By MELISSA HART
Michigan Correspondent
 
JONESVILLE, Mich. — Businessmen drove a few miles out of town while farmers drove down a dirt road, when city and rural met for the annual Rural-Urban Picnic at Godfrey Farms in Jonesville.

Each July, Richard Godfrey continues the tradition of bringing business owners and government officials together with the people who produce their food for an evening of food, fellowship and politics.

The recent event’s evening began with the presentation of the flags by the local Color Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem sung by local vocalist Andrew Meyers.

Although not an election year, state Sen. Bruce Caswell (R-District 16), Reps. Ken Kurtz (R-District 58) and Kevin Daley (R-District 82) and Michigan Director of Agriculture and Rural Development Keith Creagh enjoyed a pork chop dinner complete with ice cream and a beautiful summer evening on the farm, sharing legislative updates affecting agriculture.

Caswell was the only one to comment on the state budget and that the tax bill presented was a net cut of $750 million for two years. He also expressed concern about how the retiree population is growing while the state’s working population, ages 25-44, is decreasing.

Saying that after the budget cuts the state had $255 million in the bank, Caswell said, “Farmers have to put hay away when times are good and that’s what we need to do in Lansing.”

Kurtz added there is much to be encouraged about in Michigan agriculture and proceeded to introduce one of seven farmers who were elected to the House of Representatives.

Daley, a fifth-generation farmer from Lapeer, said he was honored to be representing agriculture in the legislature and then introduced Creagh, who shared his journey back into Michigan’s government after being retired.
He served under Dan Wyant as his deputy secretary when Wyant was the director of agriculture. When Gov. Rick Snyder approached him about being the director, Creagh said he wanted to reinvent Michigan around food and agriculture and put it on an even keel with manufacturing. Snyder said he wanted to help rural areas and is now talking about agriculture development and the need to keep young people in the state, convinced it can be done around food and agriculture. Creagh said having so many “aggies” in elected office helps this cause.

He went on to mention the great partnership the government has had with Michigan State University, but opined it has drifted a bit from its purpose. He said Michigan has a great history in food production with Gerber and Kellogg and that it needs to continue to look at expansion.

One area of expansion in the forefront is milk processing. Creagh said there is a surplus of milk in the state and he is working on bringing in additional processing. He is also working on expansion in potatoes.

Creagh ended on a good note for college-bound students. He said the processing industry wants more food scientists and microbiologists and is looking to MSU to produce more of these students to meet the demand.