The records of the Michigan Farmers Union (MFU) include the MFU constitution and by-laws (rev. 1979, 1993, 2007), minutes, annual reports, policy statements, newsletters, state convention programs and reports, correspondence, material documenting the auxiliary activities of the MFU, biographical material on and photographs of MFU officers, and several printed items on the program and history of the National Farmers Union.
The Michigan Farmers Union is an organization of farmers whose purpose is to promote the welfare and preservation of family farms through a program of education, cooperation, and legislation. The Michigan Farmers Union, organized in 1934, is a state organization affiliated with the National Farmers Union. The National Farmers Union was founded in Rains County, Texas, in 1902 as the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America.
The Farmers Union organizational structure is based on individual memberships of farm families. Family memberships cover the parents and all children ages 6-21. The dues-paying member, spouse, and children age 16-21 are eligible to vote in Union matters. Five or more dues-paying members may form a local, which is the basic organizational unit of the Farmers Union. Three or more locals may join to charter a county union. The state Farmers Union is composed of the county and local unions. The National Farmers Union consists of all members of state, county, and local unions.
The first Farmers Union local in Michigan was formed in Hermansville, Menominee County, but there was no systematic organizing effort in the state until the summer of 1933. On July 19, 1933, National Farmers Union President John Simpson spoke to a group of farmers at the Ashland Folk School. The next day, a Farmers Union local was formed at Milan and many others were organized shortly thereafter. The first statewide meeting was held October 10, 1933. The Michigan Farmers Union was chartered and held its first state convention in October 1934. At that time there were more than 300 active locals and over 12,000 members.
In 1936-1937 the Michigan Farmers Union became embroiled in a factional dispute involving both state and national officers. The national office eventually intervened to settle the dispute. Following this episode, membership and organizational activity declined drastically. In the early 1980s, statewide membership totaled approximately 1800.
The Michigan Farmers Union has played an active role in lobbying and educational efforts relating to legislation on agricultural matters at both the state and national levels. It is involved in the operation of a number of agricultural marketing and consumer cooperatives and also provides insurance coverage for members. The Michigan Farmers Union conducts a variety of youth and adult education programs and sponsors projects relating to soil and water conservation and rural development.
The administrative structure of the Michigan Farmers Union consists of a president, two vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, a five-member executive board, and a full board composed of all the county presidents. In recent years the Michigan Farmers Union has maintained an office in Lansing.
