I'd like to introduce myself as your new McHenry County Farm Bureau board President. I'm honored to have been elected to this position and I'm looking forward to an exciting and challenging year ahead.
After six years as serving as our President, Bruce Meier, has rotated off the board due to tenure. Last year I served as Vice President under Bruce and hope to have learned from his fine example. I will strive to maintain the same effective leadership.
One of my goals for the upcoming year is to not only increase membership, but achieve more participation from our current members. We have a number of active committees that are always looking for interested individuals. Our Ag in the Classroom program already has a year worth of activities planned and offers a variety of rewarding opportunities for volunteering. If you haven't taken part in the past, I would urge you to consider doing so.
A little about me: I live on a farm north of Woodstock and work with my husband, Gary. Gary's family has farmed in McHenry County since the 1840's. We raise corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, and hay, and also have a commercial cow-calf operation. I market our beef through local farmers markets. I have one son, Grant, who is studying agriculture at UW-Platteville. I serve on the Greenwood Cemetery Association board as Secretary, and the Woodstock Farmers Market board as President. I'm a former two-term Trustee for the Village of Greenwood, and was also a 4-H club leader for a number of years. I graduated from M.C.C. with an A.S. degree. I'm currently running for a position on the McHenry County Board, District 6. We'll see what happens on November 6!
I'm passionate about agriculture, and feel strongly about communicating our story to the non-farm public. In addition to talking with anyone who'll have a conversation with me (whether it be at the farmers market, in line at the grocery store, or anywhere the subject comes up), I've also been using social media and blogging to advocate for agriculture. You can find me and our farm (Willow Lea Stock Farm), on facebook.
I hope I get to know many of you this coming year, and I look forward to your participation in continuing to make this organization great!
Michele Aavang
