Mich. farmers donate to local hospital

Dec 12, 2018

Producers made 100 backpacks filled with goodies

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Michigan’s ag community has stepped up to help put smiles on children’s faces.

In recognition of the Michigan Farm Bureau’s upcoming 100^th anniversary, farmers donated 100 backpacks to the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Nov. 29.

Each backpack consisted of an ag coloring book with crayons, hand-stuffed teddy bear complete with a birth certificate, and a t-shirt for the recipients to decorate.

Farm Bureau members stuffed the teddy bears and backpacks during the organization’s 99^th annual meeting from Nov. 27 to 29.

“Each year, we look for ways Farm Bureau members can give back to the community during our conference,” Cathy McCune, MFB state promotion and education chairperson and organizer of the bear donations, said in a Nov. 29 release. “As farmers from across the state, we care about our communities and each family member — young and old — it’s important to our organization.”

Some Michigan farm families have a personal connection to the children’s hospital.

Gy and Tressa Hollinger, who also assisted with the backpack drive, spent time at the hospital in 2016 as their 11-year-old daughter received a kidney transplant.

They know firsthand the importance of having a supportive community.

“I joined Farm Bureau for the benefits to our farm and my career in agriculture but throughout Lyndi’s journey, we have received so much support from our Farm Bureau friends,” Gy Hollinger, said in the release. “When we were searching for a kidney donor for Lyndi, Farm Bureau created a video and shared our story. The care packages we dropped off today will mean a lot to families waiting at the hospital.”

Michigan Farm Bureau photo

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.