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Event Photos
2008 State Annual Meeting
Ben Tirrell - MFB Outstanding Young Ag LeaderCutline: Ben Tirrell, of Charlotte in Eaton County, is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Outstanding Young Agricultural Leader Award. Part of his prize package includes a one-year lease of a New Holland tractor from Burnips Equipment Co. Tirrell is pictured center and joined by Burnips Equipment family members, from left to right, Craig Vander Kolk, Carl Vander Kolk, Gail Vander Kolk and Susan Ostrom. Tirrell received the award at a Dec. 3 awards ceremony at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Brian Preston - MFB Discussion Meet winner
Cutline: Brian Preston, center, is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Discussion Meet. Part of his prize package is an all-expense-paid trip to Iowa to visit the John Deere world headquarters and a John Deere factory, courtesy of JDE Equipment Co. Here, he poses with a John Deere skid-steer loader from JDE Equipment. Joining him on the left is JDE Equipment Area Sales Manager Frank Pytlowany, and on the right, JDE Equipment Operations Manager Scott Kamyszek. Preston, of Quincy in Branch County, was named the Discussion Meet winner at a Dec. 3 awards ceremony at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Catherine Calder - MFB K-12 Educator of the Year
Cutline: Catharine Calder accepts Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 K-12 Educator of the Year Award from Jennifer Lewis, chair of the MFB Promotion and Education Committee. Calder, of Monroe, received the award Dec. 3 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Chris and Jamie Demerly - MFB YF Achievement Award
Cutline: Chris Demerly, of Owosso in Shiawassee County, is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Young Farmer Achievement Award. Part of his prize package includes the use of a Kubota L or M series tractor for one year. Here, Demerly, left, poses in front of a Kubota M series tractor alongside his wife Jamie Demerly, and Kubota regional sales managers Doug Rudd, second from right, and Dave Lease, far right. Demerly received the award at a Dec. 3 awards ceremony at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
David C Morris - MFB Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award
Cutline: The Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) presented its highest honor, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, to longtime farmer and agricultural leader Dave Morris during an awards ceremony Dec. 4 at the MFB 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. Here, Morris, of Grand Ledge, addresses the MFB membership after being recognized by MFB President Wayne H. Wood, pictured right.
Don and Ben Sklarczyk - MFB Ecology Leadership Award
Cutline: Father and son farm operators Don and Ben Sklarcyzk, pictured rear from left to right, pose with a John Deere CX Gator that they won as winners of the Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Ecology Leadership Award. The pair was honored Dec. 2 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. The prize was compliments of Voelker Implement Sales of Lake City and Big Rapids, Hamilton Farm Bureau, Harvey’s Ag Solutions, Syngenta Crop Protection, CJD Farm Consulting, and Dennings & Associates. Pictured front are Don and Ben’s spouses, Mary Kay and Alison.
Ed Kretchman - MFB Volunteer of the Year
Cutline: St. Joseph fruit, vegetable and grain grower Ed Kretchman received Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Volunteer of the Year Award during a ceremony Dec. 2 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. He is pictured here with his award plaque, along with a Special Tribute recognizing his volunteerism from state Rep. Neal Nitz , Sen. Ron Jelinek and Gov. Jennifer Granhlom.
Edward Freundl - Agricultural Communicator of the Year for print
Cutline: Edward Freundl, right, accepts an award for 2008 Agricultural Communicator of the Year from Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Vice President Josh Wunsch during an awards ceremony Dec. 4 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. Freundl was recognized in the award’s print journalism category for his work with Heritage Newspapers’ Chelsea Standard, Dexter Leader and Manchester Enterprise.
Geraldine Eadie - MFB 4H Excellence in Ag Award
Cutline: Geraldine Eadie, center, is the winner of the 2008 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award from the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) and Michigan 4-H Youth Development. She received the award Dec. 2 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. Here, she poses with MFB President Wayne H. Wood, left, and Cheryl Howell, executive director of the Michigan 4-H Foundation.
Jeffrey and Alyssa Vander Werff - MFB Excellence in Agriculture Award
Cutline: Jeff Vander Werff, of Casnovia in Ottawa County, is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Excellence in Agriculture Award. Part of his prize package is a three-month lease on a Caterpillar skid-steer loader sponsored by Michigan CAT. Vander Werff is pictured second from left and joined by Michigan CAT’s Clay Cutchins, far left, and Tom Kizer, right. Cutchins is manager of marketing and internal communications. Kizer is a compact construction equipment sales representative. Pictured front is Vander Werff’s wife, Alyssa. Vander Werff received the award at a Dec. 3 awards ceremony at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
John Crumbaugh - County Activities of Excellence Award
Cutline: On behalf of the Gratiot County Farm Bureau, county president John Crumbaugh, right, accepts Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 County Activities of Excellence Award from MFB President Wayne H. Wood, left. The Gratiot County Farm Bureau was formally recognized Dec. 2 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Kevin and Jennifer Bever - MFB Farm Employee Award
Cutline: Kevin Bever, of Reading in Hillsdale County, is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Outstanding Young Farm Employee Award. Part of his prize package is an all-expense-paid trip to Cancun sponsored by Great Lakes Hybrids. Bever is pictured front alongside his wife Jennifer. Joining him are Great Lakes Hybrids district sales managers, from left to right, Jeff Reinbold, Richard Easlick, Jonathon Harfst, Jonathon Tone, and Dennis Steinbauer. Bever received the award at a Dec. 3 awards ceremony at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Kirsten Kelly - Agriculture Communicator of the Year for broadcast
Cutline: Kirsten Kelly accepts an award for 2008 Agricultural Communicator of the Year from Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Vice President Josh Wunsch during an awards ceremony Dec. 4 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. Kelly, a native of Shelby from Oceana County, is co-producer of the documentary, “Asparagus! Stalking the American Life.” She and fellow filmmaker Anne de Mare, of New York City, were recognized in the broadcast category of the MFB award.
Kyle Fiebig - MFB Agriscience Educator of the Year
Cutline: Kyle Fiebig accepts Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Agriscience Educator of the Year Award from Jennifer Lewis, chair of the MFB Promotion and Education Committee. Fiebig, the agriscience teacher and FFA adviser at Montague High School, received the award Dec. 3 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Vic Daniels Jr - MFB Farmer Idea Exchange Award
Cutline: Victor Daniels, Jr., right, accepts Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2008 Farmer Idea Exchange Award from MFB President Wayne H. Wood, left. Daniels, of Sterling, received the award Dec. 2 at MFB’s 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
