Judge trades in court bench for combine cab
Supreme Court incumbent gets hands-on farm tour as election edges closer
Contact: Matt Kapp, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2027
LANSING, Oct. 15, 2010 - Michigan Supreme Court Justice Robert Young can check taking a farm implement for a spin off his bucket list.
On Oct. 15, he had the chance to do just that - and more - on an Ingham County farm south of Lansing.
Young is endorsed by Michigan Farm Bureau's (MFB) political action committee, AgriPac, as a Friend of Agriculture in his re-election bid. This past summer he had expressed interest in taking a tractor for a whirl, so MFB President Wayne H. Wood made arrangements with Ingham County farmer Jeff Oesterle of Mason.
Young had the opportunity to ride in one of Oesterle's high-tech farm tractors which was being used that day to plow fields, as well as an ultra-modern combine being used to harvest corn. He also toured Oesterle's impressive system for drying and storing grain, and spent almost two hours with Wood and Oesterle to learn more about Michigan's agriculture industry and the opportunities and challenges facing this important sector of Michigan's economy.
The hands-on farm tour is just one example of the dozens of activities taking place across the state as county Farm Bureaus work to help elect AgriPac-endorsed candidates.
"Michigan's agriculture industry has a ton at stake this election year," said MFB elections specialist Matt Kapp. "Already, few legislators and state leaders in executive offices have little to any agricultural background or experience. What's going to happen when the Legislature and administration undergo a historic turnover this election year? Farm Bureau members are bracing for this by becoming even more energized politically."
Some Farm Bureau members like Oesterle have taken the bull by the horns and thrown their own hat into the ring. Oesterle is vying to represent District 67 in the Michigan House of Representatives. He's also endorsed by AgriPac as a Friend of Agriculture and is one of about a dozen farmers statewide running for state or national office.
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Editor's note: Download additional photos at http://www.michfb.com/agrinotes/index/167
