GRAND RAPIDS — Recognizing his significant impact on, and commitment to the growth of Michigan agriculture, former two-term Gov. Rick Snyder received Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 2025 Distinguished Service to Agriculture (DSA) award, the organization’s most prestigious recognition.
The annual award honors individuals who have made extraordinary and lasting contributions to Michigan agriculture. As Michigan’s 48th governor, Snyder’s leadership exemplified those qualities, according to MFB President Ben LaCross.
“His bipartisan approach and commitment to expand Michigan agriculture’s economic contributions to the state’s economy from $80 billion to over $100 billion was quickly achieved and consistently supported by his administration throughout his two terms as governor,” LaCross said.
Much of that economic growth resulted from an expansion of value-added processing, creating long-term market outlets and additional employment opportunities throughout rural Michigan, according to LaCross.
During his two terms, Snyder championed fiscal responsibility, tax reform, and bipartisan problem-solving, guiding Michigan to balanced budgets ahead of schedule and leading the state’s economic turnaround.
Central to his approach was “relentless positive action” — a philosophy that shaped his leadership and helped pave the way for Michigan’s economic rebound, including efforts that recognized and elevated the importance of Michigan agriculture.
“During his eight years as governor, Michigan added 540,000 private-sector jobs transforming the state from a bottom-10 to a top 10 performer in business attraction and economic growth,” LaCross said.
Snyder balanced that economic growth while also recognizing agriculture’s environmental contributions through the voluntary Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP).
“Gov. Snyder quickly realized that as a voluntary, incentive-driven program, MAEAP would do more to raise the awareness of the environmental efforts already taking place on Michigan farms, while also rewarding farmers willing to step up and complete the environmental assessment and verification process,” LaCross added.
Snyder’s first piece of legislation signed into law in 2011 was a two-bill package sponsored by then state Rep. Kevin Daley that codified MAEAP into law, putting the program into statute as a model for addressing environmental challenges while also allowing agriculture to expand.
In accepting the DSA award, Snyder said he was honored and proud of the MAEAP legislation that’s left a “lasting legacy.”
“As I travel around Michigan, I still see those white signs, and they mean something to me, and they mean something to a lot of Michiganders,” Snyder said. “And I want to thank anyone that has one of those white signs, thank you for what you've done to make Michigan a better place.”
Snyder credited the partnership with MFB and the ag industry in general that worked with his administration to focus on research and development, valued-added processing and exports. “We worked hard on all three of those, and I think we set some records during that timeframe.”
Michigan agriculture will also benefit long term, LaCross said, from Snyder’s efforts to move from the discussion phase to the actual construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, providing a second crossing between Detroit and Canda.
The $6.4 billion project, scheduled to open in early 2026, will provide a vital long-term connection to Michigan agriculture’s largest trading partner, accounting for $1.25 billion of the state’s $2.9 billion in agricultural exports in 2024.