Helping County Presidents to learn and grow as leaders
This is the annual conference for county Farm Bureau Presidents. The conference allows an opportunity for presidents to:
- Meet peers from across the state.
- Help guide new county presidents as they take on their new roles.
- Learn current state and national organizational issues as well as leadership skills.
The conference is primarily for county presidents. If the president is unable to attend, another member of the county executive committee (vice president or third member) may attend in his or her place.
Registration open November 28 - December 12, 2022
KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Randy Fox
Prior to becoming an international award-winning speaker, author, and coach, Randy earned his stripes with 23 years as an NCAA basketball official and 20 years filled with much success (and some failure too) as a corporate operations and sales leader. He is a professional member of the National Speakers Association, has written several prestigious books, and is constantly working to remain uninjured from all the pickleball matches in sunny Florida! Randy’s mission is to engage audiences and help people transform their professional and personal lives.
AGENDA
8:00-11:45 a.m. New President Training — Platinum
12:00 p.m. Opening Session: Starting with a Vision — Indigo Ballroom
- Lunch
- Invocation
- Welcome — President Carl Bednarski
- Michigan Farm Bureau Business Plan Update — Scott Piggott, CEO, Michigan Farm Bureau
- Membership Update — Laura Lunceford, Manager, MFB Membership Department
- P&E Connecting Communities Update — Tonia Ritter, Manager, MFB Education and Leadership Programs
- Legislative Update — Rob Anderson, Manager, MFB Government Relations Department
- How your County can/is Contributing to Solving Childhood Hunger — Alex Schnabelrauch, Director, MFB Center for Education and Leadership Development
- What is the "Why" of your County Farm Bureau?
2:45 p.m. Breakout Sessions: Putting the Basics to Work (Attend all 3)
- Farm Bureau of the Future — Platinum
- Alex Schnabelrauch, Director, MFB Center for Education and Leadership Development
- Matt Frollo, MFB North Regional Manager
- Building Blocks of your County Farm Bureau - Back to Basics — Gold
- Becca Gulliver, MFB Member Engagement and Field Training Specialist
- Bridget Silvernail, MFB West Central Regional Manager
- The Chutes & Ladders of Member Engagement — Indigo 1
- Laura Lunceford, Manager, MFB Membership Development
- Hannah Meyers, MFB Southeast Regional Manager
Optional Session
5:30 p.m. Making Payroll Simple Again - Learn how MFB Payroll, powered by Payentry, Can Help You (and Our Members) Save Time and Money — Gold
- Danielle Hesselink, Senior Business Development Manager, Payentry
6:30 p.m. Reception — Indigo Foyer
7:00 p.m. Roving Informal Dinner - Fun is Part of the Equation — Indigo Ballroom
- Ag Olympics: Go for GOLD with Leaders From Your District to Compete in Some Agricultural-Themed Events
7:00 a.m. Morning Session - Collaboration, Awards, Events (Sit by District) — Indigo Ballroom
- Breakfast
- Invocation
- Kelly Millenbah, Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University
- Champions of Excellence Awards
- Michigan Foundation for Agriculture Recognition
- County Annuals - Your Counties' Premier Event
- President Carl Bednarski
- Allison Eicher, MFB Assistant General Counsel
9:00 a.m. Breakout Sessions: Communication and Holding Events that Meet the Needs of your County Members (Attend all 3)
- County Annuals: Your Premier County Event - All the Possibilities — Platinum
- Sonya Novotny, MFB Northeast Advanced Regional Manager
- How to Say Anything to Anyone — Gold
- Wendy Volkert, Senior Director, Member Relations, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
- County Consumer Outreach/Voice of Agriculture — Indigo 1
- Jon Adamy, MFB Media Relations Specialist
11:35 a.m. Break
11:45 a.m. Closing Session — Indigo Ballroom
- Keynote - A Leader Worth Following: The Real Take on Real Leadership
- Randy Fox
- Conference Wrap-Up
12:45 p.m. Adjourn with Box Lunches — Indigo Foyer