and State Young Farmer Chair Paul Pridgeon. | Michigan Farm Bureau photoS
The Young Farmer Discussion Meet during Michigan Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting is one of the event’s many highlights.
This year’s winner is Sarah Zastrow, owner and founder of Cultivate Balance in Midland County.
“It’s a little bit surreal, but it’s an awesome moment because we came together for some awesome conversations and brainstorming great ideas and great places to go from here that will not only help members, but also Michigan agriculture as a whole,” says Zastrow.
Zastrow’s background is in mental health and helping farmers manage stress. That was a topic in the final rounds, which came naturally. However, she expanded her knowledge on the other two topics: transitioning to “Green Energy” practices and livestock processing through the pandemic.
“We don’t raise beef or anything like that, so I was nervous about that topic because you don’t know what you don’t know,” she says. “I made a couple of phone calls and figured out some of the intricacies in the issues those beef producers are facing. That was probably the most helpful thing I did to prepare.”
As a state winner, Zastrow won a $2,000 cash prize and has the opportunity to represent Michigan at the American Farm Bureau Discussion Meet this January in Atlanta.
