| LANSING, Oct. 1, 1999 -- Michigan Farm Bureau understands the importance of young farmers' roles in agriculture's future, as they recognize their accomplishments and commitments to agriculture with three different annual awards. Several applications were recently narrowed to 12 - four finalists in each category - as they vie for state awards during Michigan Farm Bureau's annual meeting in Traverse City, Nov. 30 - Dec. 3.
The finalists, ages 18-35, will be interviewed by a panelist of judges, and a winner in each category will be honored during the 80th annual meeting. The awards designate achievement, leadership and skills of outstanding young farmers.
"These awards are designed to foster leadership skills among our young farmer members," said Ernie Birchmeier, manager of the Young Farmer Department at Michigan Farm Bureau. "We look for individuals who run successful operations and are leaders in their communities and county Farm Bureau organizations."
The Young Farmer Achievement Award will go to a producer who demonstrates excellent farm management skills, has shown progress in his/her farming operation and is a strong community leader. Finalists include:
Paul Knoerr of Freeland - Saginaw County - (517) 695-6416
Knoerr, 30, owns 360 acres, and operates more than 1,000 total acres. He has been in the farming business for 13 years, and his operation has increased 50 percent since he began.
Understanding the importance of reducing erosion, Knoerr has switched rotation to have sugar beets follow corn, leaving a 40 percent cover on the ground. He has also installed 22 fiber mats with grass in waterways to reduce or prevent water erosion and washouts. Knoerr plants cover crops over sand knolls to protect spring seedlings and to reduce sand erosion from wind.
Knoerr is part owner of an alfalfa processing plant, seeding 6 percent of acreage to alfalfa to improve soil tilth, break up hardpan and develop new major crops. He also works with a dry bean processing plant to develop vertical integration in the market to return more value to the producer.
Knoerr has served on the Saginaw County Farm Bureau board of directors, Young Farmer Committee, and was a member of the ProFILE leadership program. He is a member of the Zion Lutheran Church and has served as a counselor for Farm Bureau's Young People's Citizenship Seminar.
David Smith of Mason - Ingham County - (517) 676-6126
Smith, 34, is married to Luci and has two children, Donnie and Shaun. Smith, in partnership with his brother, farms corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, oats and grass hay, covering 570 acres owned by their father. In addition, they milk 75 head of dairy cows.
Recognizing the importance of running a farm in an environmentally safe manner, Smith constructed a pond to hold the wastewater from the milking parlor, which previously ran into drainage ditches. When the pond gets full, the water is irrigated onto surrounding hay fields. A manure storage area was built to eliminate daily manure hauling, and a free-stall heifer barn was constructed to alleviate crowded conditions in the barns.
Smith has switched from conventional to conservation tillage and places more emphasis on feed quality. Smith is also entering all of his dairy records into the computer for easy access and future planning. On the farm, Smith taps about 300 trees for maple syrup, producing 50-100 gallons of maple syrup. He also makes cabinets during the slower times in the winter.
Smith has served on the Ingham County Farm Bureau board, Policy Development Committee, and Young Farmer Committee. He also participated in the ProFILE leadership program. He belongs to the Michigan Holstein Association, Tri-County Holstein Association, and is a past 4-H and FFA member.
Matthew Dutcher of Owosso - Shiawassee County - (517) 723-7674
Dutcher, 33, and his wife, Mary Ann, partner with his brother to raise corn, wheat, soybeans and alfalfa on 1,880 acres. He also works as a seed corn dealer.
Starting his farming career at age 10 with a few calves given to him, Dutcher has been witness to what improved management practices can mean to an operation, as the farm has built improvements such as bunker silos and manure pits. Dutcher has even converted a school bus into a 300-bushel grain truck.
Dutcher has been active on Farm Bureau county and state levels, serving as county president, Young Farmer chair, and a member of the Policy Development Committee. He has been an annual meeting delegate, attended the Young Farmer conference, and served on the State AgriPAC Committee. Community activities also keep Dutcher active, such as the county Dairy Herd Improvement Association board, local milk co-op and FFA alumni.
David Tacoma of Falmouth - Missaukee County - (231) 826-3352
Tacoma, 34, and his wife, Ruth, have three children - Andrew, Reuben and Wesley. He farms with his family, with his primary responsibility as manager of the dairy herd. They also farm corn, alfalfa and wheat on 670 acres. Tacoma also does custom combining and round baling, as well as renting out the use of an ag-bag unit.
Working to expand his operation, Tacoma built a new free-stall barn with access to drive-through feeding with curtained sidewalls. They also expanded the manure pit and cemented all the sides. He plans to convert to 30-inch rows after this year's harvest.
Tacoma received first place quality milk state award from the Independent Cooperative Milk Producers Association for 1995, and top dollar value mature cow in the county in 1997. Their herd ranked in the top 50 in Michigan from 1996 to 1998.
Tacoma has been active with the county Farm Bureau board, serving as president, as well as Group Purchasing representative. He has also served on the Young Farmer Committee. He is involved with Youth for Christ, Aetna Booster Club and Little Moovers 4-H Club.
