With Tuesday’s successful Scholarship Golf Outing, the Michigan Agri-Business Association and MABA Educational Trustees want to take a moment to recognize all those who stepped up as hole sponsors, volunteers and planners for this event. We thank all those who stepped up to support a golf team, as this was our first sold-out golf outing since 2022, maximizing support for the Educational Trust fund.
The MABA Educational Trust continues to raise substantial resources for scholarships supporting the next generation of Michigan Agriculture, and it can’t be done without your help and support. Thank you to our hole sponsors, Silent Auction donors, volunteers and Educational Trustees for making another special event possible.
Volunteers: Ward Forquer, MABA Educational Trustee and Lead Event Planner; Phil Needler, MABA Educational Trustee; Joe Rader, Millington Elevator; Kurt Fisher, Sure Crop Fertilizers; Casey Jobson, Star of the West; Jenna Dudar, Kapnick; Zach Myers, Kapnick; Jeff Schulz, Harvest Solar
2026 Golf Hole Sponsors:A&M Logistics, Advance Trading, Inc., Advanced Micronutrient Products, AdvanSix, Ag Direct, Agri-Strategies LLC, AgTrax, Bandit Industries, Barton Mallow, BASF, Bayer, BRB Seeds, Brink Farms/Brink Companies, Buchholz Transport, Caledonia Farmers Elevator, Cameron Micronutrients, Charlie & Suzanne Southworth, Christiana Partners, Country Harbor Agency, Dekalb Asgrow, Elevator Services and Storage, Inc., Fisher Companies, GarrCo, GLC Railroad, Greenstone Farm Credit Services, Harvest Solar, Harvey’s Commodities, Helena Agri-Enterprises, Huron & Eastern Railroad, Kapnick Insurance, Kent Nutrition, Keystone Cooperative, Koch Agronomic Services, Lake State Railroad, Michigan Agricultural Commodities, McAllister Rentals, Michigan Potash & Salt Company, Mid-Michigan Railroad, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Orion, RM Johnson Group, Rob-See-Co, Sargent Dock & Terminals, Shepard Bar, Star of the West Milling Co., Stifel, Sure Crop Fertilizers, Syngenta, The Andersons, The Brown Family, The Fields Golf Course, The Mosaic Company, The Nature Conservancy, The PohlCat Golf Course, Timac Agro USA, Valent U.S.A., Viterra, Wilbur Ellis, Willis Law, Xitavo, Zeeland Farm Services and ZFS Ithaca.
2026 Silent Auction Contributors:Nutrien Ag Solutions, Star of the West Milling Co., Harvey’s Commodities, WSGW Radio, Harvest Solar, Chuck Lippstreu, and AgDirect.
Once again, thank you to everyone who made this special event possible. We encourage all those in the MABA membership to help spread the word about scholarship opportunities, as our next deadline approaches on October 1. Go here for information about the opportunity.
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.
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.”
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.
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