By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

STANTON, Mich. — Montcalm County Farm Bureau members recently pledged their support to the state’s fair industry.

During their recent annual meeting, they approved two policy resolutions aimed at addressing funding for fairs. One calls for reinstating financial support for fairs by the state government, while the other pledges financial support from the Montcalm County Farm Bureau for the construction of a new county fairgrounds facility.

“Michigan county and state fairs traditionally received funding from the state for building improvements, rental of specialized equipment and premiums paid out to exhibitors,” said Policy Develop-ment Committee Chair Lisa Johnson. “This ended in the last couple years of Governor (Jennifer) Granholm’s administration.

“The oldest fair in existence – the Michigan State Fair – ceased to operate this year. Many other county fairs are struggling, and some of them will probably cease in the next few years.

“At the same time funding has ceased for fairs, the state has not stopped their oversight of fairs,” Johnson added. “They still require end-of-the-year accounting and standardization of premium books. There are still personnel in the Michigan Department of Agriculture whose job it is to receive this paperwork.”

In its resolution, the county Farm Bureau called on its statewide counterpart to “urge lawmakers to reconsider the cuts in funding for Michigan fairs and restore funding to both premiums and matching funds. If the state can’t restore at least partial funding to local fairs, we further resolve the state save even more budget funds by getting out of the fair business altogether.”

Funding for fairs has steadily declined in past years and was wiped out last year when $1.46 million for prizes at local, county and state fairs was eliminated as part of the state’s budget-balancing plan.

In a pledge to support its local fair, the Montcalm County Farm Bureau also approved a policy resolution to match monetary donations made by its members in support of a $4 million building plan to construct a new facility on 63 acres north of Greenville. The county organization agreed to match 20 percent of contributions made by its members, with a total limit of $5,000 being contributed by the county organization.

“The Montcalm County 4-H Fair Association has been working for many years to build a new fairgrounds,” Johnson said. “This project has moved along at a rapid pace this past year, with the sale of the old grounds and the start of construction at the new facility.

“While agriculture has changed dramatically since the original fairgrounds was constructed, it has not diminished the importance of having a place for people to show agricultural projects.

“Seventy-five years ago, the fair was where people involved in farming and agriculture came to compete and also see and learn more about the latest farm equipment and advancements in agriculture,” she said. “Today, the competition is still fierce, but now the people surveying the displays at the fair, many times, are there to learn more about where their food comes from than to learn about new farm equipment and farming techniques.”

All policies approved at the county level will be forwarded to the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Policy Development Committee, which will select those to be considered at the MFB State Annual Meeting Nov. 30-Dec. 3 in Grand Rapids.