We at MDA are proud of our daily efforts to ensure a safe, wholesome food supply, to protect the environment and the health of animals and plants, and to ensure a viable agriculture economy in our state. We take our responsibilities for consumer protection and homeland security very seriously. In addition to our regular duties on behalf of the people of the state of Michigan, the accomplishments that we are most proud of are those that reflect our dedication to improving our communities, one act of goodwill at a time.

MDA employees and their families are active in their communities and strive to make a difference in the lives of others. We work as a team on many projects, to improve the lives of children and families in our hometowns and across the state. Below are just a few examples of MDA's giving spirit:

Walnut Street School Adoption

Walnut Street School, located just a few blocks from MDA's downtown Lansing office, was "adopted" by MDA employees about eight years ago. Since that time, MDA employees have enjoyed bringing agriculture-related activities to this urban elementary school. Activities have included MDA-guided field trips to sheep, dairy and horse farms, and draft horse shows. Employees also taught students how to plant and care for a young tree, then helped plant the tree in front of the school as a symbol of our unique partnership. In addition to the agriculture-related activities, employees have mentored students one-on-one, and volunteered at the school, reading to classrooms and tutoring students in an after-school computer lab.

Fundraising is an important part of our relationship with the school. Employees have raised funds to pay for computer equipment and library books, and to cover field trip expenses and other department-sponsored activities. Employees also provide turkeys for the school's annual Thanksgiving feast and help serve the food to students and staff. The two major fundraisers of the year are a Holiday Auction during the department's Holiday Party in December and a Valentine's Day flower sale in February.

Understanding that the health and welfare of Walnut families is key to the students' classroom success, MDA employees sponsor families from the school each year as a part of Operation Santa, purchasing toys, clothing, food and toiletry items for families who need extra help during the holidays. Employees also collect donated mittens, hats and gloves each winter, and save Campbell's soup labels year-round as a part of the school's Labels for Education fundraiser.

The rewards of this special partnership with Walnut Street School are many—from hand-drawn thank you notes, to the knowledge that these urban children have learned a little about where their food comes from or how farmers care for their animals. The students also visit MDA each December to sing holiday songs and express their thanks. All in all, the warm feelings are abundant!

[Editor's Note: Walnut School closed its doors at the end of 2005 due to a lack of enrollment.]

Michigan Harvest Gathering

This annual food drive and fundraiser for the Food Bank Council of Michigan, and ultimately hungry families in Michigan, began in 1991, and MDA has been there from the start. The Honorable Bill Schuette, who sits on Michigan's Court of Appeals, spearheaded the original food and fund drive when he was MDA's director. He, his wife Cynthia, and current MDA Director Dan Wyant continue to play a big role in the annual effort.

MDA employees work closely with the Food Bank Council of Michigan to coordinate efforts to collect donations from State of Michigan employees. Activities coordinated for this year's state employee drive included a kick-off concert at the Michigan State Capitol, a food drive at the MSU/Penn State game, a food drive at every state office building across the state, and a reception to honor the large sponsors of this year's effort.

The 2003 Michigan Harvest Gathering effort netted $280,039 and 486,699 pounds of food. State employees' 2003 contributions totaled $18,821 and 80,942 pounds of food. Efforts of MDA employees and other state departments in Michigan helped put food on the tables of thousands throughout Michigan.

Agriculture in the Classroom and Mentoring Opportunities

MDA employees regularly visit urban schools to bring agriculture encounters and knowledge into the classroom. Working with Michigan Farm Bureau, MSU Extension and local farmers, we strive to connect agriculture leaders and resources to urban classrooms. MDA employees have taken live calves and lambs into the classroom, and helped with lessons on food safety, Michigan's dairy industry from farm to table, soil types, and the importance of seeds as feed and food sources. MDA staff also serves as FFA mentors, working one-on-one with tomorrow's agriculture industry leaders.

Michigan State Fair Youth Livestock Auction and the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund

Thanks to a rejuvenated partnership among Michigan agriculture, Michigan businesses, Michigan Farm Bureau and the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the Michigan State Fair Youth Livestock Auction and Governor's Luncheon has grossed more than $1.2 million for Michigan youth in agriculture over the past eight years. The success of this auction led to the creation of the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund (MYLSF). Since 1999, the MYLSF has awarded more than $96,000 in scholarships and educational awards to more than 400 exhibitors at the Michigan State Fair.

Since 1997, MDA employees have donated more than $20,000 for Michigan youth in agriculture and the Food Bank Council of Michigan through friendly and generous in-house competitions. In 2003, MDA employees raised $4,467 (a record) through the "Wooly Bully" division competition, in which each division decorated a toy stuffed lamb, and competed for "Best of Show." These were later auctioned to the highest bidder. Divisions also held fundraisers to see who could raise the most money.

At the 2003 Michigan State Fair, MDA employees purchased three "spotlight" market lambs exhibited by Renee Smith of Remus, for $1,000; Amanda Dixon of Columbiaville, for $1,000; and Ashleigh Sonnenberg of Lambertville, for $1,000. MDA employees purchased a market lamb from Samantha Savage, of Bark River, and Shastina Holombo, of Chassel, at the Upper Peninsula State Fair for $485 combined. Proceeds from the market value of the lambs were donated to the Food Bank Council of Michigan.

Gene Thompson Memorial Golf Outing

This annual golf outing and fundraiser is held each summer to honor the memory of an MDA employee who died of cancer. Gene loved his job as a regional manager at MDA, and his sense of humor and zest for life, even through his battle with cancer, continue to inspire MDA employees.

Proceeds from the Gene "Turkey" Thompson golf scramble are put in trust to cover the educational award presented to the sweepstakes winners at the Michigan State Fair and the UP State Fair each year. The sweepstakes award is given to the exhibitor who scores highest in a round-robin showmanship competition between various livestock. In 2003, Jacob Patterson and Stacey Rye won the sweepstakes awards at the Michigan State Fair and UP State Fair, respectively.