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Washtenaw County Farm Bureau celebrates National Ag Week locally

Manchester area farm family , Grant Reiff and Lisa (Scramlin) Reiff, their almost four-year-old son Garrison, and one-year-old Jacquelyn June “JJ”, wearing “Proud to Farm in Washtenaw County” t-shirts in celebration of 2018 National Ag Week.  Lisa has an Ag Communication degree from MSU. In addition to being a super-busy mom, she the Executive Director of Michigan Association of Fairs-Exhibitions. She also serves on the board of the International State and Provincial Fair Association. Grant, who serves as Washtenaw County Farm Bureau’s president, has an Ag Economics degree from Purdue and is currently District Manager for Dairyland Seed, covering 7 counties in Michigan and 3 in Ohio. Grant is also active with the Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and serves on the State AgriPac Committee. Grant has an additional career as a singer/songwriter and is finalizing a new, soon to be released, album called: “Growin’ Up Gravel”.

Washtenaw County Farm Bureau will join other organizations across the country to celebrate agriculture important role in daily life as part of National Ag Week March 18-24 and Ag Day on Tuesday March 20th. March has also been designated by Governor Snyder as Michigan Food and Agriculture month. Events and activities both here in Manchester and around the county are designed to raise awareness about the many ways America farmers provide food, fiber and fuel for our communities, our nation and the world. This year theme is “Agriculture: Food for Life.”

The county Farm Bureau will provide local restaurants with agriculture-themed placemats and “table tents” depicting state and local farming facts and local farmers who put food on our plates. Here in the Manchester area, Linda Diner, Frank Place, Kellie, and Bridgewater bank will be participating, as well as others throughout the county. Kathleen Siler of the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau stated, “We are delighted that each year more restaurants partner with us.”

MyPlate posters featuring local farmers and producers will be displayed at the Manchester Market, and Busch Fresh Food Market in Saline. An agricultural-themed exhibit will be also be displayed in a downtown Saline storefront window.

The county Farm Bureau is also partnering with district libraries in Manchester, Milan, Saline, Dexter and the Ypsilanti Whittaker branch to showcase displays of Washtenaw County agriculture facts, books and brochures highlighting various types of farming, commodities and agriculturally-based careers. Several ag-related, children books will be donated to the libraries. There will also be ag displays at both branches of the Chelsea State Bank in Chelsea.

It become an annual tradition to welcome the first Washtenaw County baby born during National Ag Week, with a basket of baby clothes and nursery supplies donated to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.

Farmer Kim Graham will read John Deere, That Who to the first grade class her daughter teaches at Dicken Elementary School in Ann Arbor. The award-winning book by Tracy Nelson Mauer describes a young blacksmith quest to design a better plow. The students will also engage in a lesson comparing farming methods then and now.

At Community Day Care and Preschool in Ann Arbor after-school program at Lawton Elementary School, students in Kids Club can choose to play Safety Bingo as a way to learn about farm and home safety. Game prizes will be ag-related, and students will snack on Michigan apples. A spring planting activity is also planned.

And finally, keep an eye out, Manchester, as local Farm Bureau members will be featured on social media sites wearing “Proud to Farm in Washtenaw County” t-shirts while engaging in farming tasks and ag-related careers.

Siler added, “You can follow all the events and activities by visiting the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau Facebook page. During National Ag Week, or any other time of the year, you can celebrate agriculture by thanking farmers for everything they do to provide us with fuel, fiber and “Food for Life” 365 days a year!”

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.