While in the nation’s capital, our 2026-27 ProFILE cohort joined up with Washington Legislative Seminar attendees to continue our leadership-growth journey.
The morning began with breakfast and an issue briefing. Michigan Farm Bureau staffers Jacob Smith, Pierce Bennett and Nancy Nyquist shared their expertise on current issues and talking points regarding the next farm bill, labor, the agricultural economy and trade.
Members then scattered in all directions to visit the offices of Michigan’s 13 congressmen and -women to meet with representatives and their staffs. Each meeting included sharing and highlighting key issues for Michigan farmers and personal stories of how specific policies — or the lack thereof — were affecting their farms.
As our morning meetings drew to a close, the WLS attendees made their way to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) building, where they spent the afternoon meeting with regulatory officials at that vital agency. Topics atop our farmers’ minds included fertilizer supplies and prices, the low cattle inventory, and Farm Service Agency programs and payments.
Members took time to explore the area later that afternoon and evening, with the ProFILE taking a water taxi down to Alexandria, Virginia. Despite cool temps, the boat offered a great view of the Potomac River and the communities along it. We toured historic Alexandria before wrapping up the day over dinner.
At the following morning’s breakfast program we were joined by Senator Elissa Slotkin, who shared her understanding of the importance of agriculture, and that national security is food security.
In her work on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Slotkin has been pushing to get farm bill language introduced so that it can be thoroughly discussed on the floor. She concluded her time with the group by taking questions — then asking some of her own about farmers’ concerns and current issues, including fertilizer supplies as spring planting quickly approaches.
Washtenaw County dairy farmer Katelyn Packard is a member of the 2026-27 ProFILE cohort.
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