On Friday, April 19, several dozen people met at Robinette’s Apple Haus for Kent County Farm Bureau’s Legislative Breakfast. We were farmer members; federal, state, and county elected officials and staff; two candidates for federal office; staff and board members from Kent Conservation district; MSU Extension 4-H director; Michigan Farm Bureau staff and the District 4 Director on the MFB Board — all passionate about agriculture in Kent County. Thank you to Alicia, Ed, Bill, and Allan Robinette for your hospitality, and thank you to all who attended for making it a worthwhile event.
Robinette’s fed us their famous donuts and quick breads (still warm!), and scrambled eggs and sausage—excellent fuel for a good conversation about the needs of farmers in Kent County.
KCFB President Kylee Zdunic-Rasch opened the meeting, with an assist from two school-age volunteers who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Vice President Bruce Klamer guided us through the Open Forum, giving both farmers and legislators the opportunity to speak.
Farmer members asked the legislators about the right to repair farm equipment on their own without voiding their warranty. They spoke about how important it was for consumers to be able to know where their fresh foods were grown. Consistent labelling of country of origin would help consumers make educated choices about whether to eat food from countries that do not have the same high quality or safety controls that we have here. On the other hand, regulations and bureaucracy have only increased, making farming more and more expensive. Many farms are turning to an agritourism model, welcoming the public to the farm for events and gatherings, but some townships are wary, so one of our members asked about a statewide agritourism bill.
All of these questions led to lively discussions about the status of various bills that address those issues, but the most heartfelt conversation revolved around the high cost of the H2A agricultural visa program. Zdunic-Rasch’s ten-year-old daughter Piper said,
“I’m a seventh-generation farmer. I want to farm one day. But the H2A wages are too high and we can’t afford it.”
Noah Roth of Railside Orchards (5th generation apple grower) spoke to that issue, detailing that they pay an almost $2,000 fee for each person they hire through the program, and that’s on top of hourly pay and housing. And then Piper’s grandfather, Fred Rasch of Green Tree Orchards shared their farm’s experience. They’ve been involved in the H2A visa program since the pilot project stage, but now they and every person in the program, from contractor to worker, is worried that they won’t have jobs anymore because farmers can’t afford it. He hopes to have a farm to pass down to that 7th generation, but,
“I’m a strong farmer, but I feel like I’m weak because I have no control.”
The official program for the Legislative Breakfast lasted an hour and a half, and then people stuck around for an additional hour and a half, talking in small groups, making important connections, enjoying spending time together.
Thank you to our farmer members for being such passionate advocates. It was good to see two candidates for federal office there: Mike Rogers, running for U.S. Senate, and Jason Ickes, running for U.S. Representative. And thank you to the following legislators and staff for attending the breakfast, even knowing that there would be tough conversations without easy answers:
Peter Dickow, Sen. Gary Peters office
Josiah Bear, Rep. John Moolenaar’s office
Kristian Silvis, Rep. Hillary Scholten’s office
Kate Kooyman, Sen. Winnie Brinks’ office
Sen. Mark Huizenga
Sen. Rick Outman; Judy Emmons
Rep. John Fitzgerald
Rep. Rachel Hood
Rep. Luke Meerman
Rep. Pat Outman
County Commissioner Dave Hildenbrand
One of the legislators encouraged all members of Kent County Farm Bureau not to make this kind of conversation a once-a-year thing, but to come to office hours, write letters, invite them for farm visits. We encourage you to do the same. In the week after the Legislative Breakfast our Young Farmer Co-chair Nicole Zaagman was in Lansing giving testimony about agritourism, and Rep. Hillary Scholten was at Thome Orchards to hear about agriculture workforce challenges.