Mason County Farm Bureau to hold annual meeting.

#MasonCountyAgriculture

GRANT TOWNSHIP — The Mason County Farm Bureau will hold its annual meeting Thursday Sept 15, 2016 at 6:30 P.M. at the Farm View Resort 6736 N US 31. The board of directors will provide beverage, table service, meat and dessert. Those attending are asked to bring a side dish or two to share.

Area farmers will discuss and debate next year’s Michigan Farm Bureau’s policy on local, state and national issues. Approved state and national policies will be forwarded to Michigan Farm Bureau Policy Development (PD) Committee, which is comprised of county Farm Bureau members. The Michigan Farm Bureau PD committee will consolidate county recommendations and present the policies to the delegation at the 2016 state annual meeting in Grand Rapids, November 29 to Dec 1, 2016. Chaired by beef and crop farmer Gary Dittmer of Riverton Township, the county policy development committee will recommend policies that might deal with dealing with alternative fuels, immigration, commodity transportation, regulations, education reform and value added products from farm crops.

Recently verified Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) farms owned by Mason County Farm Bureau members will be recognized. This means these farms have made a commitment and met the requirements to be an environmentally verified farm in either the farmstead, cropping or livestock area.

The county annual meeting is also when Farm Bureau members elect, from the membership, those who will serve on the county board.  Three directors positions will be open and regular members will vote to fill these positions. Current members of the board of directors are Seth Earl, Fred Bates, Jacob Zwagerman, Bob Northrup, Jesse Petersen, Chuck Schade, Sharon Mastrapasqua, and Lyndsay Earl.

Mason County Farm Bureau will also recognize former county presidents, scholarship recipients, new members as well as those who have obtained Key Club status, which means that they have signed up at least five new regular members during the year. A silent auction will be ongoing throughout the evening. This is a family event with games for the youngsters.

Any questions concerning the annual meeting may be directed to the Mason County Farm Bureau office at 231-757-3833.