Jul 31, 2014

Michigan woman among those saluted as ‘Champions’

The White House and USDA honored 15 new and beginning ranchers and farmers as “Champions of Change” during The Future of Agriculture two-day event this week. The events celebrated agriculture leaders from across the country that is taking innovative approaches to support American farming and ranching.

According to a news release from the White House Office of Communications, Kristin Fritz Kubiszak, the retail manager for Brookside Farms, a fifth-generation family farm located in Paw Paw, Michigan was one of the honorees.

Brookside Farms’ website indicated that after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in social work from Cornerstone University, Kubiszak returned home to her family farm that focuses on growing and packing blueberries for distribution through MBG Marketing – The Blueberry People cooperative marketing network.

Kubiszak also sits on the board of directors for the Van Buren County Farm Bureau as the Promotion and Education Chair, where she educates others about Michigan agriculture and the impact on communities.

“Kristin is another member of the Fritz family farming operation that makes us proud that they are part of our MBG & Naturipe families.” said Bob Hawk, President & CEO of MBG Marketing.

Brookside Farms started as a dairy farm in 1876 and Kristin’s grandfather planted his first blueberry bush in 1956. That was the same year the family joined Michigan Blueberry Growers Association, a grower-owned cooperative, and the year Kristin’s father, Bill Fritz, was born.

Kubiszak and the other honorees were recognized by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and attended a ceremony in the White House where Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden and Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council, Cecilia Munoz, saluted them.

Sam Kass, President Barack Obama’s Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy and Let’s Move Executive Director, gave them a tour of the First Lady’s Garden at the White House.