...Romance Author...With the support of the Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan farms continue to be an important industry in our state’s economyIt’s no secret that without farmers, there would be no food – or at least none that is readily available to the consumer. A generation or two ago, it wasn’t uncommon for a family to grow their own vegetables, canning them for the winter months, and to raise chickens, or other livestock in order to supplement their food supply. Going even further back, early settlers were responsible for their own survival, growing crops, hunting game, and making their own soap and candles. Thank goodness all we need to do is go to the grocery store for anything we need! Today, most of us are too busy with jobs, kids, and other day-to-day responsibilities to have time to tend a garden and feed the chickens, not to mention hacking their heads – and other things - off, and plucking their feathers for tonight’s dinner. Instead, it’s a quick drive to places like KFC, thanks to our farmers. Let’s face it. Our very survival depends on the goods the farming industry provides for us. As an example, corn, Michigan’s #1 crop, is a component in more than 650 products, and can be used to make livestock feed, food, clothing and blankets, carpets, plastics and pharmaceuticals. With over 56,000 farms in Michigan, adding up to about 10.1 million acres of farmland, it’s no surprise that agriculture is our second leading industry, contributing over $71 billion to the state’s economy. Michigan agriculture and its supporting industries employ more than 1 million people. That's a quarter of Michigan's work force. On-farm employment in Michigan has a payroll of $607 million for nearly 86,000 employees. Michigan farmers are passionate about what they do, dedicated to growing the safest and best quality produce, and raising the healthiest animals for the consumer. The U.S. has the highest standard for food in the world, but it’s the bred-in-the-blood love of the land, passed down through generation after generation of hardworking farming families, that we should thank for the food on our tables. Michigan has 67 county Farm Bureaus, and in Saginaw County alone, there are 1,251 regular members (farmers), and 3,900 associate members. “Anyone can join, the only difference being that associate members aren’t allowed to vote at meetings,” said Bonnie Vasold, Saginaw County Farm Bureau’s communications representative. Open meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Saginaw County Farm Bureau office, located at 5110 State St. Founded in 1919, the Michigan Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general farm organization, its purpose to represent, protect, and enhance the business, economic, social and educational interests of their members. Farm Bureau works on the local level, in Lansing and in Washington D.C. to support action not just on farm issues, but on many other things, such as protection of private property rights and the quality of the rural environment, tax policies and economic growth, and the quality and safety of our food supply. Through the use of YouTube, video profiles are available at www.youtube.com/MichiganFarmBureau, of some of the Michigan agriculture industry’s up-and-coming young farmers. Michigan Farm Bureau filmed each of the 16 finalists who competed in December, 2009, for young farmer awards. Michigan Farm Bureau believes in the promotion of agriculture by giving back to the community with contributions such as educational scholarships, county Farm Bureau scholarships, the Easter Seals FaRM project, 4-H youth programs, and Harvest For All. Visit www.michiganfarmbureau.com to learn more, or go to http://www.michfb.com/counties/index/73 for information on the Saginaw County Farm Bureau. And be sure to visit www.farmersfeedus.org to enter a contest to win free groceries for a year. Judy Snover, county administrative manager for Farm Bureau, works one on one with member volunteers and with groups. She provides them with the resources they need, organizes and schedules meetings for them, takes the minutes of meetings and takes care of the administrative duties at the office. “I have the opportunity to be a part of a team of volunteers that work diligently to inform the communities and the county of the importance of the farmer and the farming operations within our county and state,” Judy commented. “I work first hand with members as they develop and write resolutions that go before the member delegations, and hopefully move on to the state level and beyond to become a bill or law.” Judy has been with the Saginaw County Farm Bureau for the past 6 years, and has also worked at the Tuscola County Farm Bureau in Caro, and the Lapeer County Farm Bureau. “It’s about working with people, serving their needs and helping them to find the answers to their questions,” Judy went on to say. “The most rewarding part of my work is when I can resolve an issue for an elderly member about their health coverage or billing. The stories they share with me about their lives and commitment to Farm Bureau are so wonderful and exciting to listen to, and they are so animated when they tell them, it just warms my heart. It’s a family and I love being a member.” You can contact Judy Snover at the Saginaw County Farm Bureau office, located at 5110 State St. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekdays. Phone: 792-9846. Michigan Farm Bureau Board of Directors:
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