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Ag Students Receive Farm Bureau Scholarships

Monroe County Farm Bureau has awarded three $750 scholarships to local students aspiring to careers in agriculture.  Recipients of the awards can use the funds to attend college, trade school, or apprenticeship programs that support the agricultural industry.

“These students are the future of the agriculture industry of Monroe County, and we consider these scholarships to be an investment in the future of our community,” said Mark Mathe, President of the Monroe County Farm Bureau.  “Their achievements will impact the future success of farms and agri-businesses in our area.”

The 2021 winner of the Betty Bliss Scholarship is Madison Bank of Carleton.  It is named for long-time County Office Administrator Betty Bliss, and has been presented annually since 1988.  Madison is attending Michigan State University studying Crop and Soil Sciences with a minor in Environmental Studies and Sustainability.  The daughter of William and Heather Bank, she graduated from Airport High School and was a member of the Swan Creek 4-H Club for ten years.  Upon graduation from MSU, she plans to become a crop consultant to help serve the farmers of Michigan.

The Dale Lynn Mason Scholarship, which honors long-time secretary Dale Lynn Mason who served the bureau for over 28 years, was awarded to Katlyn Taylor of Ottawa Lake.  Katlyn is attending Michigan State University studying Agribusiness Management.  She is on track to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in the Winter of 2022 with aspirations to then earn a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and Environmental Policy.  Katlyn is the daughter of Tim and Heidi Taylor, and is a Whiteford High School graduate.  She was an FFA Officer the last 3 years of high school, a member of the National Honor Society, and served as Secretary of the Student Council and Vice President of her senior class.

Finally, the third scholarship awarded this year is the Young Farmer Memorial Scholarship.  The oldest scholarship awarded by the bureau, it was renamed seven years ago as a tribute to the Young Farmers of our group whose lives were cut short before reaching their full potential.  The scholarship was presented this year to Grace Herkimer of Monroe.  Grace earned her Associate’s Degree from the MSU Agricultural Operations program, housed on the campus of Monroe County Community College.  She will be transferring to MSU this fall to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science.  A graduate of Ida High School, Grace is the daughter of Jerry and Carol Herkimer, and plans to remain in the agricultural industry after graduation, possibly in animal research, production, or nutrition.

By Ned Birkey, MSU Extension Educator Emeritus

A Twilight Field Crop Field Day will be held on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at the Monroe County Community College (MCCC) Student Ag Farm.  MCCC is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, MI 48161.  The Student Ag Farm is just north of campus and persons should take the gravel driveway to the parking lot and the tent.  There will be signage at the site directing traffic.

This event will begin with a porkburger supper, “with all the trimmings” at 6:00pm to be followed by a walking tour and presentations of three MSU corn and soybean projects, ending at 8:30pm.  The event will be held rain or shine with a tent, tables and chairs and porta john and handwashing station on site.

This event is free of charge to all area farmers and others interested in agriculture and sponsored by the Agriculture Advisory Council, the Monroe County Farm Bureau, the Michigan Soybean Committee, the Monroe Conservation District and MCCC.  Reservations are requested for a meal count and can be made to the Monroe Conservation District by phone at 734-241-8540, Ext. 5.  The deadline for reservations is Monday, June 21, 2021.

Projects toured include an early planting versus late planting soybean project by Dr. Manni Singh, a cover crop and soybean nematode suppression project by Dr. George Bird and corn, soybean and cover crop nematode projects by Drs. Marisol Quintanilla and Sita Thapa.

Other projects at the Student Ag Farm in 2021 include; a TePee malting barley project by Independent Barley and Malts of Litchfield, Michigan, a Golden Harvest corn variety demonstration plot, and sunflower, ornamental corn and Mum fund raiser project by the Collegiate Farm Bureau FFA Student Ag Club.  Additionally, numerous fruit and vegetables planted will be donated to MCOP and the new Monroe Market operated by the Oaks of Righteousness Church.

Two pesticide re-certification credits, CCA credits and MAEAP Phase I credit will be requested.  As of June 3, all updated MCCC Covid safety protocols will be followed, which means that fully vaccinated persons no longer need to wear a mask and distancing is not required.  For more information, contact Ned Birkey at: [email protected] or 734-260-3442.

Monroe County Farm Bureau has again committed to providing three $750 scholarships to students from our community studying agriculture.  The Betty Bliss Scholarship, Dale Lynn Mason Scholarship, and Young Farmer Memorial Scholarship will be awarded this May and local students are encouraged to apply.

To qualify for these scholarships, students must be enrolled in post-secondary education pursuing a career related to agriculture.  This includes four-year universities, trade schools, community colleges, and vocational training which supports the agricultural industry, and current students in these programs are also eligible.  Farm Bureau membership is not a requirement for selection, but we always encourage membership in the Young Farmer Committee.  We hope that our scholarship winners will return to their community after completion of their education.

Application forms may be downloaded by clicking HERE .  Completed applications including a one-page essay on the topic, “Which two major issues will define the agricultural industry over the next five years, and how can farmers positively promote the industry as a response to those issues?” along with two letters of recommendation are due back to the County Farm Bureau office in Ida by the end of the day on May 7th.  Applicant interviews will not be required this year.  The Young Farmer Committee will select the winners at a special meeting on May 8th.

Winners of the scholarships will receive a check made payable to them and the school they are attending once their first semester’s transcripts are submitted which demonstrate proof of enrollment and grades.  Winners of a scholarship from previous years are also welcome to reapply, as long as their course of study remains connected to the field of agriculture.

Please contact the Monroe County Farm Bureau office at 734-269-3275 or [email protected] for more information.

County Farm Bureau policy development teams are well into their yearly process of crafting resolutions that ultimately become the policy guiding Michigan Farm Bureau’s legislative and regulatory work year-round. Numerous electronic resources are available to help members engage in a variety of ways.

