Programs

Ag in the Classroom

One exciting way to help students relate to agriculture is when farmers visit classrooms and relate agriculture to their lives and the products they use every day. Please contac the Administrative Manaager for more details.

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.

The Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau currently has four Community Action Groups. They are the Newcomers, the Latecomres, The Green Meadow Plow Jockeys, and the Big Rock Rollers. For more informatoin about joining a Community Action Gropu, or starting your own group, contact June Bailey at (269) 375-3187

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

County Agricultureal Tours

Tours can be arranged for any gorup that desires a hands-on experience of how agriculture affects our daily lives.

County Commissioners' Tour

This popular tour invites local government officials to visit farms and agri-businesses in the county with an emphasis on economic impact and environmental stewardship. If offers the officials many insights to the impact agriculture has in Kalamazoo County.

Kalamazoo County Scholarship Fund

A sigle scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded. Please click on the link below for an application and eligibility requirments or call Lisa Robb at Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau (269) 342-0212. http://www.michiganfarmbureau.com/files/counties/38/Scholarship%20Fund%20Rules%20and%20Application.doc

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.

The 2007 Lansing Legislative Seminar was held on 2/20/07. Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau was well represented this year. The following Farm Bureau members attended: Larry Phelps, Harlow Bailey, Caroline Wiley, Lee Coville, Lori Coville, Kelly Leach, Larry Leach and Steve Gazdag. If you are interested in more information on the legislataive activities in your county Farm Bureau, contact Lisa Robb at (269) 342-0212.

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

Marge Karker Scholarships

The Marge Karker Scholarship is designed for students who are enrolled in the Ag program at M.S.U. in the two year program. Please contact the County Administrative Manager for more details.

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.

Telling the farmer's story and making a difference in agriculture at the county level makes Farm Bureau's Promotion and Education Committee an exciting an dprogressive program. Here is a chance to make new friends, meet people from a variety of backgrounds, and engage in dynamic activities that demonstrate the importance of modern agriculture in today's society. If you're interested in findign out more about htis committee, please contact Martha Gibson (269) 626-0027, Robin Peck (269) 0247, or Darla Perrin (269) 626-9701.

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

Rural/Urban Speakers Bureau

Speakers are available for service clubs and will talk about the impact in agriculture in Kalamazoo County.

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.

Larry Phelps and his son Andrew Phelps will be attending the Washington Legislative Seminar 3/14 - 3/16. If you are interested in more information on the legislative activities in your county Farm Bureau, contact Lisa Robb at (269) 342-0212.

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.

For more information about the Young Farmer program in Kalamazoo County, please contact the committee co-chairs, Daniel Dalman at (269) 746-5814 or Kyle Vosburg at (269) 746-3338.

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.

The 2006 Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau attendees were Kori Salinas, Nicole Ashley, Justin Mezo, and Ben Wilson. For more information, contacat Lisa Robb at (269) 342-0212.

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