The election of the first Michigan Farm Bureau president who grows cherries — and happens to be from Leelanau County — is being hailed by industry leaders.
Ben LaCross, a Glen Lake grad who earned a degree in business from Central Michigan University, returned from college to help run the family farm in Centerville Township. As a Farm Bureau district representative, he’s served 13 years representing eight counties.
“Ben understands the industry,” said Curtis Rowley, a cherry grower from Utah and president of the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB). “And he’s worked in the industry. I believe his understanding of what we’re going through will roll over to other farming groups. That will help the Farm Bureau, and keep cherries at the front.
“I think it’s great.” The cherry industry has been in a funk for several years, leading some growers to pull orchards due to low commodity prices, high input costs, weather abnormalities and insect pests.
The Michigan Farm Bureau is the largest agricultural organization and lobbying group in the state, and its umbrella operation, the American Farm Bureau, holds the same distinctions on a national level.
LaCross has a full calendar ahead of him.
“I think it would be considered a fulltime job,” LaCross said. “The phone calls, texts and emails have been a lot already.
It’s a big transition but a job I’m proud to do on behalf of all farmers.”
He’ll have support. Ben and Kelsey LaCross, who farm 850 acres of mostly cherries with his parents, Glenn and Judy, have two sons, Keaton and Cameron, and a daughter, Lauren. They are members of St. Mary Church.
“It’s going to be an exciting year. I’ve got a great family network. My wife is excited about this position, She knows the impact of Farm Bureau on agriculture,” LaCross said.
Mark Miezio, president of Cherry Bay Orchards and a CIAB member, welcomes the thought of the cherry industry having more clout in Lansing and Washington.
“We’re very excited for cherries. I think the other thing is that the state of Michigan is the second most diverse state for agriculture, second only to California. I think the specialty crops of Michigan, our diversity, will be highlighted by Ben,” Miezio said.
LaCross’ election, which drew support from county delegates across the state, continues a resurgence in cherry industry leadership from Leelanau County. For a short time, the county did not have a representative on cherry industry-related organizations. Now Miezio’s wife, Emily, is chairwoman of the Cherry Marketing Institute and treasurer of the Michigan Cherry Committee. Mark holds a seat on the CIAB, and joins Suttons Bay Township resident Jim Nugent on the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission.
Miezio noted that two of three farmers nominated for Michigan Farm Bureau president were cherry growers.
“That really speaks to the leadership the cherry industry is developing. The industry is going through a significant amount of change. People are stepping up. We had a leadership lag for a little while,” he said.
LaCross’ presidency may last awhile, judging by history. He sought the office ten years ago, when Tuscola County sugar beat farmer and outgoing president Carl Bednarski was elected. LaCross stood down for a decade until Bednarski chose not to seek another term. The two previous farm Bureau presidents each served 14 years.
The member-based organization has had 17 presidents since formed in 1909 to lobby against a state law that taxed properties adjacent to rights-of-way to fund road construction. Soon after a gas tax was enacted.
The Michigan Farm Bureau may be best-known to non-farers for its insurance subsidiary, the eighth largest car insurer in the state.
“We call it the Farm Bureau family of companies. The Board of Directors that operates Farm Bureau also operates the insurance company… It’s not an organization that makes decisions on the state level. We are a true grass roots organization that has a presence in pretty much every county in the state of Michigan,” LaCross said.
Leelanau County is part of the Northwest Michigan Farm Bureau, whose board members include Jeff Aprill of Elmwood Township and Casey Noonan of Kasson Township.
LaCross will represent farmers near and far.
“Cherry farmers can know that I’m someone who has had the same struggles they have while I’m representing them as their voice in Lansing. The fruit industry is near and dear to my heart, and I’m always going to draw on my own experiences to help farmers face their challenges, and eventually overcome them,” he said.
Agriculture is hurting across the country, he continued, as commodity prices soften and foreign competition strengthens.
Fresh fruit and vegetable farms are representative of longrange trends hitting farm communities. Thirty years ago, America imported 14% of its fresh fruit and veggies; today it’s 50%. And if the trend continues imports will reach 70% in 2040.
“Farming is in a challenging place right now. Across the board, prices are low and inputs are high. Couple that with high interest rates, and it’s challenging. But it’s ingrained in our nature to plant something in the spring and harvest in the fall, which makes farmers eternal optimists. That’s why I like to represent farmers,” LaCross said.
