Walking through the doors early in the morning, being greeted by the staff at registration, you feel a little relief with every smile and “hello how are you?” I felt a very new, and very welcome feeling, seeing friends from across the state walking in smiles and can-do attitudes.
A message, a handshake, a whole list of questions or just a simple thank-you played through my head as I waited for the first session to start. What would I say to the politicians I might cross paths with?
It was energizing to see so many determined people from so many different backgrounds, each with a common cause: They want to be heard, and they want their politicians to work hand-in-hand with agriculture.
Their questions start with handshakes, then proceed toward how we can work together, understand each other’s thought processes and working together.
Everyone files into rooms for their first session, and at 10 a.m. sharp the speaker says, “Good morning, I am not going to waste any time; let’s get started on the policies I have prepared for you.”
Each government-relations team member delivers practical information on various bills that need close examination. Afterwards we file out and head toward the banquet room, stopping to talk with friends we maybe haven’t seen in years, catching up as we find our tables. The air quickly fills with determination and the shuffling of boots on the ground.
MFB President Ben LaCross steps to the stage and the room goes quiet. The time spent choosing dresses and neckties, traveling near and far, putting your boots on the ground and getting to work. Eager to achieve a common goal from every Michigan Farm Bureau member. Working together to leave a positive impact on each politician while working together.
A well thought-out invocation sends a positive message, then it’s on to the awards — for a diligent county Farm Bureau that worked hard to connect with legislators, and to some lawmakers themselves who also strived toward goals held in common with Farm Bureau.
Congratulations to the recipients — Oceana County and Representatives Singh and Meerman — for their efforts to forge strong partnership between farmers and policymakers, working together to build the future for Michigan agriculture.
What an absolute honor to be in the same room with them all.
At lunch members united for another common goal: delicious food and the opportunity to meet with peers, lawmakers and state agency leaders in a casual setting. Who doesn’t like to eat and talk?
Again: Let’s get to work and dive right into each policy at hand. Time ran away fast and without hesitation, but every farmer there took time out of their schedule to come, meet and discuss their issues with their representatives in the capital.
Everyone’s time is valuable, and spending it can feel bittersweet, but what a powerful movement happening in that room, and for such a positive impact!
Breakout sessions resumed afterwards, where attendees chose their topics and their seats to absorb practical content on land use, local government, partnering with environmental leaders and candidates vying for elected office.
What session hits hardest? What topics land close to home? And whose will be the voice that pushes farmers’ priorities forward? From the capital to the countryside came reflections from farm-friendly legislators.
Reflecting on members’ efforts to improve Michigan agriculture, I couldn’t help but realize that, without farm-friendly lawmakers in Lansing, agriculture would only be that much harder. Grooming each generation of new political leaders is just one of several tasks our MFB staff shoulder for us in Lansing.
As the event wrapped up it felt like a weight was lifted, knowing we made an impact. Fruit farmers, dairy farmers, agrotourism businessmen and -women, crop farmers from first generation to sixth — you all make an impact, pushing Michigan agriculture forward and not backing down!
Another year of planning, hard work and study came to an end — and a new one began, and what an impact we’ve delivered, together.
Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau member Randall Rice is a member of the 2026-27 ProFILE cohort. A Portage-area firefighter, he and his family operate Rice Farms LLC, a 200-acre hay and row crop farm.
Share Story
Article Tags
