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 has 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, 2009, 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.

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 and Sheryl Kies, Bruce and Jennifer Lewis, Gerald and Annette Magda, Sarah Zeiler and Brad Benzing attended the Lansing Legislative Seminar on February 20th.

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.  The committee is currently participating in the Harvest for All program, helping to support the Ag Page in the Hillsdale Daily News and planning Ag Week Activities.

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.

Ken Benge and Sarah Zeiler attended this year's Washington Seminar, March 14th through 16th.  Their stay was extended due to weather and airport complications so they were able to see a bit of Washington, D.C. and finally made it home on Sunday, March 18th.

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.

Co-chairs are Sarah Zeiler and Kevin Bever.  A district estate planning meeting was held in Marshall on March 6th and the District II Bowling night drew around 50 Young Farmers to L & J Lanes on March 17th.  An information meeting on Agricultural Financing will be held at 7:00 p.m. on March 29th at Cascarelli's Pizza & Pub in Homer.  A date is being considered for the district discussion meet and will be announced later.

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, 2009.  Participants must be a junior or senior in high school in the 2009-2010 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.