Michigan Farm Bureau started its first all-virtual annual meeting with nominations and elections for the board of directors that leads the state’s largest farm organization.
One new member was chosen to represent the organization’s vital Young Farmer program. All other elected officers were incumbents reelected to two-year terms on the MFB Board of Directors.
President
Tuscola County cash crop farmer Carl Bednarski was reelected to his fourth two-year term as MFB’s president.
First elected to the position in 2014 as the organization’s 16th president, Bednarski raises corn, dry beans, sugar beets, soybeans and wheat alongside his wife, Lisa, and their three sons.
Program representatives
Seventh-generation Branch County farmer Paul Pridgeon was elected to represent MFB’s Young Farmer program on the board, succeeding Ottawa County apple grower Adam Dietrich. In partnership with his father, Bill, and brother Brian, Pridgeon raises hogs and 4,500 acres of corn, soybean and wheat. He and wife Nikki have three children.
St. Joseph County farmer Julie Stephenson was reelected to represent Farm Bureau’s Promotion & Education program on the board. Stephenson and husband Eric’s cash crop and seed corn operation also includes a farm market.
Reelected district representatives
Following nominations from delegates attending district-level meetings in early November, all incumbent directors representing even-numbered districts were reelected to their positions:
Jennifer Lewis — District 2: Branch, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee counties
Jeff Sandborn — District 4: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Ottawa counties
Travis Fahley — District 6: Huron, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Tuscola counties
Michael Mulders — District 8: Bay, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw counties
Leona Daniels — District 10: Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Iosco, Ogemaw counties
Dave Bahrman — District 12: the entire Upper Peninsula
Incumbents not up for reelection
Incumbents in odd-numbered districts were not up for reelection and therefore retain their seats:
Brigette Leach — District 1: Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Van Buren counties
Mike Fusilier — District 3: Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne counties
Stephanie Schafer — District 5: Clinton, Shiawassee, Genesee, Eaton, Ingham counties
Michael DeRuiter — District 7: Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola counties
Ben LaCross — District 9: Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee and Wexford counties
Patrick McGuire — District 11: Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Otsego, Presque Isle counties
Rounding out the board are at-large members Andy Hagenow of Kent County and Monroe County’s Douglas Darling. Both were reelected to two-year terms at last year’s annual meeting.
