The Block Party

Join us at The BLOCK Party! 

The next episode of The Block Party is live and ready for you to listen!  Join us as we talk with Theresa Sisung, Michigan Farm Bureau’s Industry Relations Specialist, to introduce May’s discussion topic, Artificial Intelligence in agriculture, and get to know.  Check it out!  To listen to this episode and others, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2134475  

Interested in digging into the Farm Bureau policies discussed in this podcast? You can review all of Michigan Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation Policy here. 

Did this discussion spark a policy idea for you?  Be sure to submit that idea to your local county Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee Chair.  You can also submit your policy idea online here.  

If you have additional thoughts or feedback on what you would like to hear at The Block Party, pass that along to Ashley at [email protected] 

Join us at The BLOCK Party! 

The next episode of The Block Party is live and ready for you to listen!  Join us as we talk with Laura Lunceford, Michigan Farm Bureau’s Membership Development Manager, to introduce April’s discussion topic and get to know.  Check it out!  To listen to this episode and others, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2134475   Also, here is the online membership application link: https://www.michfb.com/join 

Did this discussion spark a policy idea for you?  Be sure to submit that idea to your local county Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee Chair.  You can also submit your policy idea online here.  

If you have additional thoughts or feedback on what you would like to hear at The Block Party, pass that along to Ashley at [email protected] 

Join us at The BLOCK Party! 

This month’s episode of The Block Party is live and ready for you to listen!  Join us as we talk with Audrey Martin, Delta College Collegiate Farm Bureau and Beth Wernette, Mecosta County Farm Bureau, to introduce March’s discussion topic and get to know a little better.  Check it out!  To listen to this episode and others, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2134475  

Did this discussion spark a policy idea for you?  Be sure to submit that idea to your local county Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee Chair.  You can also submit your policy idea online here.  

If you have additional thoughts or feedback on what you would like to hear at The Block Party, pass that along to Ashley at [email protected] 

Additional Resources 

• Discussion Meets 
• Discussion Meet Training Videos 

Join us at The BLOCK Party! 

The next episode of The Block Party is live and ready for you to listen!  Join us as we talk with Austin Large Senior Director of Membership and Organization Development at American Farm Bureau, to introduce February’s discussion topic and get to know.  Check it out!  To listen to this episode and others, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2134475  

Did this discussion spark a policy idea for you?  Be sure to submit that idea to your local county Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee Chair.  You can also submit your policy idea online here.  

If you have additional thoughts or feedback on what you would like to hear at The Block Party, pass that along to Ashley at [email protected] 

Additional Resources 

Farm Bureau University – get  started by visiting university.fb.org  

Step 1: Click “Sign up here” 

Step 2: Fill out the Sign-up Form 

   Items marked * are required 

Select Organization Code:  

Michigan’s code: mifb 

Step 3: Click “Register” 

Join us at The BLOCK Party! 

Episode Eleven of The Block Party is live and ready for you to listen!  Join us as we talk with Theresa Sisung, Tess VanGorder and Ernie Birchmeier, to introduce December’s discussion topic and get to know a little better.  Check it out!  To listen to this episode and others, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2134475  

Did this discussion spark a policy idea for you?  Be sure to submit that idea to your local county Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee Chair.  You can also submit your policy idea online here.  

If you have additional thoughts or feedback on what you would like to hear at The Block Party, pass that along to Ashley at [email protected] 

Policy References 

MFB #2 Agricultural Innovation and Value-Added Initiatives 

MFB #28 Michigan Meat Processing Industry 

MFB #61 Antitrust 

MFB #83 Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy Policy 

AFBF #341 Food Quality and Safety 

Additional Resources 

Starting Food Processing? 

Fact Sheet: Slaughterhouse/Meat Processor Groundwater Discharge Permit 

MSU Extension Safe Food & Water 

Antitrust enforcement in Agriculture 

Join us at The BLOCK Party! 

Episode Nine of The Block Party is live and ready for you to listen!  Join us as we talk with Matt Kapp, Michigan Farm Bureau’s Government Relations Specialist, to introduce December’s discussion topic and get to know him a little better.  Check it out!  To listen to this episode and others, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2134475  

Did this discussion spark a policy idea for you?  Be sure to submit that idea to your local county Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee Chair.  You can also submit your policy idea online here.  

