Ben Chaffin - Ithaca, Gratiot County

Ben Chaffin, 31, farms with his father and uncle, growing corn, sugar beets, cucumbers, peas, soybeans and edible beans. His responsibilities include planting, irrigation and harvest, as well as managing the farm's employees.

Chaffin maintains relationships with nearby organic farmers to farm ground organically and enter niche markets. He also works with a neighboring grower to install irrigation equipment. In addition, he has formed profitable relationships with local dairy farms by selling corn silage and receiving manure for fertilizer.

Chaffin also applies his marketing skills as the farm's public relations manager. He has developed informational brochures about the farm to share with neighbors, landlords and other community members.

Within Farm Bureau, Chaffin has served on the Gratiot County Farm Bureau board of directors for four years and the Young Farmer Committee for two. He also serves on Michigan Farm Bureau's Feed, Grain, Oilseed and Wheat Advisory Committee, and has been a board member of the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee for six years. Chaffin graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in agricultural business management and a master's degree in agricultural economics.