By Andi Anderson
Michigan Farm Bureau’s Connecting Communities grant program made a major impact across the state by helping county Farm Bureaus strengthen their relationships with local residents. Through this initiative, 59 county Farm Bureaus connected with more than 107,000 youth and adults, increasing trust in farming, supporting community partnerships and raising the visibility of Michigan agriculture.
The Connecting Communities program was launched in 2024 by the Michigan Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee. Its purpose was to support consumer engagement by offering every interested county Farm Bureau a non‑competitive $1,000 grant.
Along with financial support, counties received media kits, help securing streaming ads, career exploration materials, templates and other tools to communicate effectively with consumers.
Counties could apply under two categories. The connect and celebrate category focused on building relationships through social events, while the explore and learn category emphasized agricultural careers and agriculture’s importance in community life. Counties had the option to apply alone, join with neighboring counties or collaborate at the district level.
The 59 participating counties organized more than 30 events across Michigan. These events included agriculture career fairs, food preservation workshops, road safety activities, live media broadcasts and farm‑to‑fork dinners.
As explained by Tonia Ritter, manager of the Promotion & Education Department, “The state-provided resources maintained message consistency and brand visibility while the funding allowed counties to customize activities and events to meet their local needs and capture local opportunities.”
Some counties held unique programs to reach new audiences. Copper County Farm Bureau hosted a farm date night dinner, while Livingston County partnered with programs serving young adults with special needs to introduce them to agriculture careers. Wayne County held an urban farming educational event. Together, these efforts reached 45,949 adults and 61,451 youth, with streaming ads adding more than 25,000 impressions.
The grants also supported volunteer development, with 489 members gaining experience as community ambassadors. Counties partnered with 286 organizations—including schools, radio stations, chambers of commerce, agribusinesses and local governments—helping expand Farm Bureau’s influence.
Although the grant was offered only in 2024, many resources created during the program remain available for future use. Some counties have even budgeted funds to continue their events into 2025. The program generated strong returns, as the original grants helped generate more than $66,000 in outreach investment, along with 35% additional value through in‑kind support.
According to Ritter, “Equally important is the confidence the participating county Farm Bureaus gained with their successful engagement, which provided proof that consumer outreach is possible, impactful and rewarding.”
The success of Connecting Communities earned Michigan Farm Bureau the 2026 New Horizon Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation, which honors innovative new state programs.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave
Categories: Michigan, Sustainable Agriculture