December 27, 2004 - Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Dan Wyant today announced that Lansing resident Jeff G. Haarer was recently selected as the MDA 2004 Employee of the Year. This prestigious award, the highest the department bestows, was presented to Haarer at MDA’s annual Employee Recognition Ceremony, where employees are recognized for exemplary accomplishments, unique projects and years of service.

“The Michigan Department of Agriculture is proud to recognize such an outstanding employee as Jeff Haarer,” said Wyant. “His commitment to serving the department, the agriculture industry and the people of Michigan is evident in all he does, and this year especially, Jeff stepped up and assumed the responsibility of many complex projects on behalf of the department.”

Dan Wyant (left) recognizes MDA employee
 Jeff Haarer as Employee of the Year.

Haarer was recognized for his many accomplishments of the past few years. Most notably, he was instrumental in developing the Michigan Farm Produce Insurance Program that protects farmers in the event of a grain dealer’s financial failure. Haarer also played a leadership role on the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Warehouse Working Group, assisting in resolving the preemptive issue involving state-federal grain warehouse regulations. He is president of the Association of American Warehouse Control Officials (NASDA affiliate).

Haarer has served as a compliance officer and manager of the Producer Security Services Section for the Michigan Department of Agriculture since 1998. The section is responsible for the licensing, auditing and enforcement functions of the Michigan Grain Dealers Act (PA 141 of 1939). Haarer also serves as the department specialist for development and enforcement of producer security regulations and as the administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Bargaining Board. He also serves as a hearing officer for the department.

Prior to joining MDA, Haarer was a financial analyst and auditor with the Michigan Insurance Bureau. He holds a bachelor’s degree in personnel administration from Michigan State University and a juris doctorate degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Haarer is a licensed attorney with the State Bar of Michigan and a Certified Public Accountant. 

Haarer recently returned from a three-week trip to the Ukraine, where he served as a volunteer consultant to the Grain Warehouse Receipt Project as part of the Agricultural Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA) program. While there, he helped develop and review a certification and inspection process for grain and assisted in the drafting of legal language for the creation of an indemnity fund.

Wyant praised Haarer as a true believer of youth mentoring and role modeling. He is administrator of the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund; treasurer of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Lansing; and a board member of the Thomas M. Cooley Alumni Association.

Haarer and his wife, Michelle, have two children and reside in Lansing.