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Volunteer of the Month
MFB's Volunteers of the Month are selected by a panel of discerning staff judges who work with Farm Bureau members statewide in a variety of program areas. Nomination forms are available at all county offices, or by contacting Lori Chamberlain at the MFB Young Farmer Department at (800) 292-2680, ext. 3234.
Tom Oomen
September, 2006 Volunteer of the Month
Farm Bureau honors Oceana member for service, dedication
Oceana County fruit and vegetable grower Tom Oomen has been recognized by Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) as the organization's Volunteer of the Month for September 2006.
With his brother Rick, Oomen operates Oomen Farms Limited, Inc., raising more than 1,000 acres of asparagus, carrots, squash, tart cherries and small grains near Crystal Valley. The business also encompasses a 1,000-head swine operation and an interest in a large processing and freezer cooperative.
Oomen has been an engaged volunteer in both his local and state-level Farm Bureau organizations. He recently finished several years of service on the Oceana County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, but remains active on local, state and national affairs committees, as well as MFB's state-level fruit and vegetable advisory committee. Oomen has made several trips to Washington D.C. to lobby on behalf of Michigan agriculture alongside Farm Bureau members from across the state. His most recent capital visit was in May of this year, when he took part in an emergency "fly-in" to counsel federal legislators on agriculture's need for a fair, manageable guest-worker program in any sweeping immigration reform.
"When something needs to be done, Tom will work to see that it gets done," wrote his nominator for Volunteer of the Month honors, "even when it requires him to set aside his own interests to do it."
Oomen has also been active with the Oceana County Farm Bureau Land Use Committee, and in 2004 served as a delegate representing his home county at MFB's State Annual Meeting.
Outside his Farm Bureau involvement, Oomen serves as an at-large director on the Michigan Asparagus Board, and with his brother has been honored as a grand marshal of the National Asparagus Festival Parade.
Oomen lives in Crystal Township with his wife Jill and their sons, Brock, Derek and Kyle.
