Michigan AgrAbility staff thanks Michigan Farm Bureau for their invaluable assistance in the filming and production of two new videos about Michigan farmers who benefited from Michigan AgrAbility services. Check out the Michigan AgrAbility You Tube page for a new video: Cattleman Assisted by Michigan AgrAbility starring Tom Gallagher, a cattle farmer.. On the Michigan Farm Bureau You Tube page, you can watch Michigan AgrAbility: Helping Farmers Farm. John Gallagher III, who grows sweet and tart cherries in beautiful northern Michigan, is the star of this first installment of this series. Stay tuned for a future video which will have John and his wife Cindy talk more in depth about what Michigan AgrAbility means to them.
The Michigan AgrAbility Facebook page is chock-full of information, so check it out! New in May was a post about Dennis Johnston of Hubbardston getting acclimated to his new log lifter for his wood burner. The device was built by engineering students at MSU as their capstone senior project. Team members included Steven Lund, Hayden May, Phil Skinkle, Nicholas Scibilia, and Nadia Amira.
Also on the Facebook page is information about the 3rd annual Farmer Veteran National Stakeholders Conference. Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) has announced that the FVC of Michigan will be hosting this conference at the Kellogg Center at Michigan State University November 30 - December 2, 2016. FVC-MI is the first state chapter of the organization to host the national conference, which is a partnership with MSU's Vets to Ag Program, and will bring over 500 farmer veterans from around the country to MSU. The conference will host workshops and education tracks on everything from agricultural topics and production models to business planning and personal wellness. Evenings will be highlighted with a Michigan wine and beer event on November 30, and a gala dinner on December 1 featuring distinguished speakers from the military, government agencies, and leaders in the agricultural industry. "Hosting the National Stakeholders Conference in Michigan is a great honor for FVC-MI and our state, and highlights our continued effort as a state chapter to bring the highest quality education, and resource opportunities to our veterans farming here in Michigan." Says FVC-MI Executive Director Adam Ingrao. Look for the registration link in the coming months through the FVC national website at www.farmvetco.org.
Submitted by Deb Chester