Jesse Jensen is a beekeeper at Greene’s Honey Farm in Edmore. He’s been a beekeeper for nine years, and when he’s not working the bees, he’s taking care of his own hives at home. He, his wife Lauren, and their son Hoyt also love taking Ranger rides, watching Hoyt play...

Sarah Tomac started selling pumpkins on the side of the road as a child…and her farm now grows 250 different varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds. She and her family also raise sweet corn, Indian corn, and soybeans. She loves the history of International...

John Bowsky is a conservation technician at Blue Water Conservation District in Sandusky, and he also farms with his family on their fourth-generation crop farm. On their centennial farm they raise 470 acres of wheat and soybeans. He’s 4-H swine superintendent,...

Darcy Hansen is an agronomy consultant at Star of the West Milling, where she helps farmers put together their crop plans and scouts fields to identify solutions. She and her husband Coy also raise Black Angus cattle, Boer goats, and pigs at their home in Minden City...

Joe Bixler works for MSU Extension as a Statewide Government & Community Vitality Educator, and he’s also part of the Community Food Systems team.  Originally from the Thumb, he’s worked in agriculture his entire career.  With the COVID-19 crisis, he’s been very...

Caleb Fuehring of C & D Fuehring Farms grows cherries, asparagus, apples, Christmas trees, corn and soybeans.  He and his wife Hannah are celebrating their first wedding anniversary while experiencing their first worldwide pandemic.  Caleb has seen farm technology...

Terry Page started renting land when he was 13, and by the time he graduated high school, he farmed 100 acres and owned 550 hogs.  He now is raising soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, and corn on 2600 acres, and he also custom harvests for multiple other farms.  He enjoys...

Blake Gordon of B & C Gordon Farms raises wheat, corn, soybeans, and sugar beets in Croswell.  He and his dad, Cliff, often don’t need to use a two-way radio to communicate, because they know what the other is thinking.  Blake enjoys farming so much that when he’s...

Rich Baker of Rich Baker Farms, LLC in St Joseph County has a diverse operation. He grows seed corn, potatoes, cash crops, and he has a custom spraying operation.  He welcomes over 700 visitors at his orchard, and he raises cattle, hogs, horses, and goats.  On top of...

Isaac Matchett of Matchett Sheep Farm in Charlevoix raises sheep for meat and wool.  Right now with the uncertainly of the COVID-19 shutdown, he continues to work toward his normal goal of ensuring the farm is never stagnant.  He’s active in his church, Michigan Sheep...

Cindy Visser and her family grow over 100 varieties of vegetables and flowers in Zeeland.  They sell at many farmers markets, direct to restaurants, and through their CSA.  Cindy, Phil, and their seven children have been working together on the farm since 1981.  They...

Kate Livingston farms with her family on Livingston Farms in St Johns, where they raise grass fed beef, maple syrup, and peppermint and spearmint oil.  Her family farm has been in the same location since 1902.  Kate enjoys biking on the local rail trail,...

Amanda Shreve is the Executive Director of the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA).  After earning a degree in horticulture from Michigan State, Amanda knew she had a passion for the industry.  She found her home at MIFMA, where for the last decade she has...

Carl Bednarski has dual roles – he’s the president of Michigan Farm Bureau and a crop farmer in Tuscola County.  Five days a week, he’s full-time in the office in Lansing, leading both the agriculture and insurance sides of Farm Bureau.  On the weekends, he’s with his...

Since 2018, Pamela Ruegg has been the Chair of the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University.  She’s had a variety of roles within the ag industry, including positions as a veterinarian, a faculty member at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Canada,...

As a Career Consultant at MSU in the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Jill Cords connects students with businesses to foster positive working experiences. On her second shift, she and her family raise cash crops and beef cattle in Charlotte. She’s also...

Dave Armstrong has been President and CEO of GreenStone Farm Credit Services since 2009.  He’s on several industry boards, he’s treasurer at his church, and he works out daily.  In fact, he and his wife Debra walk 2.5 miles almost every night – except when it rains. ...

Amy Laper of Anderson & Girls is the second generation on her family’s Stanton farm. After graduating from MSU and working on an off-farm job, her parents asked her back, and she’s now been there for 25 years. They run a market, a gift shop, a bakery, a petting...

Jolene Griffin, Director of Industry Relations, United Dairy Industry of Michigan Jolene Griffin is the Director of Industry Relations at the United Dairy Industry of Michigan. Jolene is from a dairy farm in Hastings, where she spends a lot of time with her family,...

Greg Shooks of Central Lake grows cherries, wine grapes, and small grains on his fourth generation farm, where he works with his brother and cousin. The wine grapes are new, because last year they sold their 550 head of cattle and built a winery – Cellar 1914, with a...

Isaiah Wunsch farms cherries and apples on Old Mission Peninsula, and he also owns a cherry and apple packing and marketing business. After graduate school at Michigan State, he worked for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation as their agribusiness specialist....

Cora Okkema is studying Livestock Behavior and Welfare under Dr. Temple Grandin at Colorado State University. Her interests include fresh heifer wellbeing, newborn calf care, and crossbreeding. She was born in the Netherlands and moved to the U.S. in 1999 with her...

Elise Thorp started Trillium Wood Farm with her sister, Allie. They were both vegetarians, but they decided to experiment with raising meat for themselves and friends. Seven years later, they are raising hogs, lambs, chickens and turkeys as their full-time jobs. They...

Caleb Stewart raises hogs, grows cash crops, and buys and sells farm equipment.  After graduating from Michigan State, he started farming with his parents, Carol and Jim.  Three years ago, he and his wife Teresa, along with their two kids, became sole proprietors in...