Michigan AF Podcast

Michael Ceja, Michigan Ag Council Ambassador, is studying business management at Delta College. His sophomore year of high school he got involved in FFA and got interested in ag advocacy and youth leadership. Last year he won the state collegiate discussion meet for Michigan Farm Bureau, and he plans to continue his involvement. He loves hammocking, listening to podcasts, and being with his friend...

Grace Platte is one of our Michigan Ag Council Ambassadors. She’s studying agricultural education at Michigan State University, and she works two jobs – she manages social media for the College of Agricultural & Natural Resources, and she works for MSU Extension - Chronic Wasting Disease. Grace didn’t grow up on a farm, but she became interested in her friend’s pigs and became involved in 4-H...

Tony Motz farms with his dad, where they grow corn, soybeans, and wheat on 3000 acres in St Johns. He also started Motz Meat, where he raises steers to sell as freezer beef. Tony earned his degree in agribusiness at Michigan State University, and he enjoys finetuning farm practices. For instance, they are taking tissue samples to analyze crop nutrients and improving record keeping by using softwar...

Kip Siegler is a farming YouTube sensation, with over 14,000 subscribers, 66 videos, and 1.3 million total views in just nine months. He’s a dairy and crop farmer in Imlay City, where he milks 200 cows and raises hay, corn, soybeans, and wheat on 1700 acres. Kip farms with his brothers and parents, has two daughters, and is getting married next year to his fiancée Rochelle. He enjoys seeing his da...

Nate Wittkamp of Wittkamp Grain and Vegetable LLC grows asparagus, hemp, pickles, and zucchini on his farm in Oceana County. Nate graduated from Michigan State University and worked as a sales agronomist for Wilbur Ellis. After working for them and farming at the same time, he was approached by investors and asked to grow 200 acres of hemp. Instead of having two full-time jobs, he concentrated onl...

Katelyn farms with her grandparents, parents, brother, and husband on their centennial farm in Washtenaw County. They milk 400 cows and raise crops to feed them. Her main area of interest is taking care of the animals, including health management, making sure milking is going smoothly in the parlor, and raising calves. She’s heavily involved in promotion, 4-H, and Farm Bureau. When she’s not worki...

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 in the sprinkler, and swimming and boating at Higgins Lake. Listen as Jesse talks about: The full-time job of beekeeping, including...

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 Harvester, she’s an author and co-author of many books, and she’s raising three children. What she keeps coming back to is that although far...

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, livestock committee chair, and Farm Bureau Young Farmer Chair in Sanilac County. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, 4-wheeling, and campi...

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 - which she jokingly calls their funny farm. Darcy is a 4-H leader, 4-H Fair Superintendent, Chair of Promotion & Education for...

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 involved forming partnerships with food banks to distribute food to families in need.  Joe is a member of the school board, he’s 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 improve considerably from the days when he was mowing orchards in an open cab tractor – with all the bees.  He enjoys a community o...

Terry Page started renting land when he was 13, and by the time he graduated high school, he farmed 100 acres and owed 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 bowling, hunting, fishing, and woodworking.  He and his wife Jody - who helps supply amazing dinners for the planting crew - also are rai...

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 all this, he’s a member of the township board, the fire department, and the medical first responder team.  He’s also a 4-H leader an...

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 not doing it, he likes to play the video game Farm Simulator.  Blake is also a Pioneer seed salesman and a Michigan Farm Bureau You...

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 Producers, and Michigan Farm Bureau.  In his free time he enjoys playing pickup soccer with friends and tourists that visit Charlev...

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 immediately responded to the challenges of COVID-19 by changing where and how they sold their products.  Cindy, an obvious extrovert...

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, paddleboarding, working a variety of side jobs, and drinking maple syrup straight from the spigot.  Listen as Kate talks about: The increase in m...

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 been working to support and promote farmers markets.  MIFMA also provides professional development, advocates for farmers, and works to...

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 wife Lisa and three adult sons raising sugar beets, dry beans, soybeans, and wheat.  He said Lisa realized after 20 years that farm...

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, and a technical services consultant.  Though she’s worked in 39 countries and spent many years living in Wisconsin, she’s a Michigande...

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 a 4-H leader in Eaton County. This year she plans to spend a week at the 4-H Fair, take a vacation, and watch her kids play many soc...

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.  In 2020, he’s looking forward to the 16 technological initiatives GreenStone has ahead and combining work travel with fun.  He and D...

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 zoo, and have so many fall visitors, they can’t even begin to count them. On the side, Amy is the township treasurer and a basketball...

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, including her beloved nieces and nephews. She enjoys traveling to new places, participating in activities out of her comfort zone, and checking out everything new in the grocery store. Jolene talks about: What she lo...