I’d like to introduce you to Otsego County Farm Bureau’s new president, my husband of 52 years, Thomas Prusakiewicz. Tom’s had farming embedded in his soul since he was a child, born and raised by Stanley and Julia Prusakiewicz.
Tom was the middle child of nine on Stan and Julia’s Goslow Road farm, just outside Gaylord. His parents raised him to be a hard worker and a good steward of the land. He and his brothers would pasture the cattle along the road and one day Tom ripped his upper arm so bad it left a jagged scar. He never told his mom, but one week before she died, his mother told me she really did know about it the whole time, but let Tom take care of it himself.
In 1972, Tom was drafted into the army and stationed at a stockade in Fuerth, Germany. After a couple weeks working inside, the commanding officer said, “We need to put this farm boy to work as the duty driver,” so he drove the commanding officer and the inmates to their appointments.
We got married Nov. 25, 1972 and I joined him in Germany the following January. Every 13 days he’d get three days off, so we’d roam around Europe to Switzerland, Germany, Austria — even a quick jaunt into France.
We returned home in 1973 and purchased a farm on North Townline Road. His uncle gave him his first calf, the first cow on the farm.
Gene and Barb Fleming introduced us to Farm Bureau. Barb was county secretary at that time and convinced to be the Promotion & Education chair. Gene and I co-chaired the membership campaign. Tom attended a few P&E conferences with me, and joined the county board in 1999, eventually serving seven years as vice president.
We have six grandchildren and two great granddaughters, all of whom we’ve helped teach to work hard, study hard and be the best that they can be. Our one grandson is always ready to help grandpa whenever he needs it.
Tom is a regular employee at the stockyards in Gaylord — Northern Michigan Livestock — and is always going to load out hay or unload hay. He works the regular Wednesday and Friday sales, Thursday feeder sales, then again on Saturday to help with load-out — except for Saturday horse sales and Sunday load-outs…
You get the idea: Tom’s values are on clearly visible and on display every day.
With a lifetime of service and hard work under his belt, both in the military and on the farm, we’re confident Tom’s not only up to the task of leading our county Farm Bureau this year, but he’s ready! All Farm Bureau members bring their unique set of skills to the table when it’s their turn to lead, and Tom’s no exception.
Our members here in Otsego County are in good hands.
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