leader Award, Bowsky receives a lease on a New Holland compact tractor from Burnips Equipment; a $1,000 AgroLiquid Certificate; and an all-expense paid trip AFBF’s 2025 FUSION Conference in Denver, Colorado.