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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 Zenz
July, 2008 Volunteer of the Month
Farm Bureau honors Jackson County member for service, dedication
Grass Lake crop farmer Tom Zenz has been named Michigan Farm Bureau's Volunteer of the Month for July 2008. The award recognizes a flurry of activity over recent months that has had the current Jackson County Farm Bureau President involved in every corner of the organization.
Zenz set an aggressive pace for himself early in the year by recruiting 10 new Farm Bureau members during the late winter membership campaign. He put a great deal of time and energy into Project RED (Rural Education Days), March 25, and later worked with members of the fair board to plan for a more prominent presence for Farm Bureau at the county fair.
He also pursued farm lobbying efforts, traveling to Lansing to testify about agricultural water use in relation to the Great Lakes Compact. Closer to home, he's visited with lawmakers at two local legislative breakfast events and monitored equine issues near Grass Lake.
"Tom has stayed heavily involved in Farm Bureau activities over the last few months," wrote his nominator for Volunteer of the Month honors. "As county president he has delegated, held hands, involved new members, promoted, lobbied, negotiated, managed and motivated his members to be more involved in the organization - to promote and protect agriculture in Jackson County."
Outside Farm Bureau, Zenz maintains the same high level of involvement in and commitment to his community, serving on his township's board of trustees and its fire department.
Zenz farms approximately 5,000 acres, raising corn, hay, oats, soybeans and wheat. He has three children; Jaclene, Jared and Jorge.
