LANSING, MI — Several Michigan farmers vie for national-level recognition among peers from across the nation at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) 94th Convention and Annual Meeting, Jan. 13-16 in Nashville, Tenn. While delegates representing each state Farm Bureau fine-tune and adopt policy to define the organization's stance on agricultural issues, young farmers will face off in three key contests and county Farm Bureaus will showcase their finest local outreach efforts.
Young Farmer Contests
Alysa Sanford of Jackson County will compete in AFBF's Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Discussion Meet after winning the state competition at Michigan Farm Bureau's (MFB) 93rd Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids. Sanford is a nutrition education grant coordinator for Springport Public Schools; she grew up on a cash crop farm in Lenawee County.
Discussion Meets tests young farmers in a unique public speaking competition, in which participants are rewarded for their knowledge of current agricultural issues, their cooperative demeanor and the tact and civility of their delivery. As the contest moderators announce in their opening remarks, these are discussions, not debates.
Gratiot County farmers Joshua and Samantha Humm will contend for the AFBF Young Farmer Achievement Award, after having won the state-level award at MFB's 2012 Annual Meeting. The award recognizes a successful young member or married couple for outstanding achievement in the business of farming and leadership in the agricultural community. Applicants are judged on their farm management ability and involvement in Farm Bureau and other organizations.
The Humms live near Ithaca with their daughter Isabelle, farming more than 2,400 acres of sugar beets, corn, soybeans and alfalfa. Learn more about the Humms online.
Jamie Zmitko-Somers, a crop farmer from Shiawassee County, will vie for the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award. Zmitko-Somers earned Michigan Farm Bureau's (MFB) 2012 Excellence in Agriculture Award at the organization's 93rd annual meeting. The award recognizes young farmers, either individuals or married couples, who do not derive the majority of their income from a personally owned agricultural operation but who actively contribute to and grow through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture.
Zmitko-Somers and her husband Don live near Henderson and together work a 2,000-acre cash crop farm alongside Don's brother. For the state agriculture department, Somers promotes Michigan food and farm products and works with farms and agribusinesses, seeking export markets and helping them negotiate international trade. Learn more about Somers online.
National-level winners in AFBF's YF&R contests may choose between a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2013 GMC Sierra pickup, courtesy of General Motors, and receive paid registration for AFBF's 2013 YF&R Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 8-11, 2013. Runners-up receive a Farmall tractor from Case IH, a $2,500 cash prize and STIHL Farm Boss chainsaw from STIHL.
County Activities Showcase
Farm Bureau's County Activities of Excellence program recognizes innovative programs developed by county Farm Bureaus in the areas of agricultural education and promotion, member services, public relations, leadership development and policy implantation, and provides a forum for county Farm Bureaus to share ideas with peers from across the nation.
The Ingham and Livingston County Farm Bureaus are among 25 county Farm Bureaus from across the country that will participate in AFBF's 2013 County Activities of Excellence showcase. Representatives from each group will exhibit their programs at a trade show in conjunction with the AFBF Convention and Annual Meeting.
Both county Farm Bureaus are being recognized in the agricultural education and promotion category for their efforts to inform consumers about where their food comes from.
Ingham County Farm Bureau's popular "Circle of Life" exhibit showcases livestock animals timed to give birth during the week of the annual county fair. For years fairgoers have gravitated to the exhibit to witness the miracle of life as it happens. County Farm Bureau volunteers distribute educational materials and local farmers are on hand throughout the week to answer questions. Auxilliary activities include crop identification displays and products made from Michigan commodities.
A similar project of the Livingston County Farm Bureau also involves a live-birthing exhibit at their county fair. Livingston's "Beginning of Life" exhibit expands on the concept by coordinating with local 4-H clubs to offer a parallel displays focusing on nutrition, crops and a hands-on exhibition of agricultural tools and technology, old and new.
Visit AFBF's website and or its annual meeting blogto learn more about the AFBF 94th Convention and Annual Meeting and keep tabs on the daily activity.
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