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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.
Phyllis Brown
August, 2008 Volunteer of the Month
Farm Bureau honors Lapeer County member for service, dedication
A relative newcomer to the organization, local crop farmer Phyllis Brown dove into Lapeer County Farm Bureau's educational outreach programming with the enthusiasm of a committed veteran. In recognition of her efforts this year in educating area schoolchildren about agriculture, Brown has been named Michigan Farm Bureau's (MFB) Volunteer of the Month for August 2008.
Brown's young Farm Bureau career got off the ground when she attended the MFB's Project TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) conference in the early spring. Returning home to Lapeer County brimming with everything MFB's Promotion and Education Department has to offer, Brown chose to focus on stepping up Lapeer County's Ag in the Classroom efforts.
Well before the 2006-07 school year expired, Brown had lined up classroom visits at Imlay City, North Branch, Lapeer, Almont and Dryden elementary schools. She personally got to three classes in the spring - speaking with almost 500 students about Michigan's second-largest industry - and scheduled her remaining visits for this fall.
With feedback from teacher evaluations, she made adjustments to her presentation over the summer and even started laying plans for an Ag in the Classroom in-service for teachers in five area school districts.
"Phyllis has taken on this project full-steam," wrote her nominator for Volunteer of the Month honors. "She has been self-sufficient and made all the contacts with the school principals and teachers herself. Her 'go get 'em' attitude is great - she believed in this program and took off with it in no time.
"She is a positive role model for the local agriculture industry and for Lapeer County Farm Bureau. Phyllis is the epitome of a great volunteer."
Brown and her husband Thomas operate a cash crop farm near Imlay City, raising corn, soybeans, dry beans, hay, oats and wheat. They also keep chickens for egg production, and raise some fruits and vegetables as well.
The couple has four grown children and eight grandchildren.