If you have additional thoughts or feedback on what you would like to hear at The Block Party, pass that along to Ashley at [email protected] 

Additional Resources 

• The Candidate Handbook explains all the roles and responsibilities of local government positions.  
• MFB’s Academy for Political Leadership combines Government 101 and Introduction to Campaign Management — a developmental program designed to teach members how government functions and equip them with what it takes to run for office get elected. 

Related Articles 

• https://www.michfb.com/about/news-media/matchett-model-voice-ag-local-govt 
• https://www.michfb.com/about/news-media/mfb-rural-communities-task-force-preps-recommendations-policy-development 
• https://www.michfb.com/about/news-media/proposed-policy-amendments-reflect-work-mfb-rural-communities-task-force  

Join us at The BLOCK Party! 

Episode Nine of The Block Party is live and ready for you to listen!  Join us as we talk with Laura Campbell, Michigan Farm Bureau’s Agricultural Ecology Department, to introduce November’s discussion topic and get to know her a little better.  You won’t want to miss this episode as if there are questions on water use regulations and jurisdiction, Laura is the person you want to talk to! 

Check it out!  To listen to this episode and others, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2134475  

Did this discussion spark a policy idea for you?  Be sure to submit that idea to your local county Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee Chair.  You can also submit your policy idea online here.  

If you have additional thoughts or feedback on what you would like to hear at The Block Party, pass that along to Ashley at [email protected] 

Farm Bureau Policy References 

MFB #9 Commission System of Government 

MFB #89 Water Use in the Great Lakes Basin 

Additional Resources 

Michigan’s Water Use Program 

Michigan Water Use Annual Report, 2021 

Michigan Farm Bureau’s Comment Letter on the Proposed Prairie River Reclassification 

MDNR Director’s Statement on the Prairie River Stream Temperature Reclassification 

Join us at The BLOCK Party! 

Episode Eight of The Block Party is live and ready for you to listen!  Join us as we talk with Noelle Nachreiner, Executive Director and Michael Ceja, Outreach Specialist for the Michigan Ag Council.  In this episode Noelle and Michael will introduce October’s discussion topic and get to know them a little better. 

Check it out!  To listen to this episode and others, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2134475  

Did this discussion spark a policy idea for you?  Be sure to submit that idea to your local county Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee Chair.  You can also submit your policy idea online here. 

If you have additional thoughts or feedback on what you would like to hear at The Block Party, pass that along to Ashley at [email protected] 

Are you interested in learning more about the Michigan Ag Council? Check out their podcast, Michigan AF, https://michigangrown.org/podcast/.  You can also connect with them on social media: https://www.facebook.com/migrownmigreat.   

Join us at The BLOCK Party! 

Episode Seven of The Block Party is live and ready for you to listen!  Join us as we talk with John Kran, Michigan Farm Bureau’s National Legislative Council, Theresa Sisung, MFB’s Industry Relations Specialist, and Loren Koeman MFB’s Manager of Industry Conservation and Regulatory Relations and Lead Economist.  In this episode we will get to know John, Theresa, and Loren a little more and have a brief introduction to September’s Discussion Topic “Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land.”  

Check it out!  To listen to this episode and others, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2134475  

Did this discussion spark a policy idea for you?  Be sure to submit that idea to your local county Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee Chair.  You can also submit your policy idea online here. 

If you have additional thoughts or feedback on what you would like to hear at The Block Party, pass that along to Ashley at [email protected] 

Join us at The BLOCK Party!

Episode Six of The Block Party is live and ready for you to listen!  Join us as we talk with Mitch Galloway, Michigan Farm Bureau’s Associate Editor of Member Publications (Farm News).  In this episode we will get to know Mitch a little more and have a brief introduction to August’s Discussion Topic “Fewer operations, more consolidation: What is farm’s future?”  From mega sites, solar, wind turbines and more, farms are anticipated to look different for many reasons.  It’s time to jump in and have these conversations because if not we may be left behind.

Check it out!  To listen to this episode and others, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2134475

Did this discussion spark a policy idea for you?  Be sure to submit that idea to your local county Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee Chair.  You can also submit your policy idea online here.

If you have additional thoughts or feedback on what you would like to hear at The Block Party, pass that along to Ashley at [email protected]