A pair of Farm Bureau members took different routes toward attaining one of the state’s most powerful local offices. After winning their early-November elections, Ed Scheffler and Chris Machiela begin four-year terms in 2025 as drain commissioners in Lenawee and Allegan counties, respectively.
Both are products of MFB’s Academy for Political Leadership, the concise training program for those exploring their own potential as candidates for elected office.
In northern Lenawee County, Scheffler and his dad, Ed Sr., maintain a small crop farm near Clinton, raising soybeans, wheat, seed oats and annually producing up to 3,000 small square hay bales.
Stepping up into the role of drain commissioner comes after a 25-year climb up the county drain department ladder.
“I started out as a field inspector, but I’ve always been interested in drainage,” he said. "We've had some issues here" including inadequate priority on routine maintenance, which can wreak havoc in areas as low and flat as Lenawee County.
“I’ve been the deputy drain commissioner for 10 years now, so people know me,” including that he brings a farmer’s values to the office. “I have shared priorities with the ag community.
“My goal is to provide the drainage we all expect and deserve — and incorporating water-quality practices where feasible.”
Over in Allegan County, Machiela keeps a small hobby farm in Overisel Township, with a dozen brood cows, calves, chickens, corn and 50 acres of hay.
“I’ve worked in excavating, doing drain and ditch work and site development for 20-plus years, then went to work for Ottawa County’s office of water resources,” he explained — both positions that contributed to his interest in managing municipal surface water.
His ag background and hands-on experience in drainage projects will surely inform his approach to his new position, he said, adding that his predecessor “was more of an office person — he didn’t get out much.
“I want to be connected with the farmers and the people,” he said. “I’ll do my best to fix the issues they have.”
Almost all of Lenawee County drains into western Lake Erie, where seasonal algal blooms have heightened scrutiny on all human activities contributing nutrients into the warmest, shallowest and most heavily fished Great Lake — also the one that provides drinking water for millions of residents from Toledo to Buffalo.
That’s where Scheffler’s priority on conservation and groundwater protection programs comes in.
“It’s important we all join together,” Scheffler said, adding that he’s always looking to spread the word about pollution mitigation programs like MAEAP, the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program. “I try to make producers aware there’s a program here that might suit their needs.”
He also volunteers for a farmer-led water-quality group and the regional watershed council. Local Farm Bureau involvement has also helped broaden his network of local ag-industry contacts, ensuring his finger remains on the pulse of Lenawee County farmers’ drainage priorities.
His membership also proved beneficial by introducing him to the Academy for Political Leadership.
“The Academy was a great opportunity,” he said. “I really learned a lot about running a campaign, about finance law, about strategy… It really helped me out so going into this I was pretty confident.”
Echoing that praise is Machiela, who expects the political side of his new position will pose more day-to-day challenges than the technical side.
“I think a lot of the meetings and going to different political functions really opened my eyes,” Machiela said about Farm Bureau’s influence on his political trajectory.
“The Academy was very insightful about how that do it and the steps you need to take — very helpful.”
In case you missed it, click here for the previous article on the same theme.
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