May was a productive month for MABA as we launched another new member program, part of our effort to make sure we are leaning into new ideas that support you and your business. We also took new steps to strengthen partnerships with agribusiness leaders across the Midwest. At the same time, we are looking ahead to a busy summer and fall season filled with educational programs, networking opportunities and preparations for our 2026 Outlook Conference.
Hosting the May Ag Club, Plus a New Event for MABA MembersIn May, MABA hosted another successful Ag Club gathering cohosted by People Spark Consulting. MABA was glad to welcome special guest Erin Mies with People Spark for a presentation at breakfast. People Spark has led two different workshops for our members this year, providing important leadership and workplace communication insights. As we continue to launch new opportunities for our members and reinvest in your success, MABA also facilitated a new workshop with People Spark for member company employees focused on workplace communication.
Programs like the one in May are made possible in part by our 2026 Sustaining Sponsors, so we also took a moment yesterday to recognize and thank them for supporting the association’s efforts.
Launch of Outlook Conference Registration and Planning for Future EventsMABA officially launched registration for the 2026 Outlook Conference, scheduled for September 10-12 in Lansing. The conference remains one of Michigan agriculture’s premier educational and networking events, bringing together agribusiness leaders, policymakersband industry experts to discuss economic trends. We encourage members to secure their registrations early and join us for another outstanding program!Additionally, our team continued to plan for summer Ag Club Breakfast events, which will include visits to Morgan Composting in Sears on June 26, Eastern Market on July 22, and the AgroExpo on August 12.
Welcoming Our 2026 Summer InternsMABA was pleased to welcome our 2026 summer interns, Alexandria “Allie” Tilt and Karle Welden, both students in Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Throughout the summer, Allie and Karle will support MABA’s policy, communications, events, and member engagement activities while gaining firsthand experience in Michigan’s agribusiness sector. We are excited to have them on our team and look forward to their contributions in the months ahead.
Coordination with Agribusiness Association Partners Across the MidwestIn May, MABA President Chuck Lippstreu traveled to Des Moines, IA, to participate in a regional meeting of agribusiness association leaders from across the Midwest. The gathering provided an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss emerging industry challenges and share insights. These conversations help strengthen relationships among state associations and importantly, they help your membership investment go further by aligning the industry on our advocacy efforts. We thank the Agribusiness Association of Iowa for hosting this meeting.
Participating organizations included the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association, Kansas Grain and Feed Association, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association, Minnesota Crop Production Retailers, Minnesota Grain & Feed Association, Missouri Agribusiness Association, Nebraska Agri-Business Association, North Dakota Grain Dealers Association, Ohio AgriBusiness Association, South Dakota Agri-Business Association, and the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association.
State Budget Advocacy ContinuesAs the state budget process continued throughout May, MABA remained actively engaged in monitoring proposals and advocating for priorities important to Michigan agriculture. Staff maintained communication with legislators, administration officials and coalition partners to track developments affecting the FY27 budget. We will continue keeping members informed as budget negotiations progress in the months ahead.
June 2, 2026 – The Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA) is pleased to welcome two Michigan State University students, Allie Tilt and Karle Welden, as summer interns for 2026. MABA members will have opportunities to meet the association’s interns at events throughout the state as they assist MABA with events and advocacy.
“We are excited to welcome Allie and Karle to the MABA team this summer and they have already made an impact for our members,” said Chuck Lippstreu, MABA President. “MABA is glad to join many of our member companies in offering internships that invest in, and advance, the next generation of agricultural leaders.”
For more information about MABA’s 2026 interns:
Learn more about MABA by visiting www.miagbiz.org.
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Early registration continues until August 1, 2026, and attendees are encouraged to book early for the lowest costs and best hotel room availability.
The Michigan Agri-Business Association today announced registration is open for the 2026 Outlook Conference. The conference, now in its 27th year, is set for September 11-13 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan.
“The Outlook Conference has long been one of the premier gatherings for agricultural leaders across Michigan and the region, providing an important opportunity for senior leaders in our industry to focus on key drivers and trends in agriculture,” said Chuck Lippstreu, president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association. “We look forward to welcoming ag leaders to Mackinac Island for an in-depth discussion on current and future conditions shaping agriculture.”
Featured speakers for 2026 include:
Several additional state government, academic and industry leaders plan to join this year’s conference. Additional information on the program, registration and hotel reservation information can be found at maba.swoogo.com/2026outlookconference.
