A vision for the West Michigan Research Station was set back in 2019, and thanks to the help of producers and donors in the community and across the state, the center broke ground in 2020.
It is now a part of Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) and is a place for growers to gather, get information and learn about the specific needs of plants and soil in Oceana, Mason, and Newaygo counties.
Inside the building, you will often find MSUE Educator Emily Lavely. Equipped with a research background in root and tree health, she was excited to join the team at the station – especially because West Michigan crops have different needs than others in the state. She wanted to get to the bottom of those specific needs and help area farmers grow the best crops possible.
This past season, more than 6,000 trees were planted at the station. That includes new apple varieties, sweet cherries, peach and pear trees. These trees will soon be evaluated to recommend new varieties, rootstocks, and growing practices that are best suited for the area.
“I feel incredibly privileged to be able to work with the growers here and have this resource here and have the support of the board,” said Emily. “It’s something I’m very thankful for and I look forward to continuing supporting growers for years to come.”
That support includes board president Andy Riley. A farmer himself, Andy was part of the group that came up with the vision for the station. He said he never expected the center to come together so quickly, but thanks the community for their unwavering support because most of the funding for the station comes from donors.
“The thing I tell people I’m the proudest of is when you walk in the front door, you can see the people and the organizations that got behind the project on display,” said Andy. “The success of the station depends on the support of the community staying engaged in the research station. The partnerships we have established – many people are annual donors.”
GreenStone is one of those partners. The cooperative is committed to going the extra acre for our members and the farming community, and that includes investing in horticulture research.
The station is proud of the community’s support, so in return, they are proud to serve the community. The center is for research purposes first but also serves as a community center. They have opened their doors for things like blood drives and celebrations, and even housed some court hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic when the county needed a larger area to spread out.
The future of farming depends on help from the community, knowing best practices, and sharing ideas. That is what is happening inside the doors of the West Michigan Research Station.
GreenStone is proud to be a part of this legacy.
To view the article in the online 2023 Winter Partners Magazine, click here.
