Vote for Friends of Agriculture in the Aug. 4 primary election. Review our complete list of farm-friendly candidates at www.michfb.com/endorsements.
St. Joseph County Farm Bureau member Larry Walton (R) is the AgriPac-endorsed Friend of Agriculture candidate for the 59th House District, encompassing all of St. Joseph County and most of Cass.
“It’s an honor to receive the endorsement from AgriPac,” Walton said. “As a member of the St. Joseph County Farm Bureau, this recognition is one not taken lightly. If elected, I’ll work tirelessly for all those involved in agriculture, as well as for all the residents of St. Joseph and Cass counties.”
Walton has been involved in many groups within and beyond his community for much of his life, including the Centerville FFA while in high school, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners as an adult, and with a vast number of committees with the Michigan Farm Bureau, including its Board of Directors.
“Growing up on the farm, I learned at an early age the value of a common sense, practical approach which has been applied in many leadership roles,” Walton added. “As a legislator, I pledge to go to work for the residents of the 59th District, applying the common sense of a farmer each day on the issues that impact them.”
A fourth-generation farmer and a strong supporter of Michigan’s Right to Farm Act, Walton believes the role of local government is to engage with farmers and open doors to expanded opportunities beyond the current market. As a lawmaker, he’d sponsor legislation centered around water use in the Great Lakes Basin.
Walton feels strongly that water regulation should balance environmental protection with economic sustainability as to not hinder agriculture’s ability to produce a nutritious and abundant food supply.
He was selected by MFB President Carl Bednarski to serve on the Water Policy Task Force and assigned to produce a report on water use and quality issues to help county Farm Bureaus, districts, and statewide policy development committees with writing water-related policy resolutions.
Larry also is part of an ad-hoc group of farmer leaders and Farm Bureau staff from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota who meet two to three times a year with EPA Region 5 Administrator Kurt Theide to discuss environmental issues that affect farmers and increase the collaboration, communication, and partnership of agriculture and EPA. Along with Larry, MFB board members Brigette Leach and Ben Lacross have been tapped to be Michigan's representatives at those meetings.
Along with ag issues, Walton supports the right to life, the second amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the right of a public education. He has served on the district Board of Education for the past five years and is the Ag Advisory Chair for the St. Joseph County Career and Technical Education system.
Larry lives near Nottawa where he farms 500 acres of row crops with his wife Angie and daughters Morgan and Paige. His son Taylor lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
In addition to his Friend of Agriculture designation, Walton is endorsed by Michigan Corn Growers for the primary. Learn more about Larry Walton’s background and his stand on issues at electlarrywalton.com.