The Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies has once again been recognized as a Culture Innovator in the 2025 Best Culture Awards presented by Kudos. The award honors organizations that have demonstrated innovative and unique strategies to build an exceptional workplace culture. This is the organization’s second consecutive year attaining the distinction.
The Culture Innovator Award is presented to organizations that have demonstrated unique strategies to build an outstanding workplace culture. Applicants in this category delivered positive performance in areas including engagement, employee feedback, internal surveys, and commitment from leadership teams.
“Over the past year we’ve opened new doors for networking and collaboration, not only within departments, but also company-wide” said Joanna Coddington who has utilized Kudos to enrich culture and teamwork across the wide-ranging Michigan Farm Bureau organization in her role as Executive Assistant to Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan Vice Presidents.
“Just over one year ago, I started a new process in preparation for Division meetings,” recalled Coddington while giving an example of one of the ways the organization has utilized Kudos to enhance collaboration and recognition. “Prior to the meeting, I collect all Kudos received for employees within the division. I share these with the department Vice President and their leadership team. They then review and select several of the most outstanding items. I transfer these to a survey for employees to review and vote on prior to the meeting. This gives them an opportunity to read all the great things their teammates have done, and thank them for their hard work and kindness.”
“This process is beneficial for people getting to know each other and better understand what everyone contributes to our shared goals. I truly enjoy reading about all the great things happening! It really helps paint a picture of the great working relationships and friendships within our company,” said Coddington.
A leading provider of employee recognition, rewards and corporate culture, Kudos is in its fifth year helping organizations building and sustain exceptional workplace cultures.
“The Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies was recertified for this category in 2025 due to positive performance in areas including initiatives to improve employee engagement, positive employee feedback, and creative use and strong performance when it comes to the Kudos platform,” the company said in announcing the award. “This organization provides a great example of the power of investing in recognition and workplace culture.”
Founded in 1919 to serve the state’s county Farm Bureau organizations — and amplify the voice of their members — Michigan Farm Bureau’s services grew and diversified over the ensuing decades to include leadership development, consumer outreach, organized commodity bargaining, farm labor procurement and a full range of insurance products.
Kudos’ Best Culture Awards celebrate organizations that exemplify excellence in fostering outstanding workplace cultures. Winners stood out for their commitment to robust employee recognition programs, demonstrating how appreciation drives strong, connected teams.
They also showcased innovative initiatives, such as wellness programs designed to engage employees effectively. A shared dedication to diversity and inclusion was evident, with all winners prioritizing environments where every employee feels valued and respected, setting a benchmark for modern workplace excellence.
“The Best Culture Awards celebrate the vital role culture plays in organizational success,” said Muni Boga, President and CEO of Kudos. “This year’s winners and recertified winners have set an inspiring example for others to follow. Through their unique approaches to recognition and engagement, they’ve shown that investing in people is a powerful and proven way to drive performance, engagement, and belonging. Congratulations to all on this extraordinary achievement!”
Kudos is an employee engagement, culture and analytics platform that harnesses the power of peer-to-peer recognition, values reinforcement and open communication to help organizations boost employee engagement, reduce turnover, improve culture and drive productivity. Kudos’ proprietary methodologies deliver essential analytics on culture, performance, equity and inclusion, providing organizations with a clearer understanding of their workforce.