As we took a break in July from some regularly scheduled events and marked Independence Day, MABA had more time over the past few weeks to plan for our busy fall and winter months – namely the upcoming Outlook Conference, our December virtual RUP credit sessions and the 2024 Winter Conference. We continue to encourage members to visit this link to learn about upcoming events. One program we’re especially proud of is the Agri-Business Leadership Program, which brought together our incoming cohort of participants in late July. We also recognized the outgoing, 2022-23 class at the same two-day seminar hosted in the Grand Rapids area. For nearly 15 years, this program has helped emerging leaders in Michigan’s agribusiness community learn about the work of your Association and become more familiar with policy advocacy at the local, state and federal levels. Classes convene four times per year in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Washington, DC and Detroit. For our joint session of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Agri-Business Leadership Program classes, a total of 18 industry leaders traveled to the west side of the state. The groups convened at King Milling Co., and attended meetings in downtown Grand Rapids. In addition to presentations from a range of West Michigan business, community and agricultural leaders, class members had an opportunity to tour King Milling and learn about the company’s ongoing expansion. We thank King Milling Company for hosting, and the full range of experts who joined us in July to lend their insights! Speakers during the two-day seminar included: Jim and Patrick Doyle, King Milling Co. Nichole Wilcox, GreenStone Farm Credit Services Monica Wyant, Meijer, Inc. Rich Bowman, The Nature Conservancy Rick and Eric Sietsema, Sietsema Farms John Christian, Golden Grain Commodities Tim Mroz, The Right Place, Inc. Karrie Brown, West Michigan Works! Matt Eugster, Varnum Steve Faber, Kent County Jamie Clover-Adams, Michigan Asparagus Greg Bird, Michigan Vegetable Council Leadership Group Program Participants Our outgoing 2022-23 class includes: Aaron Fahrner, Cooperative Elevator Co.; Austin Chandonnet, Bayside Best Beans; Austin Huizenga, Nutrien Ag Solutions Michigan; Hilaree Fraly, BASF Agricultural Solutions; Jake Herbruck, Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch; Jake Schuster, Harvest Solar; Karen Warner, Michigan Agricultural Commodities; Kody Myers, Star of the West Milling Company; Melinda Sweeney, The Andersons, Inc. and Nathan Rosenbrock, Nutrien Ag Solutions. The 2022-23 Agri-Business Leadership Program class members include: Eddie Fahley, Helena Agri-Enterprises; Jeff Leslie, Cooperative Elevator Co.; Rodney Stevens, Ceres Solutions Cooperative Inc; Justin Edwards, Ackerman Marketing, Rob Clark, Michigan Sugar Company; Melissa Carter, Caledonia Farmers Elevator, Raegan Gembarski, Star of the West Milling Company; and Alyssa Redding, Nutrien Ag Solutions Michigan.
