MDARD Tours Kistler Crest Farms, Grand Alpaca Company

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Acting Director Kathy Angerer Thursday celebrated the release of the 2023 Michigan Agriculture Magazine and toured Kistlercrest Farms and Grand Alpaca Company.

"At MDARD, along with the commitment Governor Whitmer showcased in her recommended budget, we will continue to embrace the innovation, sustainability, and creativity that make our industry so unique," said Angerer. "Michigan's food and agriculture is incredibly diverse not only in our products but in the opportunities the agriculture sector creates, from caring for livestock to harvesting maple syrup and so much more. Michigan is the place to be for food and agriculture."

The Michigan Agriculture magazine is a guide to Michigan's farms, forests, food, and exports. It features stories about the state's top crops, environmental innovation, livestock, agribusinesses, tourism, food safety, local products and more.

This year, Cherry Point Farm and Market produced the lavender featured on the front cover. Cherry Point Farm is one of the oldest operating farms in Oceana County just a mile from the Lake Michigan shoreline and minutes from the Silver Lake Sand Dunes.

The Bull family began operating the farm in 1949 and soon after opened a fruit market. A stop at Cherry Point has been a tradition for families ever since, and that tradition now includes many more experiences and activities.

Kistlercrest Farms is a family farm that has been in continuous operation since 1895.

Since John Kistler began making syrup from his maple woods, his family has continued the tradition for over five generations. The Kistlers still harvest sap from trees that stood tall back in 1895. They're proudly committed to their trees, community, and maple syrup, free from impurities or additivities.

Grand Alpaca Company, a small, family-owned business, is surrounded by beautiful fruit orchards and minutes from Lake Michigan. The 40-acre farm is situated just seven miles from US-31 and is currently home to 50 Huacaya alpacas that range in age from eight months to seventeen years. Owners Les and Cherish Meyette purchased the herd and business from previous owners. They acquired their current location in Montague in 2014 and have seen growth and change since then.

Throughout 2023, MDARD will meet with Michigan's food and agricultural businesses to discuss how they can continue to succeed and how the department can best assist their continuous growth and expansion.