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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.
Doug Fournier Sr.
October, 2007 Volunteer of the Month
St. Clair County farmer honored for service, dedication
In recognition of his outstanding work promoting agriculture and educating the general public about its importance, St. Clair County farmer Doug Fournier Sr. has been honored by the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) as the organization's Volunteer of the Month for October 2007.
Alongside his wife, Mary, Fournier operates 400-acre cash crop operation near Richmond, raising corn, soybeans and wheat.
While actively involved in several facets of the Farm Bureau organization, Fournier is honored primarily for his long history of service with the Promotion and Education program, helping to bridge the gap between agriculture and the non-farming community. In addition to supporting local outreach activities, he has for many years led and coordinated a group of St. Clair County volunteers to work at the Michigan State Fair's Miracle of Life exhibit. This year Fournier not only helped enlist a dozen volunteers, he helped train them how to put agriculture's best foot forward at the popular ag-education event.
"He did a great job of involving the whole county in a statewide event that really needed more farmer participation," wrote his nominator for Volunteer of the Month honors. "He takes Promotion and Education programs to heart, and knows that Farm Bureau has to educate the public about agriculture."
Fournier's commitment to the Farm Bureau mission extends well beyond educational programming. Revered as "the stable, grandfatherly figure of the St. Clair County Farm Bureau," he strives to bring young people into the organization and encourages them to develop their own leadership skills through its Young Farmer program.
Fournier is also heavily involved in policy development and implementation, serving on his county Farm Bureau's public policy and county issues committees. He regularly attends MFB's annual Lansing Legislative Seminar to take advantage of opportunities to speak directly with lawmakers about issues affecting the state's second-largest industry. Fournier also works to promote the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) and frequently represents the interests of St. Clair County farmers at the MFB State Annual Meeting.
"He recognizes that we all must work together and continue moving toward the future," his nominator wrote. "Doug is the greatest, and probably the longest-serving, volunteer the St. Clair County Farm Bureau has ever seen."
