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Brigette Leach - District 1 Director
Brigette Leach is District 1 Director on the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Board of Directors, representing Farm Bureau members in Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties.
She works with her husband, Larry, and adult daughter, Kelly, doing business as Avalon Farms. Located in Climax, Avalon Farms currently produces corn, soybeans and wheat on 1,100 irrigated acres. In addition, a hydroponic greenhouse enterprise produces vine-ripened tomatoes, salad greens, and fresh herbs which are directly marketed to Kalamazoo and Battle Creek area restaurants, grocery stores, and farmer’s markets. Area families subscribe to their “Share of the Farm” Home Delivery subscription service, which provides not only what is raised at Avalon Farms but also fresh fruits and vegetables from neighboring farms and other family farms all over Michigan.
Although Avalon Farms was at one time involved in animal agriculture with dairy, beef and swine production, the family no longer has livestock. Located nearly half-way between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, Climax and the surrounding area have seen pressure from development and conversion of farm land to other uses. In 1999, the Leach family became the 50th farm to be enrolled in the state’s Purchase of Development Rights program, thereby preserving approximately 530 acres of their home farm for use as a food production resource in the future. Whether the land is farmed by the Leach family themselves, or someone else, it will not be converted to other uses, and they feel more secure to make further capital investments into the operation.
Brigette has a long history as a Farm Bureau volunteer, having been a Community Action Group member, active member of the Young Farmer program, member of the Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, and chair of the county Policy Development and Promotion and Education Committees. She has been a member of the MFB Women’s and Policy Development Committees. As well, she served on the state Promotion and Education Committee, and as chair of that committee, served two years on the MFB Board of Directors. First elected to the MFB Board to represent District 1 in 1999, Brigette continues to serve members by advocating for them at the local, state and national levels.
In her spare time, Brigette enjoys teaching students about agriculture and natural resources. She’s visited several local classrooms and hosted farm tours for students from Kalamazoo County schools. She has also volunteered with the Kalamazoo County 4-H program as a project leader, community club leader, and Leaders Council officer. In addition, she has served as a Beef Project superintendent and member of the Livestock Superintendents Association. With the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency, Brigette helped expose young people to careers in agriculture by serving on an advisory committee overseeing the agency’s Education for Employment Program. On top of all this, she served as a member of the Climax Township Planning Commission for 14 years and was active in a variety of other school and community activities.
A graduate of the Michigan Agricultural Leadership Program, Brigette represents Kellogg Farmers and MALP program alumni on the Board of Directors for the Great Lakes Leadership Academy.
