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Under Amanda Kutchey’s leadership, Macomb County Farm Bureau's member involvement has increased.

October 31, 2019

3 Min Read
Farmland, red barn and horses in field
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Macomb County Farm Bureau President Amanda Kutchey is Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2019 Presidential Volunteer of the Year.

Macomb County Farm Bureau President Amanda Kutchey has been named Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2019 Presidential Volunteer of the Year for her active involvement and leadership of local and state Farm Bureau activities.

In making the announcement, MFB President Carl Bednarski said the success of the grassroots farm organization, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2019, depends on committed and dedicated volunteer leaders.

“Amanda epitomizes the volunteers who have built and sustained the state’s largest general farm organization over the last 100 years,” Bednarski said. “She has exhibited a commitment to Michigan agriculture through her volunteer efforts and is instrumental to the success of the Macomb County Farm Bureau, as well as playing a significant volunteer role at the state level.”

To be considered for the MFB Presidential Volunteer of the Year recognition, members first must be nominated at the county level. In nominating Kutchey, the Macomb County Farm Bureau said she “always finds time to volunteer and make a difference every day as a Farm Bureau member.”

Under Kutchey’s leadership, Macomb County Farm Bureau has seen a continued increase in membership involvement and engagement thanks to her direct and personal connections with members through phone calls, visits, texts and emails.

She’s also assisted in creating new membership events and programming, including farm safety and emergency preparedness training, and Project Rural Education Days, a program designed to promote agricultural awareness to the nonfarm community.

Growing up in a Farm Bureau family, Kutchey began attending events at an early age with her parents, helping work programs and sitting through meetings.

She always knew she wanted to be involved.

“However, once I was old enough to get involved on my own, I understood why my parents picked Farm Bureau,” Kutchey said. “Through my volunteer efforts, [Farm Bureau] helps me reach my urban neighbors by helping them understand where their food comes from. It also helps us create policy to help legislators understand how their policies impact every one of our farms across the state.”

Kutchey recently served as co-chair of MFB’s 13-member Statewide Study Committee, which was tasked with conducting a wholistic review of the organization’s structure, programs and services. Those networking opportunities with volunteer members across the state have been the most rewarding, she said.

“Others may not grow or raise the same products as you, but they understand the trials and frustrations that can happen in any given season,” Kutchey added. “It allows for sharing ideas, successes and failures with each other while continuing to move forward to preserve the agricultural footprint in our state.”  

Kutchey will receive her Volunteer of the Year award at the 100th Michigan Farm Bureau Presidents Lunch on Dec. 3 at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Mich.

“I’m truly honored to be selected to receive this award — Michigan Farm Bureau is full of so many deserving volunteers who put their time and energy into this organization,” Kutchey said.

Source: Michigan Farm Bureau, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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