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Event Photos
2009 Annual Meeting
4-H Excellence in Agriculture AwardCutline: Diane Cole, center, is the winner of the 2009 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award from the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) and Michigan 4-H Youth Development. Cole, of Shelby, received the award Dec. 1 at MFB’s 90th 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, right.
Ag Communicator - Jessica Dudenhofer
Cutline: Jessica Dudenhofer accepts Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award from MFB Vice President Josh Wunsch during an awards ceremony Dec. 3 at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. Dudenhofer was recognized for her outstanding coverage of local agriculture in the Greenville Daily News.
Ag Communicator - Nancy Crawley & Matt Vande Bunte
Cutline: Matt Vande Bunte and Nancy Crawley accept Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award from MFB Vice President Josh Wunsch, far left, during an awards ceremony Dec. 3 at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. Crawley, business editor for the Grand Rapids Press, and Vande Bunte, a freelance writer, were recognized for their outstanding work covering western Michigan’s vital agriculture industry.
Ag promoter of the year - Joy Marvin
Cutline: Joy Marvin accepts Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 Agricultural Promoter of the Year Award from Merisa Campbell, chairperson of the MFB Promotion and Education Committee. Marvin, of Clayton, received the award Dec. 2 at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Agriscience Educator of the Year - Kenneth Bollinger
Cutline: Kenneth Bollinger accepts Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 Agriscience Educator of the Year Award from Barb Wagner, a member of the MFB Promotion and Education Committee. Bollinger, Lenawee Intermediate School District’s agriscience teacher and FFA adviser, received the award Dec. 2 at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
County Activities of Excellence Award
Cutline: On behalf of the Cass County Farm Bureau, county president Carl Sparks, right, and promotion and education committee chairperson Sarah Peterson, center, accept Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 County Activities of Excellence Award from MFB President Wayne H. Wood, left. The Cass County Farm Bureau was formally recognized Dec. 1 at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Discussion Meet Winner - Melanie Block
Cutline: Melanie Block, of Conklin in Muskegon County, is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 Young Farmer Discussion Meet. Part of her 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. She is pictured here with a John Deere skid-steer loader and joined by JDE Equipment Co.’s Scott Kamyszek and Chris Patrick. Block was named the Discussion Meet winner at a Dec. 2 awards ceremony at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Distinguished Service to Ag Award - Keith Brown
Cutline: The Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) honored the extraordinary contributions and service of the late Keith Brown by presenting him with the organization’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award posthumously during a Dec. 3 awards ceremony at the MFB 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. Pictured far left, MFB President Wayne H. Wood presents the award to members of Keith’s family. Accepting the award on Keith’s behalf are his grandson Caleb Brown and sons Vern and Dwight Brown.
Ecology Leadership Award
Cutline: Sturgis-based Benne Farms, Inc., is the winner of the 2009 Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Ecology Leadership Award. The farm partnership was recognized at a Dec. 1 awards ceremony at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids and presented a prize John Deere CX Gator, compliments of Fillmore Equipment, Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Syngenta Crop Protection, CJD Farm Consulting, and Dennings & Associates. Here, Max Benne, left, and Richard Benne, right, pose in their new Gator. Also pictured, behind left, is Cal Dyke of CJD Farm Consulting and, behind right, Ken Timmerman of Fillmore Equipment.
Excellence in Ag Award - Betty Jo Nash
Cutline: Betty Jo Nash, of Mason in Ingham County, is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 Excellence in Agriculture Award. Part of her prize package is a 12-month lease on a New Holland tractor courtesy of Burnips Equipment Co. Nash, pictured center, poses with Burnips Equipment family members, from left to right, Carl VanderKolk, Gail VanderKolk, Susan Ostrom, and Craig VanderKolk. Nash received the award at a Dec. 2 awards ceremony at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Farmer Idea Exchange Award Winner
Cutline: Lynn Griffin, right, accepts Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 Farmer Idea Exchange Award from MFB President Wayne H. Wood, left. Griffin, of Bellevue, received the award Dec. 1 at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Harvest for All - Inaugural Most Innovative Award - Bay County
Cutline: The Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) has unveiled a new award to honor “unique, impactful, and productive” activities of county Farm Bureaus participating in the Harvest for All program to fight hunger in local communities. At an awards ceremony Dec. 2 at the MFB 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, MFB presented the Bay County Farm Bureau with the inaugural award. Pictured from left to right are MFB Young Farmer Committee Chairman Ben LaCross, Bay County Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee Chairman Sue LeCronier, Bay County Farm Bureau President Terry Histed, and MFB Promotion and Education Committee Chairperson Merisa Campbell.
K-12 Educator of the Year - Jennifer Green
Cutline: Jennifer Green accepts Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 K-12 Educator of the Year Award from Brenda VanHouten, a member of the MFB Promotion and Education Committee. Green of Cass City received the award Dec. 2 at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Outstanding Young Ag Leader - Steve Tennes
Cutline: Steve Tennes is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 Outstanding Young Agricultural Leader Award. Part of his prize package is a trip for two to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, sponsored by Great Lakes Hybrids. Tennes and his wife Bridget are pictured in the front row. Joining them from Great Lakes Hybrids, pictured left to right, are Jeff Reinbold, Jonathon Harfst, Dennis Steinbauer and Kylee Zdunic. Tennes received the award at a Dec. 2 awards ceremony at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Outstanding Young Farm Employee - Mark Daniels
Cutline: Mark Daniels, of Breckenridge in Gratiot County, is the winner of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 Outstanding Young Farm Employee Award. Part of his prize package is a two-month lease on a CAT 246C CAT Skid Steer courtesy of Michigan CAT. Daniels and his wife Miranda, are pictured center. Joining them from Michigan CAT, pictured left to right, are Clay Cutchins, Jeff Roulo and Josh Buchanan. Pictured far right is Michigan Farm Bureau District Director Mike Mulders. Daniels received the award at a Dec. 2 awards ceremony at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Volunteer of the Year - Steve Tennes
Cutline: Charlotte fruit and vegetable grower Steve Tennes is Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award winner. The selection of Tennes, vice president of the Eaton County Farm Bureau, was announced during a Dec. 1 awards ceremony at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
Young Farmer Achievement Award - Luke & Victoria Meerman
Cutline: Luke and Victoria Meerman, of Coopersville in Ottawa County, are the winners of Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2009 Young Farmer Achievement Award. Part of their prize package is a 12-month lease on an M or L series Kubota Tractor courtesy of the Kubota Tractor Corporation. Victoria and Luke, pictured center, pose here with Kubota regional sales managers Dave Lease, left, and Doug Rudd, right. The couple received the award at a Dec. 2 awards ceremony at MFB’s 90th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.
