Meet Your Staff: Public Policy Communications Specialist Nicole Sevrey

I grew up in the village of Lennon, on the Shiawassee-Genesee County line. 

When I was six or seven, my grandparents gifted me horseback riding lessons. For some young girls horses are just a phase, but my parents weren’t that lucky. Horses were everything to me from then on and I rode and worked at horse farms throughout my youth. 

This led me to an animal science class as a high school freshman, taught by agriscience and FFA teacher Matt Keefer. He had a student back out of the National FFA Convention and offered me the spot, which I jumped at, despite my fear of the unknown. 

During the opening session, a spark lit within me hearing thousands of FFA members recite in unison: “To practice brotherhood, honor agricultural opportunities and responsibilities, and develop those qualities of leadership which an FFA member should possess.”

If you know, you know. 

FFA and my agriscience classes deepened my knowledge and appreciation for farming and the many blessings of Michigan’s natural resources. From there I earned my degree in agriculture and natural resources communications from Michigan State.

After internships at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and MFB’s Promotion & Education department, I worked briefly for a Lansing-based association management and lobbying firm before returning “home” to Farm Bureau. 

For 15 years I’ve had the honor of serving you alongside my public policy division counterparts. My day-to-day work includes following and writing about legislation and regulation impacting your farms, families and businesses. 

I manage our advocacy technology that helps connect you with legislators and regulatory decisionmakers on issues important to Farm Bureau policy, enabling you to communicate the organization’s position and share your personal stories. 

I also lead the planning and implementation of our annual Lansing Legislative Seminar. My role affords me a front-row seat to your county Farm Bureaus’ policy development and implementation programming and I truly believe your grassroots work is unrivaled. 

My husband Jeremiah and I live in Williamston with our two children, Noah (7) and Izzy (2). Sadly, we lost our goldendoodle Lily in September, but her memory is still very much a strong presence in our hearts and home. 

In this chapter of life, we’re enjoying the simple joys that come with watching our children grow and learn. I enjoy traveling with family and friends, spending time at Higgins Lake, spectating at all kinds of equestrian sports, competing in dog agility (eventually with a new four-legged friend) and practicing CrossFit at our local gym. I love experiencing new things and anything life throws at me that helps me become a better version of myself.