Agricultural classroom on wheels unveiled at Michigan Farm Bureau gathering

Donations from 26 county farm bureaus throughout Michigan were credited with helping transform the dream of an agricultural classroom on wheels into reality at the recent 97th Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) State Annual Meeting in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids.

“The FARM Science Lab is really the first big fund-raising project of the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture," Michigan Foundation for Agriculture Director Deb Schmucker said. “Through this project, we have been able to create more of an identity for the foundation and help people understand it’s about education and leadership development.."

“It is just one of many projects, Schmucker said. ``But it has created some high visibility, and that’s a big deal, too.”

Funding for the highly anticipated project surpassed $700,000, she said, including donations of more than $50,000 each from Kent and Oakland counties.

“I’ve really got to give a lot of gratitude to our state committee members,” MFB Promotion and Education Department Manager Tonia Ritter said. “A number of them went to county board meetings where counties were asking for more information. They really owned the project. As the counties got on board that gave us a platform to go to other sponsors and say, `Our members are behind this. Our members are your members. We’d like to see your support.'"