At their Oct. 14 meeting, the Township Board interviewed and chose seven Peninsula Township residents and two alternates to serve on an Agricultural Advisory Committee.
The purpose of the committee is to provide input on issues facing production agriculture within Peninsula Township. Terms are three years, and the committee will meet a minimum of six times per year. All residents of the township are invited to attend the meetings; see the Township website for upcoming meetings. (I believe they’ll be in the “Documents” section; I’ll keep you posted on their specific location.)
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Non-voting members of the committee include Jenn Cram, Planning and Zoning Director; Kevin Beard, a member of the Planning Commission (PC); and a member of the Township Board (TB), to be determined. The role of the PC and TB liaisons is to report back to the PC and TB, and to provide input on pending township projects.
Meetings will be broadcast via the Township’s YouTube channel, and minutes will be taken. A chair, vice chair and secretary will be selected at the first regularly scheduled meeting (not yet scheduled). Bylaws will be drafted and adopted consistent with other Township boards and committees.
Here are the seven agricultural advisory committee members and the two alternates. Read more about their background in the meeting packet here.
Agricultural Advisory Committee Members:
Jennifer Bramer, co-owner of Local Yokels Farm, encompassing 366 acres of land on the OMP, including 302 acres of wine grapes managed for local wineries and land owners; and 64 acres of fruits and vegetables for sale at their farm market.
“I think it is wrong to assume that residents don’t want expanded agricultural uses, as evidenced by the growth of our farm market operation and others. For example, I hear every day from citizens how happy they are to have access to the local produce that our farm supplies them.”
Dave Edmondson, continuing the tradition of farming that his family began in 1886; he now grows stone fruit, apples, berries and pumpkins on 240 acres.
“My farm operation is affected by the inconsistency that has marked the administration of township ordinances. I suggest that my operation would be more viable if the township allowed landowners to have the freedom to make decisions that are in their best interest as businessmen or women.”
Raul Gomez, co-owner of a 160-acre farm growing high-density fresh cherries; serves as the operations manager for Wunsch Farms, managing their 320-acre farm of cherries and apples, as well as 800+ acres of neighboring farms.
“The greatest threats to family farming on Old Mission Peninsula include the increasing impacts of climate change, which disrupt growing seasons and crop yields, as well as market volatility, which makes it challenging to maintain profitability. Additionally, there’s growing uncertainty about the next generation’s interest in farming, as many families question the long-term sustainability of the industry.”
Erin Hafeli, owner of Lightwell Lavender Farm, a 10-acre operation producing lavender for essential oil and hydrosol, among other things.
“Township ordinances, particularly those that restrict subordinate uses to active agricultural production, hinder the viability of farms; however, the single most impactful change would be the right to off-premises signage for agricultural land. Located down a blind, dead-end dirt road, I have sought signage rights for my lavender farm on several occasions, including obtaining a lease from an adjacent landowner and going through the special use permit amendment process to secure lawful signage rights. That signage request was again rejected by the Planning Commission.”
Nancy Heller, grows several varieties of apples and cherries, hay, and a large truck garden on 63.94 acres of land.
“My farm operation is being affected by Township ordinances through overregulation and the inability to diversify. The township could make my operation more viable by creating fewer complex ordinances that hit a midground. Better community relations would also be helpful. It would help farmers to have the ability to sell value added products.”
John Kroupa, a sixth-generation farmer operating Peninsula Cellars Winery and Kroupa Farms, encompassing 300+ acres of cherries, grapes, apples and plums.
“Township ordinances need to be more flexible to allow farm operators to be creative in making their businesses successful. A specific example of a change that would help any farm be more viable would be allowing farm space rentals. Allowing a gathering, of any type, that could generate income to the farm operator for allowing people to come onto the farm would help the farm be more profitable. Examples would be weddings, reunions, birthday parties, etc.”
Jed Hemming, OMP farmer who recently removed 100 acres of fruit trees.
“The uncertainty of what agriculture is and how it will be defined by non-farm residents creates uncertainty in deciding what future crops are viable. Local direct market is limited volume and will not support 300+ acres. Expanded local marketing, ag tourism, and product related sales seem to be unpopular with non-ag residents. This limits the commercial viability of specialty, direct market crops.”
Alternates:
Lew Seibold, retired from active cherry farming; helps his daughter and son-in-law in their enterprise of growing cut flowers and blueberries at Peninsula Petals. The farm is 75 acres with about 30 acres tillable in active production, fallow or cover crop rotation.
Regarding agritourism, “Modes of transportation is the biggest issue on OMP. There is an increasing need for pedestrian, bicycle, car and truck traffic to be safely integrated together, including agricultural equipment and transport. At the same time, residents, guests and visitors should be welcomed with hospitality and with an environment that is not compromised by incompatible uses, crowding and a lower quality of life for everyone.”
Chris Baldyga, Owner/General Manager of 2 Lads Winery; President of the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (WOMP); owner of two farms on the OMP totaling 66 acres, with 31 acres of active ag, growing grapes and chestnuts.
“Generally speaking, we need a better use-by-right Ag Ordinance allowing value-added operators more flexibility to grow, process, and sell their products directly from their farms, offer farm experiences, and be allowed all the associated and appropriate activities with that use.”
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