Escanaba, MI – October 27, 2015 – Last night was the 46th Annual Meeting of the Hiawathaland County Farm Bureau at Escanaba’s Terrace Bay Inn.
The Hiawathaland County Farm Bureau represents four counties: Schoolcraft, Delta, Alger, and Marquette. About 100 people from these counties gathered for dinner and a business discussion. The group has total assets right now of $63,476.
A new board was elected and numerous resolutions were passed. The new president of the organization is Dan Bahrman of Alger County. Both Dan and his brother Dave are key members affecting state decisions on farming.
Resolutions were passed so that the State Board can review county by county grass roots concerns, then discuss and enact resolutions for the State of Michigan in December at their annual convention in Grand Rapids.
These resolutions reaffirmed the U.P. State Fair and the Miracle of Life exhibit, focused on renewable energies (including wind energy), focused on encouraging utility companies to bear their responsibilities when developing land, as well as two resolutions on invasive species including the Land Crane.
Farm Bureau is an organization that educates young people and helps protect the rights of the land in the State of Michigan.
Member Jim Dalgond (906-644-2107) brought up a new problem created by the Delta County Board last week for Delta County landowners including those in the Garden Peninsula. There are a dozen or so large white windmills on the end of the peninsula and the commissioners apparently don’t want any more. They created a 1,640′ setback from the edge of a landowner’s property to locate any more windmills. Apparently attorneys and county officials surveyed remaining land in Delta County and found the perfect setback number to shut down new windmill projects. Jim Dalgond, who has 320 acres is no longer allowed to locate a windmill on his eight 40’s and feels his local land rights have been stripped from him by the Delta County commissioners.
There were also five agents from Farm Bureau Insurance who help insure the lands and property of farmers, hobby farmers, and landowners across the Upper Peninsula.
On a side note, I, Todd Noordyk, was elected to the board. The board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month in Rapid River at 7 pm. I’d like to use my 14 radio stations to ask everyone across the four counties who owns a 40 to join Farm Bureau. Landowners should step up and make sure their rights and the right to farm is protected. If you have 40 acres or more, join the Hiawathaland Farm Bureau.
To join, contact me at 906-361-3325; or in Escanaba call Shanon Zawacki at 906-789-9373.
