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Northwest Michigan
county newsletter
County 27
A Publication of the Northwest Michigan Farm Bureau
October 20, 2014
How can MAEAP benefit your farm?
The Michigan Agriculture Environmental
Assurance Program (MAEAP) is a voluntary,
confidential, non-regulatory program that
helps growers prevent or minimize agricultural
pollution risks. Attaining MAEAP Verification
offers numerous benefits to growers in
Northwest Michigan.
• By sitting down with their local
MAEAP Technician, growers can earn
four Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP)
certification credits for completing each
of the Farmstead and Cropping Risk
Assessments. Growers earn an additional
eight RUP credits for achieving
verification in both systems, totaling 16
RUP credits. Upon reverification every
three years, growers can earn eight RUP
credits.
• Completing the Risk Assessments with
a MAEAP Technician also boosts a
grower’s score for cost-share funds in the
EQIP Farm Bill ranking tool.
• Growers achieving MAEAP Verification
realize savings up to 20 percent on Basic
Liability Premium (Section II) of Farm
Bureau Insurance Farmowners Policy.
• MAEAP Verification follows the
Michigan Generally Accepted
Agriculture and Management Practices,
giving growers the necessary tools to
assure their operation is in conformance
with applicable Right to Farm practices.
• Northwest Michigan Farm Bureau
members interested in completing the
MAEAP Risk Assessments can contact
local MAEAP Technicians, Jessica Rasch
and Laura Spencer, at 231-941-0960.
Leaders Conference
February 20-22, 2015
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Acme, Michigan
with speaker
Steve Gilliland
Master Story Teller & Comedian
Registration Deadline: January 23, 2015
Support ‘Friends
of Agriculture’
Melanie Dashner awarded Ag Educator of Nov. 4!
the Year
Show your support of AgriPac-endorsed
Melanie Dashner of Lake Leelanau, a firstgrade teacher at St. Mary’s, is the Northwest
County Farm Bureau’s Agriscience Educator of
the Year for 2014.
Dashner is honored for her excellence in
education and efforts to teach agriculture in the
classroom. She was recognized at the county
annual meeting Sept. 18, and was presented
with a plaque and $100 award to mark the
occasion.
Dashner teaches students about where their
food comes from, and about current issues
affecting the agriculture industry, through a
variety of means, including hatching a baby
chick.
The Educator of the Year award recognizes
teachers who exceed normal curriculum
guidelines to educate young people about the
reality of agriculture.
“With children today farther and farther
removed from life on the farm, the role of ag
educators only gets more and more important,”
says Tonia Ritter, manager of MFB’s Promotion
and Education Department. “Sometimes these
teachers are the only source of information
children have
about
the
importance
of farming.
This award is
just one small
way we can
thank them,
and recognize
the vital work
they do for
our industry.”
Northwest Farm Bureau board of directors
has decided to implement a new annual award,
the Outstanding County Volunteer Award. The
2014 award was presented at the county annual
meeting on Sept. 18 to Brent Wagner.
During his 40 years on the Northwest Farm
Bureau board, he has served as president,
Young Farmer member, candidate evaluation
chair and member, bylaw committee member,
policy development member, Promotion &
Education, government streamlining, Farmers
Care Action Team Chair and many more
committees.
Our sincere appreciation and gratitude goes
out to Wagner for all his hard work!
Outstanding County Volunteer Award
NORTHWEST MICHIGAN
FARM BUREAU
candidates at the general election, Nov. 4.
Here’s a list of the “Friends of Agriculture”
in your county:
Governor
• Rick Snyder (R)
Lieutenant Governor
• Brian Calley (R)
Attorney General
• Bill Schuette (R)
Secretary of State
• Ruth Johnson (R)
MI Supreme Court
• Justice Brian Zahra
• Justice David Viviano
• Judge James Robert Redford
MSU Board of Trustees
• Faylene Owen (D)
• Melanie Foster (R)
Board of Regents- U of M
• Rob Steele (R)
U.S. Senate
• Terri Lynn Land (R)
State House
• 101- Ray Franz (R)
State Senate
• 35- Darwin Booher (R)
• 37- Wayne Schmidt (R)
U.S. House
• 1- Dan Benishek (R)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President Gregory Dreves, Vice President Jeff Aprill and Adam Wagner BOARD MEMBERS: Stephen Bott, Brent
Wagner, Paul Wagner, Stuart Whittaker; YOUNG FARMER CHAIR: Autumn Rector; COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER: Michele Fries, 540
S Garfield Ave, Traverse City, MI 49686-3452, (231) 947-2941; NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Gregory Dreves, drevesfarms@gmail.com
2
October 15, 2014
It’s not too late to help elect
Friends of Agriculture!
