Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointment of several Michigan Farm Bureau members to the state’s cherry and soybean commodity boards.
Michigan Cherry Committee
Juliette McAvoy, an Antrim County Farm Bureau member from Central Lake, was reappointed to represent District 1 tart cherry growers. McAvoy is vice president of sales and marketing at King Orchards and previously worked as an assistant account manager for Nielsen Perishables Group and a vegetable salesperson and account manager for Strube Celery and Vegetable Company.
Emily Miezio, a Northwest Michigan Farm Bureau member from Suttons Bay, was also reappointed to represent District 1 tart cherry growers. Miezio is the receiving station manager for Cherry Bay Orchards.
McAvoy and Miezio will serve terms through February 2027.
Other committee members currently serving include:
- Noah Fox, Oceana County Farm Bureau (Walkerville)
- Paul Hubbell, Northwest Michigan Farm Bureau (Williamsburg)
- David Smeltzer, Benzie-Manistee County Farm Bureau (Bear Lake)
- David Hackert, Mason County Farm Bureau (Ludington)
- Caleb Herrygers, Oceana County Farm Bureau (Hart)
- Mark Willmeng, Berrien County Farm Bureau (Watervliet)
- Mark Schilling, Berrien County Farm Bureau (St. Joseph)
The Michigan Cherry Committee works to strengthen the economic position of the state’s red tart and sweet cherry growers by expanding market opportunities, promoting Michigan cherries, and supporting industry research.
Michigan Soybean Committee
Ryan Drozd of Gobles, an equipment operator at Drozd Farms, was reappointed to represent District 7 growers. Drozd holds a Bachelor of Science in farm management from Purdue University.
Jeff Fromm, a Shiawassee County Farm Bureau member from Owosso, was appointed to represent District 6 growers. Fromm is the owner of Fromm Farms Trucking and succeeds Shiawassee County Farm Bureau member Mark Senk, whose term has expired.
Drozd and Fromm will serve terms through September 2028.
Other committee members currently serving include:
- Sara Trattles, St. Joseph County Farm Bureau (Colon)
- Gary Parr, Eaton County Farm Bureau (Charlotte)
- John Burk, Bay County Farm Bureau (Bay City)
- Nathan McCalla (Ann Arbor)
- Scott Wilson (Lexington)
The Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee oversees the soybean marketing program, including budgeting, assessment collection, and program evaluation. The committee works to enhance market opportunities and promote the long-term profitability of Michigan soybean growers.
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