Baker Receives Young Farmer Award
Published: Friday, December 13, 2019
Four exemplary Young farmers were honored for their achievements Dec. 3 at Michigan Farm Bureau's 2019 annual meeting. First named during National Agriculture Week in March, this year's recipients of MFB's Young Farmer Awards were recognized one last time for their outstanding accomplishments in four award categories.
YOUNG FARMER ACHIEVEMENT—Rich Baker grew up on his family's hog, cattle and row crop farm in Sturgis. An active FFA and 4-H member, he was a national parliamentary procedure and agriculture issue contest finalist before taking over the family business in 2011.
Currently the sole owner and operator, Baker maximizes the profitability of more than 1,100 acres of irrigated seed corn, commercial corn, soybeans and alfalfa. He also manages a 3,000-head swine finishing facility and a 30-acre apple orchard and agritourism business.
Baker is responsible for all day-to-day facets of the operation, including employee management, input decisions, marketing and contracting, irrigation, recordkeeping and maximizing farm profitability. From custom spraying potatoes to seed corn detassling, custom planting and harvesting field crops to cider and doughnuts, he has utilized diversification strategies to improve his bottom line.
Rich and wife Cody live in St. Joseph County and have one daughter, Zoey.
He receives an expense-paid trip to the 2020 AFBF annual meeting in Austin, Texas, to compete in the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award national contest.
EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE—Joe Ankley grew up on his family's dairy and cash crop farm and was active in 4-H and FFA. He has applied his passions for those programs into his career as an agriscience educator and FFA advisor. He is responsible for creating curricula that reinforces topics in the areas of agriculture, food and natural resources and managing the school's experiential learning spaces including a greenhouse, livestock facility, floral shop and community produce garden.
As an FFA advisor, he is responsible for providing opportunities for his students to gain premier leadership, personal growth and career success.
Joe is a member of the Lapeer County Young Farmer group and assists with the local Project RED, (Rural Education Day) developing presentations led by high school students. He also helps coordinate numerous Agriculture in the Classroom activities at the local school.
Ankley lives in Port Austin and farms in Imlay City.
He will receive an expense paid trip to the 2020 AFBF annual meeting in Austin, Texas, to compete in the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award national contest.
YOUNG AGRICULTURE EMPLOYEE—Brenda Sisung is employed by an innovative, diversified and progressive farm raising corn, soybeans and wheat. The operation also includes a custom farming enterprise, Pioneer sales team and Encirca agent, retail crop protection, AgroLiquid retail partnership and Precision Planting sales and service.
Sisung serves as the lead Pioneer sales associate for the agency as well as managing the seed warehouse and on-demand soybean seed treatment system. She also plays an integral role in the marketing of the operation as well as its social media presence. Within her role in working with farmers, she understands the challenges many face with labor availability.
The St. Johns resident will receive an expense-paid trip to the 2020 AFBF Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference.
YOUNG AGRICULTURE LEADER—Jarris Rubingh is one of four generations working his family's 110-year-old dairy and crop farm near Ellsworth. On the dairy side, he focuses on butterfat and protein to increase the monthly milk check as well as overall profitability.
Rubingh currently serves as Antrim County Farm Bureau president and has a drive to continue to improve the organization, developing leaders in the next generation of farmers. He hopes to run for local township board in the coming years.
Jarris and wife Rebekah have five children: Jerusha, Jemima, Julia, Jethro and Jeduthun.
He will receive an expense-paid trip to the 2020 American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference.
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