Don’t miss the Lansing
Legislative Seminar!
The general election is less than a month
away and Farm Bureau-endorsed Friends
of Agriculture are in the home stretch of
campaign season. The race isn’t over for
candidates until the polls close on Nov. 4
and that means there is still plenty of time
for Farm Bureau members to help Friends
of Agriculture experience success.
Here are five easy ways you can help:
1. Promote Friends of Agriculture via
social media
2. Volunteerforacandidate’scampaign
bywalkinginparades,goingdoor-todoor, participating in phone banks
andhelpingtoregisterpeopletovote
3. Put yard signs up on your farm and in
prominent, high traffic areas
Join us Feb. 25 for the annual Lansing Legislative
Seminar—your opportunity for face-to-face
discussion with Michigan legislative and regulatory
leaders. Farm Bureau staff will provide information
and examples to help you give elected officials an
accurate picture of how Farm Bureau policy reflects
issues facing agriculture today.
Many issues being considered by the Michigan
Legislature directly and/or indirectly impact
Michigan agriculture. Members should be prepared
to continue communicating Farm Bureau policy
with their elected officials and nurturing those
relationships. Don’t miss this exciting event!
Attendees will enjoy a luncheon and legislative
receptionwithissuebriefingsandawardpresentations.
For more information, contact your county Farm
Bureau or visit www.michfb.com/mi/lls for program
details. Registration deadline is Jan. 30!
4. Invite Friends of Agriculture to
county Farm Bureau events
5. VOTE! Exercising your right to vote
is the easiest way to do your part to
ensure ag-friendly candidates get
elected
Visit MFB’s endorsements page, www.
michfb.com/mi/endorsements, for a list
of candidates designated as Friends of
Agriculture by the Michigan Farm Bureau
AgriPac Committee.
Homeowner tips for Fall
FROM FARM BUREAU INSURANCE
As fall kicks off, it’s important to prepare your
home for the season—and weather—ahead.
Preventativemaintenancenowwillsavemoney
on expensive emergency repairs and wasted
energycostsandenhanceyourhome’svalueand
appeal. When the chilly weather approaches,
you and your home will be ready.
Interior Maintenance
• Check for drafts around windows and
doors. Replace seals and repair caulking
as necessary. Hire an HVAC professional
to inspect your furnace for leaks, check
efficiency and air safety by testing for
carbon monoxide. Stock up on extra air
filters and change them often.
• Winterize air conditioners. If your home
has central air, cover the outdoor unit
for winter. Otherwise, remove or cover
window units to prevent air leaks.
• Buy a programmable thermostat. Lower
temperatures at night and when you’re
gonecanresultinsubstantialcostsavings.
• Test home safety devices. Replace smoke
detector and carbon monoxide device
batteries and verify they work properly.
• Clean humidifiers; replace old filters and
clean inside compartments.
Exterior Maintenance
• Perform a visual inspection of your roof
or, if you’re able and can do so safely,
climb up for a better view. Look for
missing, damaged or loose shingles.
Remove debris from a flat roof.
• Check the chimney and fireplace.
Have your wood-burning fireplace
professionally cleaned and inspected.
• Stock up dry firewood and store covered
away from the home for safety reasons.
• Inspect siding for cracks or holes. Repair
them yourself or hire a professional.
• Clean the gutters yourself or hire a
professional. Remove leaves, nests and
debris from gutters and check for leaks.
• Check water drainage. Downspouts
should be clear of obstructions and guide
water away from foundations, walkways
and driveways.
• Reinforce windows and doors. Remove
screensandinstallstormwindows/doors.
• Drain garden hoses and disconnect from
outside spigots. Shut off exterior faucets
and store hoses in a dry place so residual
water won’t freeze.
• Service sprinklers and irrigation system.
Have irrigation systems drained and have
a professional perform any necessary
repairs and mark sprinkler heads near
snow removal areas.
• Inspect trees for limbs that may break or
are too close to power lines or the roof.
• Trim landscaping. Cut back bushes,
shrubs and flowers for Michigan climates.
• Bring in flowerpots. If you keep plants or
flowers in pots year-round, bring them
inside. If you replace plants annually,
empty, clean and dry pots for next spring.
• Plant bulbs. If you plant bulbs for spring,
now’s the time to get them in the ground.
• Rake and remove leaves from the yard for
compost or bag for community pick up.
Check local requirements and pick up
schedules.
• Applying fall lawn fertilizer will help
preventwinterdamageandspringweeds.
Ask a local garden center or check online
for fertilizer type and when to apply.
