It’s almost county annual season & you’re invited!

If you haven’t yet been encouraged to attend your upcoming county Farm Bureau annual meeting, consider this your invitation!

It’s a little early and several specifics have yet to be finalized, but below you’ll find an initial list of their dates and times. (We’ll continue to share updates as details firm up.)

Beginning in August and wrapping in early November, county annual meetings are the alpha and omega of the local organization representing and advocating for your priorities as a farmer. They recap and celebrate the accomplishments of the past year while ushering in the next by adopting policy recommendations and electing new leaders.

Annual meetings vary widely from one county Farm Bureau to the next, from homey potluck-style gatherings to catered events with entertainment and door prizes. Variations aside, here are the basic elements you can expect:

• Nobody goes home hungry: a delicious and farmer-friendly meal is a given and for many the centerpiece of the event.
• Reports from leaders in your county’s Young Farmer and Promotion & Education programs, recapping their activities and achievements.
• Review, discussion and adoption of Farm Bureau policy recommendations — one of your organization’s most vital components. More on this below.
• Election of members to your county board of directors: choosing who will lead your organization for the coming year, helping to set priorities, delegate responsibilities and guide decision-making.

About that policy component: In the months leading up to your annual meeting, a dedicated policy development (PD) committee has formulated a slate of policy proposals for consideration. Some are changes to existing policies, others may be fresh from the ground up. Either way, their overall intent is to further the Farm Bureau mission by amplifying the voice of its members in the ears of decision makers, from the township trustee who lives down the road to the county commission, the state legislature and the U.S. Congress. (Also regulatory bodies at all levels, from the EPA to your local drain commissioner.)

Important note: These policies are meant to reflect your interests, concerns and priorities. If they don’t — or if you have thoughts about how they could be improved — it’s imperative you take this opportunity to chime in and contribute! Even though they’re normally drafted by a small group of your peers and neighbors, your input at the county annual can only help strengthen the final product.

(Some county Farm Bureaus, especially in the southwestern Lower Peninsula, conduct their policy deliberations in a separate, dedicated meeting prior to the county annual. Even so, your input is welcome!)

Policy isn’t the only Farm Bureau activity that relies on your involvement. Depending on your own interests and talents, several other programs would welcome your interest and improve with your participation. The best way to learn more is to introduce yourself and start asking questions, and there are few better opportunities for that than your county annual meeting.

Now that you’ve been invited, all that’s left is to R.S.V.P. to your county Farm Bureau office; a quick phone call to your county administrative manager (“CAM”) is the fast and painless way to learn all the necessary details and reserve your spot. After that all you have to do is show up with smiles, handshakes and questions!

