Michael Fusilier of Manchester is the District 3 Director, representing Farm Bureau members in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. Fusilier also serves on the Executive Committee of the Michigan Farm Bureau board of directors.
He, along with his wife Kathy and family, operates a greenhouse and produce operation in Washtenaw County. The farm consists of bedding plants, 30 different vegetable crops, corn and soybeans. Most of the commodities are sold at the farm's roadside stand and to local farm markets. The farm also offers U-pick pumpkins and strawberries and hayrides.
Fusilier began farming with his father following his graduation from Michigan State University in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in animal science. He immediately built a 150-sow farrow-to-finish operation. In 1992, Fusilier bought out his father and expanded row crop production to 1,500 acres. In 1996, he started a greenhouse. As urban sprawl continues to increase, he's since expanded the greenhouse and produce operation and begun phasing out the livestock and row crops.
Fusilier has been active with the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau and has served on executive committees of various boards, including the Federal Reserve Agricultural Advisory Committee. At the local level, Fusilier served 12 years on the Manchester Township Planning Commission, including three years as chairman, three years as vice-chairman and three years as secretary. He also spent three years as chairman of the Manchester Township Zoning Board of Appeals.