Michigan Farm Bureau’s pending redistricting plan means change is coming to the organization’s board of directors. The new 12-district arrangement takes effect at the beginning of 2019 Annual Meeting, Dec. 3-5 in Grand Rapids.

Directors in odd-numbered districts are up for re-election this year, and there will be no change to the election process in districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, where these leaders are up for reelection:

• Brigette Leach, Dist. 1
• Mike Fusilier, Dist. 3
• Stephanie Schaefer, Dist. 5
• Mike DeRuiter, Dist. 7
• Ben LaCross, Dist. 9

Up North, however, it gets more complicated:

• A new director will be elected to represent the new District 10 (see map) for an initial 1-year term.
• Current District 10 Director Pat McGuire will no longer be in District 10, but will be eligible to be reelected to the board in the new District 11.
• The director for the new District 11 (see map) will be elected to a two-year term.
• Current District 11 Director Dave Bahrman’s term is complete, but he will be eligible to be reelected to the board in the new Upper Peninsula District 12. That election will appoint a director there to a 1-year term.

The terms of all three at-large directors expire this year: Andy Hagenow, Doug Darling and Larry Walton. With the addition of a 12^th district-specific director, only two at-large positions will be open for election (both to two-year terms).

The organization will function as 12 districts throughout the entire annual meeting, beginning with district kickoff meetings Tuesday morning.

• For the new District 10, the county president caucus chair will run the district kickoff and breakfast meetings since there is no incumbent director in that district.
• In the new District 11, Director McGuire and/or the county president caucus chair will run the meetings.
• In the new District 12, Director Bahrman and/or the county president caucus chair will run the meetings.

County Farm Bureau presidents’ caucuses are strongly encouraged to convene and nominate prospective directors at the annual meeting.

Individuals included on the slate of candidates must meet the Michigan Farm Bureau qualifications for district director and should be willing to serve if nominated. MFB regional representatives are responsible for planning the district meetings or a conference call in their respective regions.