Outstanding Young Agricultural Leader finalists, who were chosen for their knowledge of agricultural issues and roles in community activities, include:
Yvonne Jakubik of Whittemore - Iosco County - (517) 756-2747
Jakubik, 35, is married to Jeff and they have four children - Matt, Jamie, Jessie and Mark. Together, they farm in partnership with Yvonne's parents, milking 120 holstein cows and raising alfalfa and corn silage on 256 acres. Yvonne's other duties include feeding, recordkeeping and breeding selection.
A dedicated county leader, Jakubik has served on the Promotion and Education Committee, as well as the Young Farmer Committee and "Milkers and Drinkers" Community Action Group. She has also served the state in various capacities, which include Young Farmer, Policy Development, and a participant in the ProFILE leadership program. Outside of Farm Bureau, Jakubik is involved with 4-H, St. James Altar Society, Whittemore-Prescott FFA Alumni and the school board.
Michael Heisler of Albion - Calhoun County - (517) 857-2464
Heisler, 34, and his wife, Lara, have two children - Hannah and Carrie. They farm 1,300 acres of soybeans, commercial corn and red wheat in partnership with Michael's brother and father. In addition, they operate a guide service for goose, duck and white-tailed deer hunters. Heisler's responsibilities include recordkeeping and planting, as well as equipment maintenance and trucking.
Committed to the county, Heisler served on the Promotion and Education Committee, helped coordinate rural mall days, and represented the county at the Washington Legislative Seminar. He was a member of the planning commission for Clarence Township.
Kenneth Oomen of Hart - Oceana County - (231) 873-5129
Oomen, 35, and his wife, Sandra, have two children - Nicholas and Spencer. In partnership with his brother, Ralph, they farm 1,000 acres, growing asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, squash, carrots, corn, wheat, barley and rye. Oomen handles the hiring of migrant labor for summer harvest and is in charge of the planting and harvest of asparagus and broccoli.
County Farm Bureau activities fill Oomen's schedule, as he has participated in many capacities throughout the county. Activities include seats on the county board of directors Young Farmer Committee; and Oomen represented the county as a delegate at the MFB annual meeting. He participated in the ProFile leadership program and state Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee.
Peggy Miller of West Branch - Ogemaw County - (517) 345-9288
Miller, 26, is herd manager for a 400-head holstein dairy farm, which also farms 700 acres of corn and alfalfa hay. Miller's responsibilities include recordkeeping, care and feeding of the herd, breeding schedules and feed rations.
Miller is no stranger when it comes to county Farm Bureau activities, as she has been active on the Young Farmer and Promotion and Education committees, as well as Policy Development and Membership committees. She also serves on the county board. Outside of Farm Bureau, Miller is active in the county 4-H program, Michigan FFA Alumni Association and Ogemaw County Agriculture Society.
The Outstanding Young Farm Employee will be selected based on contribution to the farm operation, management skills and leadership in agriculture, knowledge of agricultural issues and involvement in community activities. The finalists include:
Carrie Lyons of Midland - Midland County - (517) 832-8532
Lyons, 30, and her husband, Dean, have three children - Jana, Mickayla and Jessica. She works as a herdsperson at Levar Farms, working with herd health, morning milking, calf care and employee management for the past four years. In addition, Lyons owns 35 head that she leases to Levar Farms. The herd size, currently at 220 head, is expanding to more than 500 cows. This will result in a new free-stall barn and parlor.
Lyons has served on the Promotion and Education Committee and county Farm Bureau board of directors. She is also involved with the county newsletter, acting as co-editor. She has attended the Young Farmer Leadership Conference, is involved with the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, and is a past 4-H and FFA member.
Michael Storey of Remus - Mecosta County - (517) 561-5183
Storey, 24, is married to Beth, and works for High Lean Pork Inc. The farm consists of 2,500 head, and Storey's responsibilities focus on manure management on the farm. He designed the farm's manure utilization plan, allowing for the farm to use the manure it produces more efficiently.
Storey has served on the county Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee and is a member of the county Groundwater Stewardship Program.
Sean Dagenhart of Lapeer - Lapeer County - (810) 245-3876
Dagenhart, 20, is a junior at St. Clair Community College, majoring in animal science and criminal justice. He is a certified horseshoer and plans to own his own horseshoeing business in the next few months. He is employed by Clayton Priesel and works on equipment maintenance and animal care.
Dagenhart has served on the Young Farmer and Promotion and Education committees, as well as the Policy Development Committee.
Todd Bosker of Ravenna - Muskegon County - (231) 853-2501
Bosker, 33, and his wife, Paula, have five children - Amanda, Garrett, Maria, Branden and Bryce. Bosker is employed at Tensenacre Dairy Farm, where he has worked for the past seven years. The farm is a 250-head dairy operation, with a rolling herd average of 24,500 pounds of milk annually. Bosker works as the farm manager and herdsman, working with herd health and feed rations.
Bosker has served as a delegate to the state annual meeting, attended the Lansing Legislative Seminar and assisted with Paula's responsibilities on the Promotion and Education Committee. | 
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Ionia County hog farmer Joe Marhofer testifited before the Senate agriculture commitee this week. Marhofer, whose farm expansion came under attack by the township, told a panel of state senators that something must be done to protect well-managed farms. He advocates passage of Senate Bill 205, which would remove Section 4 of the Michigan Right-to-Farm Act so township and county laws cannot supercede it, and passage of H.B. 4777.