The full value of farm jobs and farm life is coming to the attention of economic developers. Profitable farms not only provide agriculture jobs, they support a wide variety of local businesses ‹ from retail sales to financial services. Family farms also invest valuable time and civic effort in their communities, while their working landscapes protect waterways and open spaces.

Featured here are two examples of places in Michigan where leaders are putting their agriculture and business communities back together.  This new field of farm work is exciting, challenging, and wide open for many other Michigan communities to till.

Communities Put Farming Back in Their Futures: Why Don't We Work With Farmers?