He’s coming home.
After two years in Denver, Colorado, working for Blitz Canvassing, a nationwide campaign and petition firm, Jacob Smith is Michigan Farm Bureau’s new associate national legislative counsel. He starts June 2.
Smith of Haslett will be MFB’s lead on federal policy priorities — like H-2A and the farm bill — and be the primary contact for the Michigan Congressional delegation and administration leadership and staff.
His federal work has included time spent working as a staffer in the Department of Labor’s Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. He’s also represented a wide variety of trade association clients in his four years in Washington, D.C., including the National Turkey Federation.
“I really cut my teeth on labor policy; I’ve done a bunch of H-2A work, which I know is going to be very important to a lot of producers in Michigan,” Smith said. “So I've been working with 12 or 13 states in the past two years, but I'm really excited to get back to policy. That's where my main skillset is.”
In 2017, Smith graduated from MSU with a Bachelor of Arts in political science/pre-law.
He brings extensive policy and community engagement experience at local, state, and federal levels, said Matt Smego, director of MFB’s Public Policy and Commodity Division.
“We are excited to welcome Jacob to our talented team at Farm Bureau,” Smego said. “His extensive experience in Washington, D.C., with policy issues and campaigns will be a great addition to advancing our members' policy priorities.”
Outside of work, Smith, wife Elizabeth, and their daughter enjoy spending time outdoors. They will be relocating to Grand Ledge.
“I'm really excited to get in touch with everyone,” Smith continued. “I’m excited to meet folks at the grassroots level and really kind of figure out what we need to get moving.”
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