STANTON, Mich. — Montcalm County Farm Bureau members are supporting youth development in their county – during their Sept. 11 annual meeting at Turk Lake Restaurant, more than 50 backed policies seeking to enhance their county’s 4-H program and to consider the impacts a balanced calendar initiative could have on farm families.

A local policy was approved that aims to bolster the Montcalm County 4-H program coordinator position from part-time to potentially full-time status.

“Agriculture is an important industry in Montcalm County, and 4-H programs, the education and experiences they provide and the leadership development it encourages is an important part of perpetuating our industry,” said Lisa Johnson, chair of the county Farm Bureau’s Policy Development Committee.

“With cuts to budgets both at the local and state level in recent years, Montcalm County has shared a 4-H program coordinator with another county. With recent staffing changes, the county now has the opportunity to once again make this position full-time.”

The resolution encourages Montcalm County commissioners to provide funding to increase the position from its current 20 hours per week to at least 30, and ultimately for it to become a full-time job.

District 9 Commissioner John Johansen, who also is a county Farm Bureau member, said commissioners are considering a request from representatives of the 4-H program to enhance funding for the job. He said the county is facing a substantial increase in its health insurance costs and is considering options to meet needs while maintaining a balanced and sustainable budget.

The county Farm Bureau also approved a state policy that explores the idea of year-around school and seeks further consideration of the impacts this could have on potential loss of educational opportunities such as camps, fairs, Bible schools and similar activities, as well as impacts on local tourism and the ability of families to travel in the small window of time allowed in the balanced calendar.

The resolution also seeks for the state to drop the law that was passed a few years ago mandating the school year cannot begin until after Labor Day.

Johnson said the idea of year-around school is under consideration “because of studies which show students retain information better and require less review time when there are shorter vacation times.

“While we all want the best available education for our children, we urge the schools to consider that all learning is not accomplished in the traditional classroom,” she added.

Other approved policies include:

•Urban agriculture, which supports the formation of a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) work group to explore the formation of a set of GAAMPs (Generally Accepted Management Practices) or similar guidelines specific to urban agriculture, which maintain the integrity of Right to Farm.

It also encourages local municipalities to include agriculture in their urban planning.

•Secondhand dealers ordinance, which supports a law that requires such dealers in scrap metal, batteries, copper wire and the like to be licensed by the state or local governments

It would require them to report the receipt of secondhand goods daily by electronic transmission to local police departments and/or the county sheriff, state police or other authorized person using a system approved by the same.

•Strengthening county Farm Bureaus, which focuses on Farm Bureau’s District 7 participating in a pilot program to address some of the issues county agencies are facing, including member involvement, membership retention, budgetary issues and staffing.

The resolution supports the development of a comprehensive action plan based on this pilot program for all county Farm Bureaus; the continued evaluation of current programs for their usefulness; and a membership campaign program that is workable at a county level and encourages member retention.

•Proposed state bylaw changes, which suggests three changes to the Farm Bureau bylaws regarding employment guidelines and district director guidelines.

These policy resolutions will be forwarded to the Michigan Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee, which will select those to be considered at the state annual meeting Dec. 2-4.

In addition to setting its own policy agenda for the coming year, the Montcalm County Farm Bureau’s annual meeting was a chance to recognize outstanding individuals for service to local agriculture. Two individuals were announced as the county’s 2014 scholarship recipients.

Ryan Peterson, son of Bill and Ileen Peterson, is a 2014 graduate of Montabella High School. He plans to attend college to study agriculture industries.

Terrance Grieser, son of Joe and Joyce Grieser, is a 2014 graduate of Lakeview High School. He plans to attend college to study dairy management.

Todd Lincoln, Farm Bureau Insurance agent in Lakeview, was honored for 27 years as a Key Club recipient.

Montcalm County Farm Bureau member Chris Mark of C&N Farm was recognized for recently earning verification in the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP).

“Here in Montcalm County, we are proud to recognize Farm Bureau members who have dedicated themselves to environmental stewardship and completing the verification process,” said county Farm  Bureau President Cheryl Strautz. “We congratulate you for this accomplishment.”

“Contrary to what some would have you believe, MAEAP isn’t just a program for large farms. This benefits operations of all sizes and all commodities.”

Two local farmers were elected to the board of directors: Calvin Kipp, who will represent Evergreen, Crystal, Bushnell and Bloomer townships and replaces Nathan Ryan; and Bob Kade, who was elected to a three-year term as an at-large director and replaces Greg Heinze.

Strautz extended the county’s gratitude to Heinze and Ryan for their service.

In addition, Breann Bonga was appointed chair of the county’s Promotion and Education Committee and Brandon Gibson was made chair of the Young Farmer Committee.