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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.
Annie Link
December, 2007 Volunteer of the Month
Farm Bureau honors Kent Co. member for service, dedication
In recognition of her efforts to educate the public about agriculture by opening up her family's dairy farm to community members, Annie Link has been recognized as Michigan Farm Bureau's Volunteer of the Month for December 2007. Link and her family operate Swisslane Farms, a fourth-generation dairy operation milking 1,150 cows and raising corn, soybeans, hay and wheat on 3,500 acres near Alto, in southeastern Kent County.
Link operates Dairy Discovery, a family-run agribusiness coordinating school tours, family days, special occasion parties and other on-farm events at Swisslane Farms. Dairy Discovery events always emphasize a strong agricultural-education message, in a manner that's engaging and fun for young people.
Link's work with Dairy Discovery stem from Link's self-appointed role as a kind of goodwill ambassador for local agriculture, particularly livestock farms. After reading a local news article that characterized large farms as careless polluters-prioritizing profit over the environment-Link coordinated an on-farm open house at Swisslane for visiting media. Reporters toured the facility, and learned about modern farm production methods and environmental stewardship practices straight from the farmers themselves. Representatives from the Michigan Department of Agriculture were on hand to help explain the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). Following years of investment in new technology and the adoption of innovative farming practices-all geared toward protecting the environment-Swisslane is verified in the MAEAP livestock system and will soon add cropping system verification as well.
Link quickly followed the successful media open house with a similar event for the general public, drawing a crowd of some 300 community members to the farm. Her efforts to open up the operation for all to see and shed light on how agriculture really works have paid off in improved community relations and positive publicity through both print and broadcast media.
"Annie felt the agriculture industry had been misrepresented, and rather than sitting back and moaning about it, she took action," wrote her nominator for Volunteer of the Month honors. "She made sure speakers were prepared, invitations were sent out, and that the farm was ready for the tour. Her work demonstrates drive for maintaining agriculture's place in Michigan."
Link and her husband, Gerard, have three children: Joanna, 7, William, 5, and James, 3.
