Member Login
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.
Arvid Arvila
April, 2007 Volunteer of the Month
Farm Bureau honors Oakland County member for service, dedication
In recognition of his outstanding efforts promoting agriculture to young people, retired schoolteacher and Oakland County Farm Bureau member Arvid Arvila has been honored by the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) as the statewide organization's Volunteer of the Month for April 2007.
For the first time this year, Oakland County Farm Bureau's Promotion and Education Committee honored the family of the first baby born during National Ag Week with a basket of Michigan agricultural products, including milk and baby food. Undaunted by the quantity of hospitals in the area, Arvila spearheaded the effort, which made a healthy splash in the local media and spread a good deal of good will between parents, hospital staff, and the county Farm Bureau.
"Arvid has been an instrumental force in our Tri-County Project RED (Rural Education Day) for the last seven years," wrote his nominator for Volunteer of the Month honors, referring to the annual event that gives hundreds of area school children an opportunity to learn about farming in an interactive, hands-on setting. "He is an exceptionally creative person, very personable, and is able to communicate the message of agriculture to a diverse audience, sharing with them his own enthusiasm."
Arvila applies that same enthusiasm to other promotion and education activities as well, regularly volunteering his time to assist in presenting Ag in the Classroom lessons and helping staff the Miracle of Life exhibit at the Michigan State Fair.
In addition to his work on the promotion and education committee, he is also active in his county Farm Bureau's membership efforts and as a voting delegate representing Oakland County at MFB's State Annual Meeting.
Arvila grew up on a northern Minnesota dairy farm, and later spent three decades teaching in Flint-area schools. Wanting to remain involved in agriculture since retiring, he stays plenty busy at Glen and Candy Mitchell's farm near Holly, working in the greenhouse and coordinating fall farm activities.
