By KEVIN WALKER
Michigan Correspondent
 
LANSING, Mich. — Among its other achievements, the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) was recognized at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual meeting for making big gains in its membership over the past year.
The state Farm Bureau won 11 awards at this year’s meeting, Jan. 9-11 in Atlanta, Ga.; those are the most awards possible.

“One of the factors in increased membership is the economy in general,” said Jill Corrin, a spokeswoman for the MFB. “In time the economy has improved for some.”

She also said that MFB has an arrangement with Ford Motor Company that Farm Bureau members can get $500 back when they lease or purchase certain Ford vehicles; the program is pretty popular and may be an incentive to join.
“Also, more people are caring about food and are thinking about agriculture,” Corrin said.

There were three award categories, including president’s awards, pinnacle award and awards for excellence. This year the MFB was eligible to compete for the president’s awards for the first time since 2003; that’s because it experienced membership growth last year of 1.61 percent. It also won the navigator award, which recognizes growth in state membership of at least 1.5 percent.

The awards for excellence recognize state Farm Bureau achievements in the following categories: agriculture education and promotion, leadership development, member services, policy implementation and public relations and communication. The MFB received an award for excellence in all five categories this year.

Also, the MFB won president’s awards in all five program areas, making Michigan only the second state after Montana to have won this many.
“Montana is a much smaller farm bureau,” Corrin said. “We’re competing against some very big farm bureaus. This was an extraordinary year for Farm Bureau award-wise.”

The pinnacle award recognizes the top state Farm Bureau in different membership categories for various program activities. Corrin said that the election year helped energize the membership.

“In every area of Farm Bureau we were working toward this common goal. Michigan Farm Bureau is just a really good organization.”
Also this year, Ben LaCross of Cedar, Mich. was elected by a vote of his peers to serve as chairman of the AFBF’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. The committee’s mission is to help farm bureau members 18 to 35 learn more about farming, how to network with other young farmers and how to become future leaders.

“I was very excited when my committee members selected me to represent them,” LaCross said. “Everyone on that committee is very committed. We are going to have to deal with regulations and policies in Lansing and Washington, D.C., for 20 to 30 years that are going to affect agriculture.”

LaCross, 32, will take the helm of the 16-member national committee next month, serving a one-year term. He is a second generation grower, and a graduate of Central Michigan University. He’s married to Kelsey, a Spanish and English teacher at the Leland Public Schools in northwest Michigan near Traverse City.

LaCross grows tart cherries, sweet cherries and plums on 700 acres primarily in Leelanau County.

They also own and operate Suttons Bay-based Leelanau Fruit Company, which is a fruit processor. They also own a 40-acre apple orchard.
Another noteworthy achievement was Montcalm County Farm Bureau member Cheryl Strautz’ advance to the semi-final round of the AFBF’s Young Farmer Discussion Meet. The competition evaluates how well participants discuss agricultural issues in a highly-structured format. The competition is limited to those aged 18-35.

Strautz, of Stanton, Mich., was one of 16 contestants chosen to participate in the third round of competition after completing the first two rounds. She qualified to go to the national competition after winning the state contest last month at the MFB’s annual meeting in Grand Rapids. She owns and operates Strautz Farms with her mother Pat Strautz. Merle Langeland, a Hudsonville, Mich. farmer was also recognized at the national meeting for having the “most effective concept.” It is part of the farmer idea exchange contest, which is meant to encourage Farm Bureau members to share new ideas and inventions that help farmers cut costs and become more efficient. The program is also meant to apply to everything from marketing concepts to equipment modifications.

Langeland’s invention is a “calf care chute.” With the chute’s small frame design and modifications to move from pen to pen, the handler can safely and more easily vaccinate and dehorn its calves.
Langeland was one of 15 Farm Bureau members nationwide to be selected to participate in the contest.