March 29, 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointment of Greg Shooks of Central Lake and the reappointments of Mark Schilling of Benton Harbor and Benjamin LaCross of Lake Leelanau to the Michigan Cherry Committee.
The nine-member committee was established in 1965 and develops and implements marketing efforts for Michigan's cherry industry.
"I thank these individuals for promoting Michigan agriculture,” Snyder said.
Appointment:
Shooks has farmed for 14 years on his family farm which grows tart cherries, light sweet cherries and dark sweet cherries. Shooks served on the Michigan Farm Bureau’s state young farming committee for four years, serving on the executive committee for two of those years. He served on the Michigan Farm Bureau State Policy Committee and was the subcommittee chair. Shooks currently serves on the American Farm Bureau pest and invasive species committee. He will represent tart cherry growers and replace Brian Altonen.
Reappointments:
Schilling is the owner of Hawkeye Farms, LLC. He has farmed on the five-generation family farm, Schilling Farms, for 14 years and recently purchased the original Schilling homestead farm to create Hawkeye Farms. Schilling grows cherries, apples, peaches and tomatoes. He attended Western Michigan University and will continue to represent tart cherry growers.
LaCross is the owner of North Shore Orchards. He is a second-generation farmer who grows tart cherries, sweet cherries, plums and apples; the cherries and plums are processed at the LaCross family-owned Leelanau Fruit Company which specializes in maraschino cherries. LaCross is the vice president of the Leelanau Horticulture Society, a member of the Michigan Association of Cherry Producers and a member of the board of directors of the Michigan Farm Bureau. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University. He will continue to represent tart cherry growers.
Appointees will serve three-year terms expiring Feb. 1, 2021. Their appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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