Farm Bureau prides itself on being a grassroots organization, and at its heart pumps the state-level Policy Development committee, whose members curate organizational policy positions and help ensure they reflect the voices of Michigan farmers.
One member of the 2025 lineup, Mecosta County Young Farmer Amanda Goodfellow, understands the pivotal nature of the group’s work.
“The impact of the committee’s work is immeasurable,” Goodfellow understands. “The book created is a key advocacy tool with legislators, helping shape laws that affect farmers every day.”
The committee is made up of one representative from each district, two at-large members, a Promotion & Education representative, three members from the MFB Board of Directors, and three Young Farmers. In typical Farm Bureau fashion, they’re all from different backgrounds, commodities, perspectives and demographics. Together they discuss and review policy proposals from county Farm Bureaus. They also incorporate ideas from individual members, commodity and issue advisory committees, and together turn those concepts into concise policy positions.
Quick aside about the county Farm Bureau’s role in this equation, since that’s where PD starts:
Policy success relies on members identifying issues impacting their farms, community and industry. Our policy book is refreshed every year to stay relevant with input from members in all 65 county Farm Bureaus.
And don’t let PD intimidate you. Its building blocks are simple — identify problems, craft solutions — something farmers do every day.
Farm Bureau members shepherd our grassroots PD process at all levels. What begins with truck-gate chatter after a meeting gets scribbled onto a napkin and brought to the table at the next meeting, and so on.
Now back to Amanda.
“Young Farmers bring a different perspective to industry issues, as we are facing challenges distinct from those of peers in other stages of life and farming careers,” Goodfellow explained. “Involvement in policy development at any level helps Young Farmers better understand and appreciate the value and importance of membership.”
The committee reviews policies before MFB’s State Annual Meeting, where they undergo final deliberation before delegates vote them up or down. Newly proposed ideas and updates to existing policy all go through the same thorough evaluation before moving forward.
“Young Farmers should be involved in policy development because these decisions directly shape the future of agriculture,” Goodfellow added, underlining why incorporating members’ input is so important. “No group has a greater stake in that future than the farmers who will live and work under these policies for decades to come.”
With turnover inevitable among her fellow Young Farmers on the committee, Goodfellow reflected on her experiences.
“My favorite experiences were the discussions with other committee members as we worked to create the 2026 policy book,” she said. “I love being challenged to see things from a different point of view.”
MFB’s State Policy Committee is one of the many ways Farm Bureau maintains its member-driven status — and true to its grass roots: Real farmers always have a seat at the table when discussing issues that directly affect their livelihood.
If you’re interested in rolling up your sleeves and upping your Policy Development game, just reach out to your MFB Regional Manager.
Byron Center native Callie Loew is an animal-science major at Michigan State University, currently interning with MFB’s Young Farmer Department.
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