2022 County Farm Bureau Annual Meetings

• ALLEGAN — Aug. 30, 6 p.m.; location & other details forthcoming
• ANTRIM — Sept. 15; 6 p.m.; 5 p.m. PD meeting; ASI Community Center, 102 Maple St., Bellaire
• ARENAC — Sept. 20; 6 p.m.; Pine River Golf Club, 2244 Pine River Rd, Standish
• BARRY — Aug. 15; 6 p.m.; MOO-ville creamery, 5875 S. M-66, Nashville — separate PD meeting 6 p.m. Aug. 22 at Hastings Public Library
• BAY — Aug. 15; 5 p.m. reception; 6 p.m. dinner; DoubleTree, 1 Wenonah Park Place, Bay City
• BENZIE-MANISTEE — Sept. 7; annual business meeting at Dist. 9 Ag Summit; more details forthcoming
• BERRIEN — Nov. 3; 6 p.m.; more details forthcoming
• BRANCH — Sept. 19;  6 p.m.; Dearth Center, 262 S Sprague St., Coldwater
• CALHOUN — Sept. 20; 6:30 p.m. registration; 7 p.m. dinner & meeting; Marshall United Methodist Church, 721 Old US 27 North, Marshall
• CASS — Sept. 10; 4 p.m.; Diamond Lake Orchard, 62116 Eagle Point Rd., Cassopolis; separate PD meeting 6 p.m. Sept. 7 at Griner Farms
• CHARLEVOIX — Sept. 24; 6 p.m.; Boyne City Administration Building, 321 South Park St., Boyne City
• CHEBOYGAN — details forthcoming
• CHIPPEWA — Sept. 22; 6 p.m.; Tanglewood Marsh Golf Course, 2600 W. 16th Ave., Sault Ste Marie
• CLARE — Sept. 8; 12 p.m.; The Wild Pumpkin, 5799 Beaverton Road, Beaverton
• CLINTON — Sept. 22; 6 p.m.; AgroLiquid, 3055 W. M-21, St. Johns
• COPPER COUNTRY — Sept. 20; 12 p.m.; Doelle Senior Citizens Center, 17579 N. Lake Ave., Chassell
• EATON — Aug. 17; 6 p.m. reception; 6:30 p.m. dinner; Hidden Creek Farms, 2181 E. Vermontville Hwy., Charlotte
• EMMET — Sept. 20; 6 p.m.; LTBB Government Center, 7500 Odawa Circle, Harbor Springs; PD meeting 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at Nothelfer Agency, Petoskey
• GENESEE — Sept. 11; 3 p.m.; planetarium & museum open house; children welcome; Sloan Museum & Longway Planetarium Complex, 1221 E. Kearsley St., Flint
• GRATIOT — Sept. 21; 5:30 p.m.; Tri-County Annual Meeting (Gratiot Isabella & Midland); Bryant Family Farm, 7859 E. Walton Rd., Shepherd
• HIAWATHALAND — Oct. 24; more details forthcoming
• HILLSDALE — Sept. 10; 4:30 p.m.; Nutrien Ag Solutions, 108 Enterprise Drive, Reading
• HURON — Aug. 23; 5:30 p.m. open house; 6 p.m. dinner, County Fairgrounds, 155 Fair St., Bad Axe
• HURON SHORES — Oct. 3; 5:30 p.m.; PD session & mail-in ballot counting; minutes & financials will be online; Twin Acres 19^th Hole, 1081 US-23, Alpena
• INGHAM — Sept. 18; 1 p.m.; children/families welcome; Ingham County Fairgrounds Community Building, 700 E. Ash St., Mason
• IONIA — Aug. 10; 6 p.m.; Shadow Ridge Golf Course, 1244 Kelsey Hwy., Ionia
• IOSCO — Sept. 14; 5 p.m.; Robert Bolen Park, 750 Newman St., East Tawas
• IRON RANGE — Oct. 25; 6 p.m.; more details forthcoming
• ISABELLA — Sept. 21; 5:30 p.m.; Tri-County Annual Meeting (Gratiot, Isabella & Midland); Bryant Family Farm, 7859 E. Walton Rd., Shepherd
• JACKSON — Aug. 21; 4 p.m.; Gumper Building, Jackson County Fairgrounds, 128 W. Ganson St., Jackson
• KALAMAZOO — Aug. 30; 6 p.m.; Weinberg Farms, 7039 QR Ave. East, Scotts; separate PD meeting 6 p.m. July 21 at Schoolcraft United Methodist Church
• KENT — Sept. 13; 5:30 p.m.; families welcome; Townsend Park, 8280 6 Mile Road, Cannonsburg
• LAPEER — Sept. 10; 4 p.m.; children welcome; Lapeer County Farm Bureau, 1658 Mayfield Road, Lapeer
• LIVINGSTON — Sept. 14; 6 p.m. candidate reception; 6:30 p.m. buffet dinner; Waldenwoods Resort & Conference Center, 2975 Old US 23, Howell
• MAC-LUCE-SCHOOLCRAFT — Oct. 13; 6 p.m.; Garfield Township Hall, N6760 M-117, Engadine
• MACOMB — Sept. 22; 6 p.m.; Armada Fair Grounds, 74280 Fair St., Armada
• MASON — Aug. 24; 6 p.m.; Farm View Resort, 6700 US-31, Free Soil
• MECOSTA — Sept. 26; 6 p.m.; open house with robot milking tours; Carey Farms, 3333 205^th Ave., Morley
• MENOMINEE — Oct. 4; more details forthcoming
• MIDLAND — Sept. 21; 5:30 p.m.; Tri-County Annual Meeting (Gratiot, Isabella & Midland); Bryant Family Farm, 7859 E. Walton Rd., Shepherd
• MISSAUKEE — Sept. 22; look for reports & mail-in ballots in September
• MONROE — Sept. 15; 5 p.m.; Matthes Tree Farm, 13416 Lulu Rd., Ida
• MONTCALM — Aug. 18; 5:30 p.m.; Montcalm Community College, 2800 College Dr., Sidney
• MUSKEGON — Aug. 16; 6:30 p.m.; Port City Princess cruise; 560 Mart St., Muskegon
• NORTHWEST MICHIGAN — Sept. 7; 6 p.m.; prior and in addition to District 9 Ag Summit
• OAKLAND — Sept. 11; 1 p.m.; Mitchell's Greenhouse, 3500 Mitchell Road, Holly
• OCEANA — Sept. 27; 6 p.m.; open house with food & wine tasting; Pleasant Valley Farms and Winery, 522 N. 69th Ave., Hart
• OGEMAW — Oct. 22; time TBD; barn dance; Knights of Columbus Hall, 601 Columbus Dr., West Branch
• OSCEOLA — Sept. 21; 6 p.m.; Osceola County Fair Grounds, 101 Recreation Ave., Evart
• OTSEGO — Sept. 18; 2 p.m.; Livingston Township Hall, 3218 Old US-27 North, Gaylord
• OTTAWA — Sept. 20; 6:30 a.m.; The Red Shed, 5301 Barry St., Hudsonville
• PRESQUE ISLE — Aug. 29; 6 p.m.; Knaebe's Apple Farm and Ciderworks, 2621 S. Karsten Road, Rogers City
• SAGINAW — Aug. 26; 6 p.m.; Horizons Conference Center, 6200 State St., Saginaw
• SANILAC — Aug. 26; 5 p.m. dinner; 6 p.m. business meeting; Sanilac County Fairgrounds, 260 Dawson St., Sandusky
• SHIAWASSEE — Aug. 30; 5:30 p.m.; Bear Creek Farm, 5703 W. Bennington Rd., Laingsburg
• ST. CLAIR — Aug. 4; 6 p.m.; 5:15 p.m. PD session; 6 p.m. dinner; 6:30 p.m. beer & wine tasting; St. Clair County Fairground, 8260 County Park Drive, Goodells
• ST. JOSEPH — Aug. 16; 5:30 p.m.; Rouch World Event Center, 63322 M-66, Sturgis
• TUSCOLA — Aug. 18; 5 p.m. Taste of Tuscola dinner; 6 p.m. business meeting; children ages 3+ welcome; donations & auction proceeds to benefit local food pantries; Beagio's, 5795 Sanilac Rd., Kingston
• VAN BUREN — Aug. 29; 5 p.m.; combined annual meeting & legislative dinner; Amber Acres, 42664 24th Ave., Bloomingdale
• WASHTENAW — Sept. 19; 5 p.m.; Alber Orchard & Cider Mill, 13011 Bethel Church Rd., Manchester
• WAYNE — Sept. 24; 12 p.m.; Wayne County Fairgrounds, 10871 Quirk Road, Belleville
• WEXFORD — Sept. 13; 12 p.m.; ice cream social; mail-in ballot & reports; Emington Schultz Agency at 9052 E 13th St., Cadillac