Grand Rapids hosts MFB’s 103rd Annual Meeting Nov. 29-30

The state’s most influential farm organization will finalize its 2023 agenda at Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2022 Annual Meeting, Nov. 29-30 in Grand Rapids. Over those two days, delegates — both in-person and remote — representing all 65 county-level Farm Bureaus will refine and adopt state and national-level policy recommendations that have risen to the top of the organization’s grassroots policy process over the preceding months.

Representing the united will of 40,000 Michigan farm families, the resulting 2023 policy book codifies the organization’s priorities for the coming year, and defines its marching orders in Lansing and Washington, D.C.

Foremost among this year’s policy docket are proposals regarding the national dairy program and farm policy, water quality, non-point source pollution and watershed management, cannabis production, Michigan State University, agricultural drainage, land use and wildlife management.

For a more comprehensive look at this year’s policy slate, see this recent detailed summary. (Not enough? Here’s the full delegate book.)

Farm Bureau’s delegate body will convene both days of the meeting, as will the returning Ag Art Gallery, a popular fundraiser benefitting the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture. Other lighter fare filling out the agenda are rooted in the organization’s outreach and leadership development programming.

Young Farmer Discussion Meet virtual semifinals narrowed the field of contestants to the “Sweet 16” who will face off in person Nov. 29. The final round will open that evening’s Leadership Banquet, where the 2022 Young Farmer award winners and Educator of the Year will be recognized before the state-level Discussion Meet winner is announced.

Non-delegates will have time during the day for a sneak peek at the Promotion & Education Showcase of County Activities of Excellence that will take center stage at an evening reception.

Day two begins with an AgriPAC Breakfast, featuring guest speaker Roger Rickard, founder and president of Voices in Advocacy, followed by the High School & Collegiate Discussion Meet, which continues throughout the day as delegate session resumes.

Wednesday’s Member Engagement Luncheon will focus on recognizing Key Club recipients for their membership recruitment efforts, the Agent Charitable Fund’s fight against food insecurity, and the Presidential Volunteer of the Year.

The event concludes with the Ag Art Galley silent and live auctions and the Annual Banquet, including the presentation of this year’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, MFB President Carl Bednarski’s annual address, and keynote speaker Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

For more information, including a detailed schedule of events, visit https://new.michfb.com/annual-meeting.