Probable Issue Briefs: To help members get discussion and ideas flowing, Farm Bureau staff prepare briefs on emerging issues and hot topics impacting the agriculture sector. Briefs this year include:

• Agricultural Guestworker Program
• Consolidating Statewide Elections
• Corporate Investment in Farmland
• COVID-19 Emergency Authority
• COVID-19 Liability Protections
• Electoral College Votes
• Emerging Climate Policy
• Farm Bill
• Farm Savings Accounts
• Farm Stress and Rural Access
• Food Safety Modernization Act
• Groundwater Discharge Permits
• Regional Water Quality Programs
• The National Debt

Current Policy: The 2021 MFB and AFBF policy books are available to search and download if members are considering amendments to existing language.

Submit your ideas: Use this form to submit ideas or amendments throughout the year.

Policy Development Process: Once compiled, hundreds of resolutions from Michigan’s 65 county Farm Bureaus will be considered by a 21-member state-level policy development committee. The final slate of policies is then considered by voting delegates at MFB’s annual meeting in Grand Rapids.

State Policy Development Committee: The committee consists of 20 members: one from each of the 11 districts; three at-large; three representing the State Young Farmer Committee; and three representing the MFB Board of Directors.

Looking to learn more about policy development? Contact your county Farm Bureau.

If you have never had the chance to attend a district-level Young Farmer Discussion Meet, what you’ll find is: ambitious Young Farmers to network with; great conversation around important agricultural topics; and a chance to build your leadership resume with Michigan Farm Bureau.

Discussion meets date back to the 1940s and are designed to replicate a committee meeting in which Farm Bureau members, ages 18-35, explore an agricultural topic and discuss how to address it. The conversations not only help participants improve their speaking skills, but also generate exciting new ideas on key industry issues.

This year’s district-level topics focus on mental health and farm safety:

1. Studies show more farmers and farm families are experiencing stress and mental health issues. What can farmers, ranchers and Farm Bureau do to proactively promote good mental health in both themselves and their communities?
2. Agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries. What can we, as young farmers and ranchers, do to create a more preventative, rather than reactive, approach to farm safety in our communities?

Don’t miss this opportunity to have some fun and connect with Young Farmers in your area:

• District 1 — Aug. 14 with trap shoot & cornhole tournament; St. Joseph County Conservation and Sportsman Club, Sturgis; contact Sarah Pion, 269-377-4841
• District 2 — Aug. 5 with trap shoot; Big 9 Sportsmen’s Club, Concord; contact Kim Kerr, 269-967-3759
• District 3 — Aug. 14; Planters Paradise & Floral Gardens, Macomb; contact Hannah Meyers, 616-485-4469
• District 4 — Aug. 6; Zoom Farm Equipment, 7980 Pratt Lake Ave. SE, Alto; contact Lori Schrauben, 517-230-3462
• District 5 — Aug. 21; Potter Park Zoo, Lansing; contact Clinton County Farm Bureau (989-224-9536), Eaton County Farm Bureau (517- 410-2438), Ingham County Farm Bureau (517-676-5578), Genesee County Farm Bureau (810-350-9513), Shiawassee County Farm Bureau (989-725-5174)
• District 6 — Aug. 5 with golf outing; Grand Banquet & Conf. Center, Essexville; contact Beth Rupprecht, 989-640-6913
• District 7 — Aug. 21 with golf outing; Waters Edge Golf Course, Fremont; contact Bridget Moore, 989-640-6973
• District 8 — Aug. 14; Dow Diamond, Midland; contact Becca Gulliver, 989-708-1082
• District 9 — Aug. 27; Iron Fish Distillery, Thompsonville; contact Nicole Jennings, 810-569-9610
• District 10 — Sept. 18; Ogemaw County Fairgrounds, West Branch; contact Sonya Novotny, 248-420-2340
• District 11 — Aug. 21; 3:30 p.m. sporting clays tournament, 5:30 p.m. dinner, 6 p.m. discussion meet; Charlevoix Rod & Gun Club, 11330 US-31, Charlevoix; contact Cole Iaquinto, 810-422-7322
• District 12 — Aug. 31; Island Resort & Casino, Harris; contact Craig Knudson, 231-357-3864

District-level finalists will move on to participate in two rounds of virtual discussion Nov. 12. Those advancing to the Sweet Sixteen will participate in two in-person rounds at this year’s MFB State Annual Meeting, scheduled for Nov. 30 in Grand Rapids.

For more information, including videos on the parts of a discussion meet, visit www.michfb.com/YFDiscussionMeet.

Have you recently contributed to fight hunger in Michigan as a member of Michigan Farm Bureau? If so, you can be a part of this year’s Harvest for All campaign.

Created by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Harvest for All is a yearlong campaign encouraging Farm Bureau members across the country to work together to help fight hunger.

To inspire their fellow members to donate their time, produce and dollars, every year the state Young Farmer committee hosts Harvest for All, which distributes $1,000 back into local hunger-relief organizations.

This year sees some exciting changes to the contest.

The 2021 Harvest for All Contest will be tallied at the district, not county, level. The district with the highest total will win $1,000 dollars to donate to a food bank of their choice.

All 2021 calendar year donations of volunteer time, commodities, food and dollars given by members on behalf of Farm Bureau are reportable. (Activities that took place in November and December of 2020 are also accepted.)

The winning district will be recognized at the 2022 Growing Together Conference.

Contact your county Farm Bureau office by Dec. 31 to report donations and activity. The deadline for this year’s contest is December 31, however contributions should be reported to county Farm Bureau’s by December 1 to assist in timely reporting.

For more information on the contest and resources visit www.michfb.com/HarvestforAll.