By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

LANSING, Mich. — More than 1,000 Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) members will demonstrate a “Common Purpose, Common Solutions,” during its 91st annual meeting Nov. 30-Dec. 3 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place in Grand Rapids.

The theme is a reference to “Common Sense Solutions,” the slogan MFB publicly attached to its government streamlining initiative – its top organizational priority this year. The primary goals were to preserve the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) as a standalone department, leverage agriculture-friendly coalitions and elect “friends of agriculture” in primary and general elections.

During the meeting, 486 members from Michigan’s 67 county Farm Bureaus will serve as voting delegates charged with adopting organizational policies on state and national issues. Resolutions adopted at the meeting dealing with state issues will direct MFB action in 2011.

Beginning Nov. 30, delegates will consider 153 resolutions on a range of issues including government streamlining, regulations for game farms and hunting preserves, state energy policy, wildlife management, food safety, national farm and dairy policy, health care and crop insurance and risk management.

These resolutions were consolidated by MFB’s 20-member Policy Development Committee from 860 resolutions first approved by county Farm Bureaus. Adopted resolutions dealing with national issues will be forwarded to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for consideration at its annual meeting Jan. 9-12, 2011, in Atlanta, Ga.

Members will hear from and meet with a variety of special guests. Invited guests include Gov.-elect Rick Snyder, MDA Director Don Koivisto, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment Director Rebecca Humphries, Michigan State University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kim Wilcox and Garry Lee, state conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The state’s largest farm organization has invited all newly elected state and national legislators to a special reception on Dec. 2. They will observe a portion of MFB’s delegate session and witness the organization’s grassroots policymaking process firsthand.

In addition, they will be treated to a preview of the ninth annual Taste of Michigan reception, where they can speak with nearly 30 exhibitors who will showcase Michigan-grown and -processed food and beverage products for MFB members and invited guests. Legislators will end the evening by joining members for the MFB’s annual banquet.

“Hosting the incoming crop of legislators at Michigan Farm Bureau’s annual meeting is a fitting way to cap the election year and herald in a new legislative cycle,” said Tonia Ritter, manager of the MFB State Governmental Affairs Department.

“Farm Bureau looks forward to welcoming all incoming and returning legislators, including the AgriPac-endorsed friends of agriculture, and capitalizing on this time to help lawmakers better understand agriculture’s importance to Michigan’s economy and how legislative decisions affect agricultural sustainability and growth.”

Also on Dec. 2, MFB’s political action committee will hold its annual AgriPac breakfast, featuring guest speakers Ed McBroom and Joel Johnson. Both are newly elected state representatives – and farmers – and will discuss the influence of the AgriPac endorsement in their campaigns.