Sandra Hill, 68, a leader in Michigan's agriculture and legislative communities, passed away Saturday, June 18, 2005, at her home in Montrose, Michigan, after a short illness. She was a former Michigan State Representative, and served as the commodity coordinator for the Michigan Department of Agriculture's (MDA) Agriculture Development Division, since January 1999.

"The agriculture industry has lost a true leader and friend," said MDA Director Dan Wyant. "Sandy was a life-long advocate for agriculture and rural communities in our state. Her tireless dedication to promoting Michigan's agriculture industry, especially in the areas of agricultural tourism and value-added agriculture products, will be missed. Our thoughts go out to her family at this extremely difficult time."

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 23, at Montrose United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 21, 6-9 p.m., and Wednesday, June 22, 12-9 p.m., at the O'Guinn Family Funeral Home, 239 E. Hickory Street, Montrose. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Montrose United Methodist Church Operational Fund or the newly formed Sandy Hill Scholarship for the Student Statesmanship Institute.

Hill served two terms as a Michigan State Representative from January 1993 to December 1996, representing the citizens of the 47th State House District in Genesee County. During her time as a State Representative, Hill chaired the Housing and Urban Affairs House Committee and was Majority Vice-chair of the Conservation and Natural Resources House Committee. She authored the Tourist Oriented Directional Signage (TODS) legislation, and the bill directing 6 percent of tobacco tax increase monies to the Healthy Michigan Fund.

Hill joined MDA in January 1997, and served as commodity coordinator, representing the MDA Director with program and fiscal oversight for Michigan's legislatively established commodity organizations. She also served as liaison for various agriculture and agri-tourism industry groups.

Before entering public service, Hill was co-owner of Montrose Orchards with her husband, Donald M. Hill, from 1960 to 1995. The family farm is still in operation under the direction of Sandy and Don's son, Dan Hill, with over 200 acres of diversified fruit production. Sandy's influence and dedication to agri-tourism is evident at the farm's large year-round farm market and bakery. 

Hill was active in many local, district and conference boards, a 50-year member of the Montrose United Methodist Church, former member of the Michigan Agriculture Marketing & Bargaining Board, past-president of the Genesee County Farm Bureau, and former State vice-chair of the Women for the Survival of Agriculture in Michigan.

"Those of us in agriculture have lost not only a true friend, but a great champion of our inudstry," said Jody E. Pollok, Executive Director, Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and Michigan Corn Growers Association. "Sandy Hill was one of those people who touched your life in so many ways, it is impossible to say how many times we will think of her and miss her. Sandy was a person of impeccable character that always found the time to help no matter how busy she was administering the oversight of all the commodity groups. She was a very devoted woman to her family and the orchard, agriculture and her church."