Programs

Lansing Legislative Seminar

Each year, Farm Bureau organizes face-to-face meetings with hundreds of Farm Bureau leaders and their respective elected officials. These annual "lobbying" missions are a key element in the Farm Bureau grassroots policy development and policy execution process.

Local Farmers Lobby Legislators

Hundreds of Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) members from across Michigan met with lawmakers February 20 by taking part in MFB's 2007 Lansing Legislative Seminar. The annual event provides an opportunity for members to visit directly with legislators representing them in Lansing. 

Representing the Charlevoix County Farm Bureau this year were Tom Wieland, Ron Reinhardt, Bea Reinhardt and Wilson Boss.

Alongside counterparts representing every facet of Michigan's diverse agricultural economy, these local farmers discussed current agriculture-related issues with their Lansing lawmakers. Particular emphasis this year was placed on taxes, the state budget, and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEA).

Four instructional sessions brought participating Farm Bureau members up to speed on those key issues legislative issues before they met with state senators and representatives during the late afternoon reception where dozens of state lawmakers and their staffers met with constituent Farm Bureau members from their districts.

For more information about this program, visit the Lansing Legislative Seminar website.

Promotion & Education

The goal of the Promotion and Education program is to educate Michigan consumers about agriculture through working with children and schools and coordinating public outreach programs to promote and educate about agriculture. In addition, the Promotion and Education program strives to educate farmers on issues impacting agriculture.

Harvest for All

Members recently had an opportunity to help local food pantries by bringing can goods to the county annual meeting to help with the Harvest for All program. The Harvest for All Program, sponsored by the Michigan Farm Bureau Promotion and Education and Young Farmer Committees, is a way members can help their communities by donating food, money or their time to local food pantries. The Charlevoix County Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee, chaired by Joe Seidel, may be conducting activities to help. If you would like to help or have donated food, money or your time to local food pantries recently, contact the county office at (231) 547-2043 and let us now.

For more information about this program, visit the Promotion & Education website.

Washington Legislative Seminar

Each year, Farm Bureau organizes face-to-face meetings with hundreds of Farm Bureau leaders and their respective elected officials. These annual "lobbying" missions are a key element in the Farm Bureau grassroots policy development and policy execution process.

Reinhardt's Go to Washington

Helping represent a cross section of Michigan's diverse agricultural economy, Ron and Bea Reinhardt took the interests of Charlevoix County farming to the nation's capitol by participating in Michigan Farm Bureau's 2007 Washington Legislative Seminar, March 14-16, in Washington, D.C.

Farm Bureau members from across the state urged federal lawmakers to take action on Energy, Animal Welfare and the Farm Bill by speaking directly with legislators, their staff and officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ron and Bea Reinhardt operate a beef cattle operation in partnership with Ron's brothers outside Boyne City.

For more information about this program, visit the Washington Legislative Seminar website.

Young Farmer

The Young Farmer program is designed to develop leadership potential for men and women between the ages of 18 and 35.

The 2008 District 10 Young Farmer Discussion meet is scheduled for March 28, 2008 with a location to be determined.

For more information about this program, visit the Young Farmer website.

Young People's Citizenship Seminar

Over two hundred twenty of the top students from Michigan convene each year in late June to learn about world economic and political systems and conduct their own mock election. Sponsored by county Farm Bureaus across the state, the Citizenship Seminar has been conducted for over 35 years and has provided leadership skills for over 5,000 of Michigan's youth.

YPCS Student learns Patriotism, Democracy

Juniors and Seniors from all over the state got a hands-on education in American Democracy at the 2007 Young People's Citizenship Seminar (YPCS).

This interactive conference, held June 11-15 in Alma, offered students a weeklong, interactive political workshop culminating in a mock election.

Shelby Goss from Charlevoix attended this year's seminar.

Now in it's 43rd year, YPCS aims to help young people become more responsible citizens by improving leadership skills and teaching the power of a vote. In addition to mock rallies, caucuses, campaigns and voting in actual booths, students participated in social and recreational activities.

A diverse lineup of speakers touched on quintessentially American themes of perseverance and self-motivation for the audience of students from both rural and urban backgrounds.

For more information about this program, visit the Young People's Citizenship Seminar website.