To begin the conference, MFB offered a variety of tour groups that visited locations around the area. Members got first-hand looks behind the scenes at local nurseries, dairies, farm research facilities, and breweries. Others had a more interactive experience, taking a farm safety workshop where they learned to dress wounds and witnessed a skid steer rollover rescue demonstration. My husband, Collin, and I had the opportunity to volunteer at Kids’ Food Basket, a school-aged children’s food organization that packages to-go dinners for students at over 61 schools in West Michigan.

Emilee Manning, of Alpena, toured Robinette’s Apple House and Winery.

“It was neat to see behind the scenes of an apple farm instead of only what a customer sees at an orchard when they go,” Manning said. “We got to see the sorting table where workers hand-sort apples either to be sold or used for cider or baking purposes. Apples that are small in size, or have cosmetic imperfections, are used for cider, and the more visually perfect apples are sold whole. They also have two donut fryers. The smaller one is used during their slower seasons, and their large one during their busy season (fall). The small one fries roughly 50 dozen an hour and the large one roughly 200 dozen an hour. They brew their own hard cider in house, and sell their hard ciders, wines, and regular ciders on-site, as well as baked goods, fruit jams and jellies, candies, and apples.”

The event featured two keynote speakers.

Courtesy Photo Participants are seen packing children’s dinner at the Kids’ Food Basket of Muskegon this past weekend during the 2025 Michigan Farm Bureau Growing Together Conference.

Chris Koch spoke on the message of “If I can.” Despite being born without arms and legs, Koch grew up like any other small-town kid playing road hockey, causing mischief at school, and helping on his family farm. Neither he nor his family treated his disability like a tragedy, and instead used it to fuel his dreams. An avid traveler, marathoner, and farmer, his presentation reflects his full life. Simply put, Koch asks, “If I can do what I’ve done so far in my life, what’s stopping others from doing the same?” He encourages people to take control of their circumstances instead of letting them define their fate.

Dr. Trey Malone, Boehlje Endowed Chair for Managerial Economics in Agribusiness at Purdue University, explored the future of Michigan farming. With insights backed by over 60 published research articles and funding from organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Dr. Malone helped uncover the big challenges to producers. He encouraged us to look at uncertainty as unavoidable and to identify what we can and can’t control in our businesses. Farmers need to be adaptable in the ever-changing marketplace of parts shortages, climate change, and governmental policy.

Smaller breakout sessions throughout the day included topics such as:

¯ Celebrating your farm’s legacy

¯ Managing stress on the farm

Bryanna Beyer

¯ Breaking down your farm’s emergency plan

¯ Tackling hunger in your communities

¯ Row crop monitoring

¯ And many more!

Josh Aube, of Ossineke, represents Alpena County and the rest of District 10 on the State Young Farmer Committee.

“One of the greatest benefits of being a Farm Bureau member is the connections that you make with like-minded peers and allies all over the state,” Aube said. “The more you get involved in the organization — and the longer you stay involved — the bigger that network gets. Some are business contacts, some become lifelong friends. Either way, it’s invaluable.”

This event is a highlight of our winter farm activities. We have attended the past five years and each time we have taken home a new skill or practice to bring back to business. Forging new relationships with others in the industry is what it’s all about. We truly are “growing together.”

Bryanna Beyer is a local farmer with a passion for educating others about agriculture. She and her husband Collin operate Beyer Farms in Alpena. To reach her, email beyer_farms@outlook.com. These agricultural columns written by local farmers appear on the Lifestyles page each Monday. Look for next week’s column on farm safety plans.