Farmers Teaching Farmers: Speaker Spotlight

UPDATE: The registration deadline for Farmers Teaching Farmers Conference has been extended to June 8.

Next month in Lansing, Michigan farmers will gather for a first-of-its-kind, day-long workshop. Five learning tracks — row crops, cut flowers, finance, branding, and fruit & vegetables — will offer farmer-led sessions offering practical, tangible takeaways you can implement quickly on your own farm.

The day kicks off at 9 a.m. June 20 with a welcome from Loren King, who will discuss artificial intelligence’s impact on agriculture in the near future. A Lenawee County Farm Bureau member, King is a digital marketing supervisor with MorganMeyers, focusing on AI and related technologies.

“My goal for the day is to make AI a useful technology for folks,” said King.  “I want to challenge their positive or negative assumptions and give them the 20,000-foot view of how the industry is changing because of AI.”

Meanwhile, over in the branding track, King will lead another session about using AI to help market your farm and a session within finance on writing grant applications.

"Farmers Teaching Farmers will tap into farmers' on-the-ground knowledge," King said. "I'm looking forward to using my AI experience to help increase its utility for farmers, in ways that are both moral and beneficial. You'll take home at least one new idea to test out with AI, and another you'll want to try once you're more comfortable with the technology."

Kent County Farm Bureau member Nicole Zaagman will lead two other branding sessions. 

“Not many know that before I became a full-time farmer, my college degree and professional career encompassed a decade of working as a creative consultant and designer for statewide and national brands,” she said. “I worked closely with news media, publishing, sales, and marketing teams on countless branding and advertising campaigns before starting my branding agency.

“I’m excited to apply my experience to help farmers with marketing, branding and design strategies. When it comes to your business’ first impression, you get one chance to make a memorable impact,” Zaagman said.

“It's important farmers have the right tools, knowledge and brand image to help their businesses shine to consumers and the public, alike.”

Author and 'agvocate,' Zaagman founded Parkside Farm in 2021, an agritourism destination in Byron Center she shares with her husband, a herd of pygmy goats and other animal species she previously showed in 4-H.

A pair of finance sessions will be led by Matt Gibson, current Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau President and vice chair of MFB’s State Young Farmer Committee.

Gibson raises 1,700 acres of corn and soybeans, and has an 800-head hog finishing barn near Climax. He has also recently added an agricultural drainage enterprise and a roadside sweet corn stand. 

“I’m excited about the event because it’s something different — an out-of-the-box way of connecting with other farmers,” Gibson said. “Really focusing on something you can physically take home, and the small group setting, offers a personal touch that isn’t always possible at larger conferences. 

“In the finance sessions, I’m ready to challenge people’s minds on how they look at their operations. Whether you’re a beginning farmer or have been doing it for decades, when it comes to knowing numbers, we can always improve how an operation runs, whether you’re a row crop, dairy or vegetable farmer. 

“If you don’t know what’s costing you money or how to save money, your operation isn’t running as profitably as it could be.”

Registration is now open, with tickets available online: $25 for members, $75 for non-members. (Non-members may choose to roll $50 of their entry fee toward a Farm Bureau membership in their home county.)

Ticket sales close June 8, and tracks are first-come, first-serve. Don’t miss your opportunity to connect with and learn a thing or two; register today!

Full session descriptions can be found online. We’ll highlight more speakers in the next Farm Gate.