• Clean and store seasonal outdoor
furniture in a dry place over winter.
Remove and clean cushions.
• Close the pool. If you have a pool,
schedule a service to close it for the
season or buy supplies and do it yourself.
Find more tips for fall on the Michigan Farm
Bureau website, www.michfb.com.
3
October 15, 2014
MFB salutes Volunteers of the Month
June 2014: Daniela Dryer
July 2014: Jane Nelkie
August 2014: Jennifer Suarez-Marquez
September 2014: Brian AcMoody
For her exceptional service and
dedication, Ionia County native Daniela
Dryer was named Michigan Farm Bureau’s
(MFB) Volunteer of the Month for June
2014.
Dryer helped coordinate the county
Farm Bureau’s programs and activities for
National AgWeek in March. She distributed
informative farm commodity placemats to
localrestaurantsandcoordinatedwitharea
Daniela Dryer
elementary schools to provide Ag in the
Classroomlessons,teaching young people
where food comes from.
As a new member to Farm Bureau, Dryer volunteered her time
and talents on various platforms over the past year. She organized
farm equipment for the Family Fun on the Farm event in June, and
dedicated hours of service helping the farm prepare and clean up
afterwards.
At the state level, Dryer represented Ionia County Farm Bureau at
theMFBAnnualMeetinginDecember.She’slobbiedelectedofficials
in Lansing and attended conferences to learn about programs and
opportunities to offer Ionia County residents.
“Daniela has added a new dynamic to our committee,”wrote her
nominator for Volunteer of the Month honors. “She is a great asset
to our organization and I’m excited to continue working with her.”
Dryer farms with her father and sisters near Portland, raising corn,
soybeans, alfalfa and sugar beets. She and her father also operate a
field tiling business.
For her exemplary dedication leading
agriculture education efforts in Berrien
County,JenniferSuarez-Marquezhas been
named MFB’s Volunteer of the Month for
August 2014.
Suarez-Marquez has been instrumental
organizing activities for the Berrien County
Youth Fair, including a “Farmer for a Day”
booth reaching more than 1,500 young
people, a grain box, an “I Spy” hunt and
Jennifer Suarez-Marquez
Farm Bureau Booth.
Another example of her work educating
youth about agriculture would be her regular visits to local
elementary schools. Suarez-Marquez spoke to more than 400
students at Brandywine Elementary about Farm Bureau, farming
and agriculture-related occupations in March. She presented her
information as a trivia activity that allowed students to win Farm
Bureau-logoed prizes.
Suarez-Marquez has represented Berrien County Farm Bureau
at numerous events, including the MFB State Annual Meeting; the
Young Farmer Leaders’ Conference; and the Voice of Agriculture
Conference. She’s also served on several local-level committees and
the county Farm Bureau board while also sitting on a statewide
committee dedicated to agriculture education and promotion.
Recently married, Suarez-Marquez works for Barbott Farms and
Greenhouse in Stevensville, where she will soon be assisting with
elementaryfieldtrips,teachingstudentsabouttheeconomicsbehind
getting their food from the farm to their fork.
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) named
Jane Nelkie of Tawas City its Volunteer of
the Month for July 2014. Her dedication
to agricultural promotion and education
helped Iosco County Farm Bureau become
a valuable contributor to the community.
After 13 years on the Iosco County
Farm Bureau board, Nelkie passed her
torch to a new leader who took the reins
of its ag literacy programs. Her passion
Jane Nelkie
and dedication molded the organization’s
outreach efforts and built a solid base for
her successor.
In her final year organizing the county’s Project RED (Rural
EducationDay),Nelkieworkedtirelesslywithlocalschoolstoarrange
hands-onlearningexperiencesfornearly400students,teachersand
chaperones.Participantslearnedaboutthelocalfarmingindustryand
interacted with livestock animals and equipment.
Aside from her work with RED, Nelkie helped arrange farmthemedpostercontestsforNationalAgWeekandhostedtoursofher
family’s dairy farm.
NelkiealsorepresentedthecountyFarmBureauatseveralstatewide
events. She served as a voting delegate at MFB’s State Annual
Meetingandattendedpolicydevelopmenteventsandmembership
conferences to bring information back to her community.
Nelkie and her husband Russell operate a 350-head dairy farm in
TawasTownship.They have seven children: Mark, Joe, Jeff, John and
Kenny Nelkie; Christine Holtz and Jennifer Anscheutz.
For his exceptional service to the local
agriculture industry, Brian AcMoody was
named MFB’s Volunteer of the Month for
September 2014.
