LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its Promotion and Education (P&E) Committee with workshops during the organization’s 92nd annual meeting, Nov. 29-Dec. 2 in Grand Rapids.

The statewide P&E Committee began in 1986 as a replacement for the organization’s Women’s Committee. Since then, the gender-neutral committee has lived up to its name, promoting agriculture through farm tours and other projects designed to give consumers a positive image of farmers.

“The Women’s Committee was already doing a lot of the things that we do today,” said P&E Department Manager Deb Schmucker.

“I think with all the things we see in the news, promotion of agriculture and education of the public is more important than ever,” said Larry Walton, chair of the 22-member state P&E Committee and P&E Representative on the MFB board of directors.

“We need to counter the lies that become fact with too much repetition. We need to help people understand all the things involved in farming, like the regulatory challenges and labor shortages and the cost of production. It’s not easy, but we’ve made some headway.”

On Nov. 30, two concurrent workshops will look at the federal budget, and deficit and consumer attitudes and opinions toward modern farming.

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) tax and budget specialist Pat Wolf will be a guest presenter for the workshop on federal finances. Wolf will provide an update on activities of the Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, better known as the “Super Committee,” and discuss the potential impacts on farmers.

“This educational workshop will look at the nation’s big fiscal picture and examine how the Super Committee’s actions will dramatically impact the scope and size of the 2012 farm bill,” said Ryan Findlay, MFB national legislative counsel.

“Eventually, it’ll be up to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to determine how to continue to provide an adequate farm bill safety net while working within the tight budget confines. This workshop will help prepare Farm Bureau members for that ultimate discussion.”

The second workshop, titled “Reality Agriculture – Connecting to Today’s Consumer,” features Bill Zucker, a senior counselor on food and corporate issues for Ketchum, the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance’s (USFRA) hired public relations agency. He will share research conducted by the USFRA regarding attitudes and opinions of farmers and consumers.

The communications theme will continue Dec. 1 when the MFB P&E Committee sponsors a series of workshops aimed at helping MFB members promote and defend agriculture against increased scrutiny, and educate the public on the many ways farmers care about safe food, their animals, the environment and Michigan’s future.

The workshop series includes four breakout sessions that will address how conventional and non-traditional agriculture can work together to communicate a common message and positive image to consumers; the necessary steps for a farm to earn verification in the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP); agritourism opportunities and success stories; and tips for correcting common myths about agricultural production and practices, led by Zucker with USFRA.

Farmers from around the state will serve as guest panelists for many of the sessions, as will staff from MAEAP partnering organizations.