As a service to our members who support and advance the Michigan Agri-Business Association, we provide monthly summaries of highlights from your association’s work. This is not an all-inclusive update. If you have specific questions, please contact Chuck or Kara from the MABA staff.
April was a busy and productive month for MABA, with our team active across Michigan and engaged on major policy developments at both the state and federal level. We wanted to provide a short update to MABA members and interested partners:
Visit by USDA Under Secretary Richard Fordyce to Star of the West Milling Company: Early in the month, on April 7, we had the opportunity to join a USDA roundtable discussion in Frankenmuth, where Under Secretary of Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce was visiting Michigan to hear from agricultural stakeholders. Several MABA members participated in those conversations, and we appreciated the Under Secretary’s time and engagement with Michigan’s industry.
Grain Grading Seminars Return: On April 9 and 14, MABA once again hosted grain evaluation seminars. These grain grading sessions trained more than 40 new MABA member company employees on grain grading best practices, which helps ensure world-class service for Michigan farmers. Over the past three years, MABA has brought this training to more than 200 industry employees. We extend our thanks to the North Dakota Grain Inspection staff for their excellent work leading this training for Michigan grain industry professionals.
Secretary Brooke Rollins and Congressman Tom Barrett Visit MSU: On April 13, Michigan’s agricultural industry was in the spotlight as U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Congressman Tom Barrett visited the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center and participated in a roundtable with industry leaders. MABA President Chuck Lippstreu represented the association at the discussion, joining MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz, Michigan Farm Bureau President Ben LaCross, Michigan farmers, and others. MABA Board Member John Tilt also attended on behalf of the association. We encourage members to read our full update on the Secretary’s visit.
Michigan Dairy in the Spotlight: In mid-April, MABA President Chuck Lippstreu was quoted in Crain’s Grand Rapids Business, alongside key MABA members MMPA and Chobani, spotlighting Michigan’s strengths as a destination for dairy investment. “Michigan is a long-time dairy state (with) an incredible amount of knowledge and expertise that gives dairy manufacturers confidence in a high-quality product,” said Lippstreu, noting the infrastructure exists to support multi-generational dairy farms, making the state “a favorable place for investment.” Go here to read the full story.
Michigan Leaders Named to CFTC Agricultural Advisory Committee: On April 15, we spotlighted the relaunch of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Agricultural Advisory Committee. Two Michigan leaders, Chris Betz of Michigan Agricultural Commodities and corn grower Matt Frostic, First Vice President of the National Corn Growers Association, were named to the committee. We joined Michigan Corn in getting the word out on this. Read our full statement here.
Ag Club Breakfast in Hart, Michigan: On April 17, we were delighted to head to Hart in Oceana County — the asparagus capital of the world — for our MABA Ag Club Breakfast, co-hosted with Michigan Asparagus at the West Michigan Research Station. We appreciated the growers and MABA member company employees who joined us and helped spotlight West Michigan’s thriving specialty crop industry. We will continue bringing these events to agricultural communities across the state. Read more here.
Recognizing Michigan’s Certified Crop Advisers: Throughout April, MABA coordinated new recognition of Michigan’s Certified Crop Advisers in the Michigan Farm News, accompanied by digital advertising, part of our ongoing effort to highlight the skills, commitment, and contributions of Michigan’s CCAs. Thank you, Michigan CCA’s for your efforts, and more is to come!
House Agriculture Committee Spotlights Michigan Dry Beans: As an excellent close to the month, we appreciated the House Agriculture Committee and Chairman Jerry Neyer for spotlighting Michigan’s dry bean industry, featuring a presentation by Michigan Bean Commission Executive Director Joe Cramer. MABA represents many dry bean exporters and agribusinesses, and we deeply value our partnership with the state’s 1,100-plus dry bean growers, so we were glad to attend the hearing in support of Michigan Beans. Thank you to Joe Cramer and to Committee Chairman Jerry Neyer for making this happen. Learn more here from the Michigan Bean Commission.
U.S. House Passes Farm Bill: On April 30, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Farm Bill, a significant milestone. This past month, MABA joined more than 330 other organizations in a letter encouraging House approval, coordinated closely with national agricultural groups throughout the process, and worked to advance pro-modern agriculture policy at every step. We will continue our engagement as this legislation moves forward.
We are grateful for your continued support and remain committed to earning it every day. You can reach MABA President Chuck Lippstreu at chuck@miagbiz.org.
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