EAST LANSING — Michigan agriculture is Gala apples and Babybel cheese. It’s wheat and soybean seeds, beef (“It’s what’s for dinner.”) and milk. It’s a little bit of everything.
And on Saturday in East Lansing, attendees of Michigan State University’s football game against Youngstown State University (YSU) got a full tasting menu of the state’s second-largest industry — agriculture — during its Celebrating Agriculture Day event, presented by the Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies.
“Michigan State University is our land-grant institution. The more we can talk to students about agriculture, matters,” said Mike Fusilier, District 3 director and vice president on the Michigan Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Fusilier operates a greenhouse and produce operation in Washtenaw County, consisting of bedding plants, 30 different vegetable crops, corn and soybeans. Most of the commodities are sold at the farm's roadside stand and to local farm markets.
Saturday’s event provided him a megaphone to the consumer — a way to share ag’s story.
“It’s about advocacy: We can talk about different (farming) practices — whether that’s organic or regenerative or sustainable ag — and how that all works out on our operation,” he told Michigan Farm News.
“We are explaining our farm story.”
That farm story is a complex one: It’s one where more consumers distrust the food system, according to MSU Extension, but trust the U.S. farmer. According to a 2020 survey conducted by American Farm Bureau Federation, 88% of Americans trust farmers.
Having a platform to showcase agriculture and answer consumer questions can make all the difference, said Leona Daniels, District 10 director on MFB’s Board of Directors.
“It’s about bringing them in and seeing what agriculture is,” said Daniels, who runs a cow-calf operation in Arenac County. She also raises steers, corn, soybeans and hay.
“Sometimes they have a very rigid view of what agriculture and farming are. Agriculture is so much than their perception. Here, they can ask a whole bunch of questions and learn more about our industry from the experts.”
At the Fan Fest tent near MSU’s Munn Arena, attendees could talk to representatives and leaders at county Farm Bureaus, the Young Farmer and Promotion & Education State committees, and the FARM Science Van.
MSU even recognized Michigan farmers during its 41-24 win against YSU.
“We want to share with them that we care about our animals and care about our land,” said Alysa Sanford, who farms in Jackson County and is P&E representative on the MFB Board of Directors.
“They can get different research and hear from experts about the decisions we make on our farms. This is a great place for that conversation.”
According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, agriculture contributes more than $100 billion to the state’s economy and employs nearly a million people.
There are consumers who want to know more about this industry, added Sanford, and “we want them to feel like they can talk to farmers about how their food is produced.”
Learn more in the video above.