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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.
Joyce Neyer
August, 2007 Volunteer of the Month
Farm Bureau honors Isabella County member for service, dedication
In recognition of her outstanding work on behalf of Isabella County's vital agriculture industry, Shepherd-area farmer Joyce Neyer has been honored by the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) as the statewide organization's Volunteer of the Month for August 2007.
With her husband Jerry and their two sons, Andrew and Samuel, Neyer helps run a 1,000-cow dairy farm near Shepherd, also raising corn and alfalfa. A long-time Isabella County Farm Bureau with an impressive record of active volunteerism, Neyer this year stepped in to chair an ag-education dinner for county commissioners.
The dinner is an important annual program for the county Farm Bureau, providing members with a forum for educating commissioners about the industry and for pushing local policy implementation. Neyer took the helm and immediately began recruiting several fellow members to help. In addition to a dinner featuring locally-grown products, the event also featured an informative presentation about local agriculture and some of the industry's more pressing current issues. Attendees left well informed, and with a basket of packaged products so they could make their own all-Michigan meal at home.
"Joyce made the event a success," wrote her nominator for Volunteer of the Month honors. "She understands the importance of member involvement, and uses it to keep volunteers active. Volunteers who empower others to get involved are the type of people Farm Bureau is proud to have.
"Isabella County Farm Bureau is fortunate to have Joyce and her family active in promoting agriculture."
In addition to her effort on the commissioners' dinner, Neyer has also helped recruit new county Farm Bureau board members, participated in the organization's Promotion and Education efforts, and helped with communication projects. She has previously served on her county Farm Bureau's board of directors and its local, state and national affairs committees.
