Upper Peninsula farm bureau among micrograntees

Several Michigan county farm bureaus have been the recipients of $500 grants in a recent run of gifts from a national agricultural education program.

The Hiawathaland Farm Bureau is among eight farm bureaus in the state, including the Michigan Farm Bureau, to get the educational grants from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. Michigan grantees made up a significant chunk of the national granting program.

"That's 28 percent; more than a quarter of the grant recipients!" says Deb Schmucker of the Michigan Farm Bureau. "We're proud of the achievement and believe it reflects our members' commitment to administering quality programs and their passion for agricultural education. On behalf of the Michigan Farm Bureau and the county Farm Bureau recipients, we're thrilled and eager to put the funds to good use in our communities."

The Hiawathaland Farm Bureau represents Delta, Alger, eastern Marquette and western Schoolcraft counties. Its $500 grant will go toward two projects. The first is to buy incubators and brooding kits to show county fair attendees how poultry hatch from fertile eggs. The project is designed to increase educational opportunities about poultry care, production and food products, as part of a regional growing interest in poultry raising.

Part of the grant money also will go toward establishing a lending library of agricultural books for third-graders, which can be shared between classrooms and schools in the area for various lessons on agriculture.

The Michigan Farm Bureau's grant project also has to do with the U.P., as it will be developing the fourth book in a series called Captain Food Fabulous that is aimed at elementary-aged students statewide. The books feature a superhero who teaches Michigan kids about farming and local food, and the state's agricultural diversity. The fourth book in the 10-book series will be set in the U.P. and talk about topics like forestry and iron ore.

The other recipients are the Gratiot, Isabella, Calhoun, Huron, Missaukee and Wexford county farm bureaus. Criteria for the grants included having an effective, demonstrated connection between agriculture and education, encouraging students to learn more about agriculture and the food and fiber industries, and meeting procedures and timelines to accomplish project goals.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source Deb Schmucker, Michigan Farm Bureau