| Michigan Farm Bureau increases membership |
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| By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan’s largest farm organization has grown larger for the 12th consecutive year.
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) wrapped up its annual membership campaign last week with 47,859 regular – or farmer – members, up from 47,654 regular members one year ago.
“The most recent census data tells us that Michigan is home to approximately 53,000 farms,” said MFB President Wayne H. Wood. “Having a large majority of those farms as Michigan Farm Bureau members is a testimonial to the Michigan Farm Bureau delivering on its mission to provide agricultural producers with support in terms of information, education and a legislative platform to ensure that agriculture’s interests are served and protected.”
A true grassroots organization, MFB serves its members year-round. Whether it’s lobbying state and national legislators on topics ranging from immigration reform and the farm bill to energy and budget issues, educating lawmakers on agriculture’s proactive environmental stewardship practices or informing members and the public on animal safety issues, MFB is committed to continually serving its membership.
“Our members feel and live the difference that the Michigan Farm Bureau makes,” Wood said. “That’s why we continue to see new farmers drawn to the organization and existing members renewing their memberships.”
Mike Wenkel, manager of the MFB Membership and Field Services Department, said volunteers in the state’s 67 county Farm Bureaus are responsible for the organization’s successful grassroots membership campaigns.
“More than 2,250 individuals attended county Farm Bureau membership kickoffs, and about 450 volunteers signed 755 new regular members,” Wenkel said. “Those numbers alone speak volumes about the value people place on their Farm Bureau membership.
“Best of all, the number of volunteers working on membership campaigns grows each year, too. You can’t get better endorsement than existing members wanting to share the benefits of Farm Bureau membership with their neighbors, family, friends and other community members,” he said.
Individual county Farm Bureaus determine criteria for regular membership. However, these members typically represent individuals with close ties to the state’s agriculture industry, such as people who farm full- or part-time, farm employees or landowners who rent ground as farmland.
In addition to regular members, MFB’s membership also is made up of associate, or non-farmer, members who enjoy Farm Bureau membership discount programs and services, including insurance products from Farm Bureau Insurance. Including associates, Farm Bureau’s 2007 membership totals 199,053.
This farm news was published in the Sept. 12, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
| 9/12/2007 |
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