By Emily Reinart

With MFB’s 2021 policy book printed and in the hands of members and legislators across the state, we can take a break, right? No! Because farming never stops and policy development never sleeps.

As you face issues on your farms and in your communities, the opportunity to develop policy resolutions is ever present. The organization depends, survives and thrives on the policy direction you provide.

Missaukee County FB President Jodi DeHate and her husband Kevin.

In other words:

“Without member involvement in Policy Development at the county level it’s like a ship without direction,” said Jodi DeHate, president of the Missaukee County Farm Bureau. “There needs to be a plan.”

Our members are the captains and crew members at the helm of our ship, the SS Farm Bureau.

“Farm Bureau as a whole operates on policy and what direction it gives to the organization,” DeHate said. “Members need to help their leaders understand what policies would help them and their farm and how to move forward.”

With more than 100 different policies in the MFB Policy Book, the organization is anchored by solid policy positions crafted and voted on by the members to serve as the year’s navigational chart.

So come aboard and look for opportunities in the coming months to serve on the crew:

• Volunteer to serve on your county’s Policy Development team.
• Attend a Shop Talk event this summer to brainstorm topics and solutions with your farmer peers.
• Share your ideas and what’s been keeping you up at night. Contact your county’s Policy Development chair and share the idea via text, phone call, e-mail, at the coffee shop — any way, any how and whenever. Don’t keep it to yourself; if you’re facing it, there’s likely a whole crew of your peers in the same boat. 

And county Farm Bureau boards of directors: Please identify your county’s Policy Development chair by March 31 and have your county administrative manager tag them accordingly in IMIS.

Emily Reinart is MFB’s grassroots policy outreach specialist.