By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
UNIONVILLE — For the first time in 14 years, there is new leadership at the top level of Michigan’s largest farm organization.
On Thursday, Carl Bednarski of Unionville was elected as the 16th president of Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB).
Bednarski, who is a Tuscola County bean, grain and sugar beet farmer, has been District 6 director on the MFB Board of Directors since 2000 and a longstanding member of the board’s executive committee.
Bednarski succeeds outgoing president Wayne H. Wood, a dairy farmer from Sanilac County.
“This organization is ever-changing, but we must remember this process must stay as pure as we can keep it,” Bednarski said, referring to Farm Bureau’s member-driven, grass-roots policy development procedure. “If we lose that direction, we’ve lost our effectiveness.”
Bednarski’s organizational involvement includes six years as vice president of the Tuscola County Farm Bureau and seven years on its executive committee. He has served in several leadership positions at the county, state and national levels, including the membership, national affairs, Promotion and Education and policy development programs, in addition to service on several commodity advisory committees.
Outside Farm Bureau, Bednarski is a past 4-H youth sugar beet program leader, past vice chair of the Michigan Farm Produce Insurance Fund Board, a founding member of the Michigan Sugar Cooperative, and has served on the Michigan Sugar Board of Directors for five years.
Bednarski’s election as president leaves a vacancy on the board of directors; his seat representing district 6 (Huron, Lapeer, Macomb, Sanilac, St. Clair and Tuscola counties) will be filled by a separate election within that district.
Bednarski and his wife Lisa live near Caro and have three sons, Carl, Nathan and Michael. Their family farm raises corn, dry beans, sugar beets, soybeans and wheat. He is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.