We call it ‘Meeting Season’

Here’s a hot tip for newly active Farm Bureau members: We call this 'Meeting Season.'

Just like the ‘Midwest’ or ‘Up North,’ there are no absolute boundaries and interpretations vary, but Meeting Season warms up with your county Farm Bureau annual meetings. 

Those culminate with the upcoming State Annual Meeting next month in Grand Rapids. That’s the real starting gun, then it’s off to the races. 

Here’s the lineup of MFB’s 2024-25 core programs; we hope you’ll join us!

We just call it ‘SAM’

Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2024 State Annual Meeting wraps up Dec. 3-4 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Convention Center in downtown Grand Rapids. Delegate registration closed Oct. 25, so that roster’s locked down. 

SAM is where delegates representing all 65 county Farm Bureaus finalize the organization’s policy agenda for the coming year, celebrate the preceding year’s achievements and elect members to the MFB Board of Directors.

Presidents

County Farm Bureau leaders get their bearings at MFB’s annual Council of Presidents Conference, Jan. 15-16, 2025, at the H Hotel in Midland.

Attendees network with their peers from across the state, build leadership skills and learn about organizational issues at the local, state and national levels.

County Farm Bureau presidents unable to attend may choose to send another member of their executive committee — vice president or third member.

Register with your county administrative manager (CAM) Nov. 25 – Dec. 13.

Lansing

The 2025 Lansing Legislative Seminar takes place Feb. 25 at the Lansing Center in downtown (you guessed it) Lansing.

This is where members passionate about Farm Bureau policy learn about legislative and regulatory issues impacting agriculture, and interact with state-level elected officials and decision-makers. 

Register Jan. 13-24 with your CAM to take part in MFB’s marquee member-lobbying event.

Growing Together

Every third year we smoosh together the Young Farmer Leaders Conference and the Voice of Agriculture Conference to create Growing Together, one of MFB’s largest and most popular wintertime events. 

The 2025 Growing Together conference takes place Feb. 28 – March 2 at the Delta Hotels Marriott Convention Center in downtown Muskegon.

Attendees will glean farm business resources, leadership development, agriculture promotion and outreach techniques, networking opportunities and focused sessions packed with must-know information.

Register for Growing Together with your CAM Jan. 6-17.

Washington 

Similar to LLS but at the federal level, the Washington Legislative Seminar puts Farm Bureau members in the corridors of power throughout the nation’s capital, giving you face time with members of Congress and officials at regulatory agencies like USDA and EPA. 

In 2025, WLS takes place March 25-27; register with your CAM Jan. 13-24.