Regional Representatives

This position begins in 2026.  Applications are open for Regional Representative positions. Apply through the form linked here.

Contact:

James' specific areas of interest include sustainable agriculture, soil health and fertility, integrated pest management and human dimensions of agricultural systems. 

Contact James: James DeDecker (msu.edu)

Kate is a Traverse City native who moved back to the area 8 years ago after stints in Virginia, Washington, California, and Vermont. She has worked on small farms for friends and family as well as gardening and raising chickens with her own family of five. Kate works as an environmental engineer, focusing on water quality, green infrastructure, and stream restoration. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, biking, paddling, and swimming in beautiful northern Michigan. She is passionate about helping folks find the right opportunities and making new connections.

Contact: kbaileynielsen@gmail.com

My name is Susan Schwager and I am the board chair for the Missaukee Conservation District, since 2018. I serve as the MACD Vice Chair of Region 4. I grew up on a farm in the UP, and am working with a niece on regenerative agriculture practices there. I’m a happily retired bank officer, having worked with many aspects of business in my community and beyond.  I lived for 20 years on a farm with bees, grass-fed beef, a sawmill, making maple syrup, and hosting a music festival. My home is on a small lake in central lower Michigan, and I’m happy to be in the heart of our water winter wonderland. Nature, the environment and conservation are my passion, and I’m excited to connect farming landowners with eager new farmers.

Contact: susanna.schwager@gmail.com

This position begins in 2026.  Applications are open for Regional Representative positions. Apply through the form linked here.

Contact: 

Paul recently retired after a 30-plus-year career as an Educator with Michigan State University Extension, where he specialized in Field Crops, Cover Crops, Water Quality, and Soil Health. His dedication to sustainable agriculture and improving farming practices made a significant impact on the communities he served. Following his retirement, Paul continues to share his expertise as an Adjunct Faculty member in Agriculture at Mid-Michigan College. He is passionate about supporting small and beginning farmers, focusing on their success in production, business development, and land access. He is staying busy serving on the Michigan Farmers Union board.

Contact Paul: grossp@msu.edu 

Becky Huttenga grew up as a 4‑H kid on a Spring Lake hobby farm, which explains a lot about why she now happily spends her days wrangling farmland protection, agriculture advocacy, and economic development for Ottawa County. A proud Spartan with a degree (and then some) in Animal Science, Becky has tried on more careers than most people try on shoes—from Purina nutrition sales to restaurant management to hosting not one but two radio shows. She’s the founder of Michigan’s first statewide land‑linking platform, MiFarmLink.org, and was named one of MLive’s Women Who Shape the State, which she swears she didn’t nominate herself for. When she’s off the clock, you’ll find her volunteering around Grand Haven, fostering rescue puppies, cheering loudly for MSU basketball, or buried in a book pretending she doesn’t hear her phone.

Contact Becky: Staff - Ottawa County, Michigan (miottawa.org)

Mark is a first generation farmer who owns and operates a registered Angus cow-calf farm with his wife Jamie in southern Michigan. Starting with two cows as an FFA project in high school, Mark grew the farm to 80 head of cattle, now offering both freezer beef and seed-stock replacements born and raised on the farm. They also operate a custom haying operation, attend farmers markets where they sell beef and chicken, and run a small IT consulting and install business for networking infrastructure. Mark attended Michigan State University, where he earned a Bachelor's in Animal Science, and then served as a program coordinator for the university's Agricultural Technology Program. It was there that he developed a passion for guiding youth in becoming involved in agriculture. He also worked in research assisting with surgeries and the commercial poultry industry before becoming a full time farmer. Mark has been a member of his county Farm Bureau board since 2017 and currently serves as young farmer chair and an executive member. Additionally, he has enjoyed traveling the country learning more about agriculture, meeting other young farmers, and advocating on behalf of Michigan farmers both locally and in Washington D.C. 

Contact: mark@trowbridgefarm.com

Terri Bell is the caretaker of Bell Family Homestead, a small, free-range, animal-friendly farmette on her family’s 4th-generation Centennial Farm near Saginaw Bay. She serves on the Michigan Centennial Farm Association Advisory Board and helps families with PA 116 farmland preservation, historical documentation, genealogy, and farm storytelling. Terri is passionate about heritage breeds, native plants, wildlife habitat, and supporting small family farms. Her favorite thing to do is help others live the small-farm American dream, guided by a deep belief in the healing power of nature and the human-animal bond.

Contact: terrilynneden@gmail.com 

Allegra Baird works with MIFarmLink alongside her role as a Conservation Specialist at the Lenawee Conservation District. With a background in ecosystem science, agroecology, and organic farming, she enjoys helping farmers connect with land, resources, and practical tools that support healthy soils and strong farm businesses. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Allegra is passionate about working one-on-one with producers to find solutions that make sense for their operations and keep family farms growing for generations to come.

Contact Allegra:  allegra.baird@macd.org