There are enough Danielses in Arenac County you’d be forgiven for getting them mixed up. If it helps next time you’re over there, Ken’s one of the quieter, unassuming ones — and there’s no missing his warm, broad smile.
Perhaps better known outside Arenac County as Leona’s husband or Mark’s dad, Ken’s now stepped up the organizational hierarchy himself, taking on a term as county Farm Bureau president. He’s a first-timer in that position but sports a deep resume of involvement in both Farm Bureau and Michigan Milk Producers Association that stretches back decades.
The milking herd that kept the pair active in MMPA been gone since 2014 but Daniels still keeps a small beef herd.
“We still have some steers and 16 cows and 75 feeders,” he recently shared across the dining table. “It’s nothing big but it keeps me out of the house most days.”
With the county’s goal-setting process for 2022 under way, Daniels shared some of his priorities for the New Year.
“I’d like to see us do more at the fair,” Daniels said, adding that he’s been encouraged to see an uptick in fun activities beyond the usual cornhole and euchre tournaments.
Teaming up with neighboring county Farm Bureaus Iosco and Ogemaw, Arenac is considering making a bid to take on a popular regional asset Daniels thinks is ready for a new life: the Little Red Barn that’s long earned iconic-landmark status as a popular destination for ice cream sales at county fairs in all three counties. Originally an MMPA project, the Barn has sat unused for some time but Daniels thinks it’s high time to get the old band back together.
Another Daniels priority is maintaining support for his Young Farmer Chair Robyn Fogarasi as she keeps her foot on the gas of a strong uptick in that program. A successful toy drive and fundraiser recently resulted in Arenac’s Young Farmers donating $1,000 to the county’s Christmas for Kids group — alongside a small mountain of farm-themed toys for the children of needy area families.
Revisiting last year’s successful golf outing — a local-scholarship fundraiser — is also on the new president’s 2022 agenda. Working with the local FFA chapter proved to be a win-win proposition for both organizations and one Daniels hopes to revisit.
In the meantime, more pressing items include filling the vacant Promotion & Education chair spot and a board conversation about how Arenac might benefit from the revamped county Farm Bureau funding arrangement — unnecessary proof there’s no first-timer discount for a new county Farm Bureau president!