Programs

Community Action Groups

This group of friends and neighbors meets monthly to discuss key issues affecting agriculture. Whether the issue is zoning, community planning, school finance, or even a neighborhood beautification project, a Community Action Group is the perfect tool to find solutions, gain knowledge, share ideas, and take action.

Hillsdale currently has six community action groups meeting.  They are the County Line Group, the Motivators, the Progressives, the High Hopes, the Hillsiders and the Buckeye Invaders.  Call the office at 437-2458 for more information on these groups or for information to start your own group.

For more information about this program, visit the Community Action Groups website.

Driver Safety Program

In 2005 Hillsdale County Farm Bureau implemented a comprehensive "Driver Safety Campaign" in response to a local policy resolution regarding SMV signs.  The goal of the campaign was to raise awareness of the SMV (slow-moving vehicle) sign and to reduce the number of motor vehicle and farm machinery accidents in the county.  Funding was obtained through a grant from the Hillsdale County Community Foundation and generous donations from directors, individuals and area businesses.  The videotape "In the Blink of an Eye" was provided to all driver education programs in the county.  During planting and harvest, a portable billboard was moved to high-traffic intersections around the county to remind drivers to watch for slow-moving vehicles and is still in use.  Watch for it!  Educational slides were shown before feature films at the local movie theater.  The project received the "County Activities of Excellence" award from both Michigan Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation.

FFA Tours

The county farm bureau initiated this project in response to our 2007-2008 goal to "Support the Local FFA Chapters" and the 2008-2009 resolution passed at our annual meeting in August, 2008, which states "Be it resolved, Hillsdale County Farm Bureau sponsor career seminars as well as farm tours for the county FFA chapters to further the interest of high school students in agriculture".  We hope to show students that there are many available careers in agriculture besides just production farming.

The first tour was held on September 16, 2008.  One hundred and three county FFA members toured Pleasant View Dairy and Raker & Sons greenhouse.  They were able to ask questions of local farmers as well as a John Deere implement dealer, a Monsato field specialist, a dairy nutritionist, a diary supplier, loan officers, and a large animal vet.

The project was selected as one of only 15 nationwide to win the "County Activities of Excellence" Award for 2008 by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

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.

Mark Wiley, Mark Kies, Patrick Kies, Bruce and Jennifer Lewis, Brad and Pam Benzing attended the Lansing Legislative Seminar on February 18, 2009.

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.

Jan Sober is the committee chair.

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

Safety Yard Sign

The board of directors enacted a "Safety Yard Sign" campaign in 2009, achieving one of their goals for the year.  The idea was presented by new director Patrick Kies and he headed up the project.  Eighteen by twenty-four inch yard signs were printed and distributed throughout the county to remind drivers that slow-moving farm vehicles are on the roads.  Kies Farms, The Anderson's Litchfield Farm Center and Bart Marshall - Monsanto Customer Outreach co-sponsored the project.  Watch for these signs!  There is a picture of the sponsors on the gallery page.

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.

Jay and Kelli Williams and Jennifer Lewis attended the 2009 Washington Seminar, March 11th through 13th.  See their photo on the gallery page.

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.

Scott Welden has been appointed board representative and committee chairman for Young Farmers.  Scott will be planning this year's activities.  Last year's District II activites include the Forum, Bowling Night, Discussion Meet and statewide Golf Scramble.

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.

From Hillsdale County, Byron Leininger attended YPCS in 2007 and Zachary Vanlerberg in 2008.  Call the office at 437-2458 if you are interested in attending this great program which will be held in June, 2010.  Participants must be a junior or senior in high school in the 2010-2011 school year.  Check out the website at http://www.ypcs.org.

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