YF&R Invitation the Start of Michigan Farm Bureau President’s Leadership Journey

By Cora Okkema

As the first Michigan Farm Bureau president who primarily grows specialty crops, Ben LaCross of Leelanau County attributes his rise in leadership to those who found a place for him in the organization. Along with his wife Kelsey, their three children — Keaton, Lauren and Cameron — and his parents, Ben grows cherries, apples and plums on the family farm.

Ben’s Farm Bureau journey began shortly after college when he was invited to serve on the state Young Farmer Committee, sparking a dedication to advocating for agriculture that would shape his entire career.

Ben fondly reminisced about the conversation he and his wife shared on their way home from his first state Young Farmer Committee meeting: “I had found my home. I had found a group of farmers who were as motivated as me to do good things in agriculture. That passion for Farm Bureau, our members and agriculture hasn't waned from that day.”

During his two-year term on the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, a position he was appointed to in 2010, Ben was elected chair from 2011-2012. The experience taught him how to lead peers he deeply respected and looked up to. He learned that leading highly motivated individuals requires finding ways to give them purpose in their service, a skill that served him well as a Michigan Farm Bureau district director and now as president, a position he was elected to in winter 2024. Ben was elected to serve on the American Farm Bureau Federation board of directors in January 2025.

Having experienced many of the milestones and challenges young farmers and ranchers face, like getting married, starting farms or ranches, and growing families, Ben understands the importance of inviting and listening to young voices. This cross-generational knowledge sharing builds community across different commodities and farming traditions.

Michigan Farm Bureau's programs, from Project RED to the Lansing Legislative Summit, offer opportunities for members at all levels. The networks and relationships created through this service strengthen agriculture while helping members learn to share their unique stories. Farm Bureau provides a foundation for sharing those stories and becoming a resource for others who lack direct agricultural connections.

The role of Michigan Farm Bureau president can seem mysterious to those not serving in executive positions. Ben is working to change that by staying present locally through listening sessions, visiting district meetings across the state and leveraging partnerships to create opportunities for more people to learn about and get involved in agriculture.

Remembering that his own start resulted from being invited to the table, Ben now gets to offer that same chance to others. As he looks toward the future of Michigan agriculture, his vision is clear: creating an environment where farmers can grow and prosper, solving problems they can't tackle alone and ensuring that every voice, whether from a cherry orchard, urban garden or a dairy barn, has a place at the Farm Bureau table. After all, as he learned nearly two decades ago in Lansing, finding your home in agriculture often begins with a simple invitation.

Cora Okkema serves on the AFBF YF&R Committee. She is the owner/operator of Okkema Cattle Company, a custom dairy heifer-raising business in Michigan. Cora is also a territory manager & calf specialist with Dairy Tech LLC.