The GTCD was proud to help host The American Farm Bureau Federation Environmental Issues Conference on May 27 – 30.  The tour, which took place May 29, 2008, was hosted by Michigan Farm Bureau for the American Farm Bureau and State Farm Bureau environmental staff.  There were about 50 people in attendance all the way from Hawaii to Texas to Florida.  The purpose of the conference is to share ideas among state farm bureaus and learn more about environmental concerns and progress that each state is seeing.  Michigan Farm Bureau decided to showcase the Traverse City area due to the combination of unique agriculture, land use, urban-rural interface, groundwater program efforts, MAEAP participation and proximity to the Great Lakes.  Thank you to all who attended as well as to all of the farms who hosted!