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Byrum passes on MABA torch

Michigan Agri-Business Association President Jim Byrum has retired after leading the organization for the past 25 years.

He tells Brownfield the speed of communication and interest in entrepreneurship has increased but providing ag businesses a voice on critical issues will remain a top priority. “We do an awful lot of federal policy work that other state associations don’t do and that’s been to the benefit of Michigan agriculture. I look at things like the Specialty Crop Block Grant, the Regional Conservation Partnership Programs—we actually created those .”

Byrum says one of the most profound impacts he’s been part of has been to grow leadership potential within agriculture and prepare the next generation in the industry.

Chuck Lippstreu will now lead the association.  Lippstreu tells Brownfield he plans to continue building on the foundation that has been laid to support ag businesses in Michigan. “It is a time of incredible change and transition and uncertainty in our industry.  That means we have got to bring people together and come up with good, new ideas.”

He believes more will be done to quantify sustainability for end-users and capturing that information throughout the supply chain will positively impact how modern agriculture is received.

Brownfield interview with Jim Byrum
Brownfield interview with Chuck Lippstreu

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