For Sarah Hollon, leadership in agriculture isn’t confined to the classroom, it’s a commitment that extends into her community, her county and the future of Michigan farming.
Originally from Oscoda County, she grew up surrounded by animals on her family’s farm and was active in 4-H. After moving to Gladwin in 2013, she held several agricultural jobs before finding her calling in education. Today she serves as a teacher and FFA advisor for the agriscience program at Clare-Gladwin RESD, teaching students in five districts across Clare and Gladwin counties.
But her impact reaches far beyond the classroom. Since joining Farm Bureau in 2021, she’s taken on new leadership roles, chairing Clare County Farm Bureau’s Promotion & committee and now serving as county president.
She expected neither but fully embraced both.
“Farm Bureau was not a thing where I grew up, so getting involved with it here was different and not something I was used to,” Hollon said. “What keeps me coming back is that, as a teacher, I’m passionate about agriculture and spreading that knowledge and awareness. That’s near and dear to my heart, along with a lot of other things Farm Bureau does.”
Driven in part by the goal of spreading agricultural awareness, Clare County Farm Bureau focuses heavily on community outreach. From events like Project RED (Rural Education Day) and other educational initiatives, they work to give back while helping community members better understand the agriculture.
Clare County is predominantly rural with many established farms, but Hollon notes there’s still a disconnect.
“A lot of people live in this community and see the agriculture, but don’t have a strong understanding of what that means — or what farmers do on a regular basis.”
As county president, she’s focused on creating ways to bridge that gap between producers and consumers.
“I’m hoping to support the people within my county as well as those on the board. I want to see my board members reach all the goals they’re trying to reach.”
One event they’re eager to update is the annual Tract-or-Treat. Previously centered on teaching kids about commodities, this year’s version will include more learning opportunities for both children and adults.
“We want to give more of that awareness to individuals and help make those connections within their county,” Hollon said.
She first joined the board as Young Farmer chair in 2021. Although unsure what to expect, it’s opened doors to meaningful leadership. Her advice to Young Farmers considering serving on their board is straightforward: “Just try it, you never know what is going to come from a little thing.
“Sometimes you don’t realize the opportunities your county might have if you’re not involved. Sometimes it just takes one person wanting to be involved for a lot of things to change.”
Boards benefit from a diversity of ages, with a mix of generations contributing their perspectives.
“You may be the input and opinion that your board is missing because they might not have a variety of ages, knowledge and wisdom,” Hollon said. “As younger individuals, we’re often really connected to the world, and we see a lot of ideas we can bring back to the group.
“We offer different viewpoints and we’ve had different experiences than older generations,” she continued. “One of the good things about social media is that we’re connected to so many other people in agriculture. Being able to see and share ideas from other places with your county is an awesome experience and a great opportunity.”
So she encourages her fellow Young Farmers to be that new voice in your own county.
This is part of a continuing series highlighting Young Farmers serving as county Farm Bureaus presidents; look for more in upcoming issues of Farm Gate.
Lilianne Trinkle interned this summer with Michigan Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Promotion & Education departments.
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