As the president of Branch County
Farm Bureau, AcMoody recognizes the
importance of local, relevant issues, such
as the water use assessment tool. He took
action and coordinated local meetings and
tours to build relationships between area
Brian AcMoody
farmers, Michigan Farm Bureau staff, the
Water Advisory Council, the Michigan
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Michigan
Department of Environmental Equality, Michigan State University,
the Well Drillers Association and several elected officials.
AcMoody has been involved with the Branch County Farm Bureau
board of directors for the past 13 years, serving as president, vice
president, membership chair and policy development chair. At the
statelevel,he’sservedonthefruitandvegetablecommodityadvisory
committee,thepolicydevelopmentcommitteeandthelegaldefense
fund committee.
Outside Farm Bureau, AcMoody’s family are lifetime members of
Our Savior Lutheran Church. He served as his township supervisor
for 10 years and two terms on the Union City Community Schools
board. He also serves on the Red Gold Grower Action Fund board.
AcMoody farms alongside his wife Kelly, their three children
and his brother’s family.They grow processing tomatoes, seed corn,
conventional corn and soybeans while raising sheep and beef cattle.
4
President’s Corner
BY GREG DREVES
NORTHWEST FB PRESIDENT
Northwest Michigan Farm Bureau and Farm
Bureau Insurance have been supporting 4-H
Youth at the County Fair since the early 2000’s.
In 2004 NW Farm Bureau purchased t-shirts
for most of the kids to wear during the auction.
The involvement with the t-shirts was amazing.
They were worn several years following the first
year. A current young farmer member still has
her t-shirt from 2004.
Over the years we have purchased pigs,
steers, goats, chickens and ducks. We are now
receiving several buyer letters from the 4-H
youth to participate at the fair.
In 2008, we reached a $10,000 plateau and
then in 2012 we reached $20,000. The NW
board of directors also reviews approximately
100 record books and awards first, second and
third place for each species.
Future Farm Bureau Members at the Fair.
Local Benefits
• Mrs. Fields Cookies - 15 percent
Briefly…
The general election is coming up on us
fast, Nov. 4. This year’s election will have
many new candidates elected. Because of
this, it is important to show our support for
Friends of Agriculture.
Yard signs and 4’x6’ signs are available for
pick up at the Michigan Republican Party
Headquarters and locally in Traverse City at
831 S. Garfield Avenue.
Let’s help get our Friends of Agriculture
elected!
Notes:
• Questions on your BCBS plan
through Michigan Farm Bureau?
Contact Christine Bezak at 877-7188318 or cbezak@ctyfb.com
• “Like” us on Facebook: Northwest
Michigan County Farm Bureau
• For up-to-date events check out
the Grand Traverse Conservation
District’s website,www.
natureiscalling.org, or call 231-9410960
Assemble a spill kit with the help
of Grainger
Farmers working to become verified in
the Michigan Agriculture Environmental
Assurance Program (MAEAP) Farmstead
system are required to own and have immediate
access to a spill kit. Farmers have the option
of purchasing a pre-assembled spill kit or
purchasing individual items for assembly of a
customizable, inexpensive spill kit. Grainger
Supply Company recently announced that
they have extended their MFB membership
benefit discounts to include even more
significant discounts on designated spill kit
items. Grainger’s new offer can provide farmers
with a convenient and affordable way to attain
a spill kit. For information on how to view
and purchase Grainger’s discounted spill kit
items, visit the following MFB webpage, www.
michfb.com/MI/Grainger_Discount.
A Publication of the Northwest Michigan Farm Bureau
off orders to members when presenting
your Farm Bureau membership card.
Located in the Grand Traverse Mall,
Traverse City. Phone: 231-929-1018
• Thrifty Car Rental - Offering all
Farm Bureau members a 10 percent
discount off the rental of any vehicle.
Just mention when scheduling a rental.
Address: 1621 S Garfield, Traverse City
Phone: 231-946-2371
• Bill Marsh Auto Body - Detailing
Discount – Whenever you use Bill
Marsh Auto Body services, you will
receive a free interior detailing, just
show your Farm Bureau membership
ID card at time of scheduling. Address:
1780 Barlow St, Traverse City Phone:
231-946-2601
• Hearing Solutions - Dr. Sandra
Leahy and Dr. Kathleen Sawhill
are offering members free hearing
screenings, cleanings and checks of
current hearing aids, $300 off the
purchase of a set of hearing aids, $20
off custom ear protection and 15
percent off in-store batteries. Address:
3241 Racquet Club Dr. Ste B, Traverse
City MI 49684 Phone: 231-922-1500
or www.hearingsolutionstc.com
If anyone knows of or wants to provide
local benefits to our members, please
contact Michele at our office 231-9472941.