Programs

Adopt-A-Farm

Michigan Farm Bureau's Adopt-a-Farm program helps media report on local agriculture by pairing newspapers, TV stations and radio stations with one or more local farms for exclusive coverage. News organizations choose the frequency, nature and scope of the reporting. Farm Bureau lines up "adoptee" farms that fit the media's interest and assist with story ideas and other resources to enhance the coverage.

Here's a look at the program's many success stories:

"We had a tremendous amount of positive feedback both from the ag community and the non-ag community. Just out of the blue people would say, 'Oh yeah we enjoy reading your articles in the paper.' It was just amazing."

-Denny Huehl

Washtenaw County dairy farmer

"Adopted" in 2008 by Heritage Newspapers writer Ed Freundl•Donna Daines, a feature writer for the Marshall Community Ad-visor and a self-described "city slicker," adopted a Calhoun County farm for an engaging series that blended first-person observations of farm life with statistics on local agriculture.

•Photographer Andrew Skinner illustrated the asparagus season in words and pictures by profiling a local asparagus farm for a photo story published in Oceana's Herald Journal.

•Tawas City radioman Kevin Allen of WKJC partnered with the president of the Ogemaw County Farm Bureau for monthly dialogue on local agricultural concerns and happenings.

•The Grand Rapids Press used the program as a foundation for a Labor Day business feature exploring the ambitions of local young farmers and the hurdles they face in pursuing their dreams to farm.

•Oakland Press reporter Bob Gross profiled one of suburban Detroit's last surviving dairy farms with an in-depth series chronicling how the farm family maintains traditional practices in the shadow of urban sprawl. Gross' articles were picked up by the Associated Press and reprinted in papers statewide.

•Arenac Independent reporter Lesley Stanley surveyed the diversity of local agriculture, shedding light on the production of sugar beets, pickling cucumbers, soybeans, dairy and profiling a successful organic producer.

•Heritage Newspapers writer Ed Freundl explored every facet of life on a modern dairy farm with his yearlong profile of Huehl Acres near Chelsea. With almost unprecedented depth and quality, Freundl's coverage illuminated aspects of modern agriculture rarely given a second glance in the mainstream media, including upkeep and maintenance activities outside the growing season and the vital role women play on the farm.

•Dean Cousino of the Monroe Evening News continued his long tradition of outstanding farm reporting by adopting the Seiler family dairy farm near Dundee. Cousino's compelling writing-impeccably illustrated by staff shooter Bryan Bosch-uniquely captured the dynamics of a multi-generational family farm and shed light on the little-understood stresses inherent to a business always at the whim of Mother Nature.

•Hillsdale Daily News readers who didn't previously know the difference between a Jersey and a Holstein got a crash-course in modern farming thanks to a series of article by writer Amy Bell, who profiled the dairy farm Jennifer and Bruce Lewis operate near Jonesville.

So what are you waiting for?

For more information or a hookup with your local Farm Bureau's "adoption planners," check out the website: http://www.michfb.com/newsroom/adopt or contact MFB County Communications Manager Jeremy C. Nagel via e-mail or phone: 800-292-2680, ext. 6584.

Clean Sweep

CLEANING UP?  Pesticides, mercury, and pharmaceuticals.  We want them!  Now, when you're cleaning out, you can also help clean up Michigan.  The Michigan Clean Sweep Program makes it easy to get rid of unused, unwanted pesticides, mercury, and pharmaceuticals.  Just find the Clean Sweep site near you- there are a number of sites across the state- then bring those products to us!

IT'S EASY AND FREE.  Whether you have out-of-date medicines for animals or unused pesticides for a farm or home, don't throw them away yourself.  Participating Clean Sweep sites will accept all pesticide products, mercury, and pharmaceuticals.  We'll do it free of charge for any Michigan resident- and we'll dispose of these materials in an environmentally safe manner.  We can all help keep Michigan pure!

POINT. CLICK. OR CALL.  Find out more.  Just visit the Clean Sweep website: http://www.michigan.gov/cleansweep or call 517-241-3933 to find a conveniently located Clean Sweep site and more information.

FACTS:

*Fertilizers are not accepted as part of Clean Sweep unless they are a component of a pesticide formulation

*Pesticide dealers and individuals who sell and/or apply pesticides for hire are encouraged to dispose of unused or unwanted pesticides at no charge (Contact your Clean Sweep site in advance to make arrangements and find out procedures for the collection of your large amounts of product)

*Over the past 14 years, Clean Sweep collected and disposed of 1.7 million pounds (850 tons) of pesticides!

*Mercury is extremely dangerous!  When deposited in lakes or streams, bacteria converts it to methylmercury, which concentrates in the tissue of fish, wildlife, and humans who eat the fish

*Mercury is released to the environment from many sources.  It is used in household and commercial products, as well as industrial processes; also found in thermometers, electrical switches, thermostats, batteries, and some children's toys

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.

Saginaw County currently has 9 active Community Action Groups:

*Ag Ventures

*Brady Neighbors

*Cass River Crew

*East Side

*Franksteins

*Hemlock

*Northeast

*Tomwassee Group

*Watchful Few

If you're interested in joining one of these CAGs, please contact our Saginaw County office and we'll put you in contact with the President of the group and get you involved!

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

Farm Link Program

Preserving the next generation of farmers is important to the members of the Michigan Farm Bureau.

The FarmLink member service program acts as a matching and consulting center for both sides of the equation—retiring farmers and potential farmers. Through Farm Link matches, farming operations can continue to operate while the potential farmer works to build equity in the operation and form a joint venture with the retiring farmer.

For more information, contact the Young Farmer Department.

Michigan Ag Council

New blog that serves up a fresh perspective on local food from the people who produce it in Michigan! http://blog.mlive.com/freshfood

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.

Saginaw County has ag lesson plans available for all age groups.  Contact the County Office at (989) 792-9846

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.

Each year two representatives are chosen to attend and participate in the nations capital.

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.

Saginaw County is currently seeking young farmers who are willing to work on short term projects.  Call Jeramie Ziola at (989)798-4889 or the County Office at (989) 792-9846.

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.

For the 2011 YPCS we were able to sponsor 6 students to attend.

The following are quotes from the students that went:

"This was my second year going...I enjoyed it so much both times that I plan on applying for a JC position & get my sister to attend her senior year."-Zac

"I have learned so much about teamwork, standing out, & meeting new people.  Attending YPCS has made expressing myself a lot more comfortable."-Brandon

"I learned so much & made many new friends & found their position on certain topics which helped me learn the most.  This conference will help me greatly in the future."-TJ

"It was truly a life-changing experience.  There were several interesting speakers & life-long friends that I met there.  Without you, none of this would be possible."-Luis

"My favorite speaker was Mark Thompson.  His speech talked about how to be a leader & how to be confident."-Zach

"If it weren't for you I wouldn't have experienced this wonderful seminar...& will always remember it.  You're awesome."-Conor

Our sponsors who payed for the students to go this year were: Yvonne Rundell Agency, Dennis Roy Agency, Tim Stewart Agency, and Kevin Zedaker Agency

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