MICHIGAN WHEAT PROGRAM Michigan Wheat Program: Our Accomplishments Jody Pollok-Newsom, Executive Director

MICHIGAN WHEAT PROGRAM MI Wheat: Events Educational events for farmers, stakeholders Field Day held each June Next up: June 15, 2016, Richville Annual Meeting held each March. Next up: March 14, 2017, Frankenmuth

MICHIGAN WHEAT PROGRAM MI Wheat: Communications E-newsletter Wheat Wisdom launched in November Sign up on bottom of homepage at Meeting attendees will be signed up if I have Brief info on events, issues, Posting of research results Sharing of production info Monthly publication Quick read 1,700 + readers.

MICHIGAN WHEAT PROGRAM MI Wheat: Communications Website Relaunched in 2015, Large infrastructure Grower focused Past events, research, consumer info, & more. Let me show you how it works

MICHIGAN WHEAT PROGRAM New from MI Wheat: Annual Report Highlights from 3 rd Annual Report: Summaries of 19 research projects; Improvement in RMA for ‘falling numbers’ Summer Field Day 2015 and 2015 Winter Grower Meeting; Relaunch of miwheat.org; Release of Wheat Wisdom e-newsletter; New Michigan Wheat social media including YouTube, Facebook; And more!

MICHIGAN WHEAT PROGRAM New from MI Wheat: MI Ag Magazine Participation in Last Edition-2 nd Publication Wheat article featuring growers; Wheat ad featuring –Health information –Production importance –Historical view of wheat Distributed across state –Health care professionals, –Dr. offices, –Welcome centers Introduction of facebook page

MICHIGAN WHEAT PROGRAM Consumer News from MI Wheat: Highlights from first 5 years MI Restaurant Assn –Chefs, Culinary Students –Wheat Recipe Contest Culinary School Presentations Breakfast on the Farm MI Wheat social media YouTube, Facebook-621 Media list of 200+ Wheat Foods Council Member MI Ag Council Member

MICHIGAN WHEAT PROGRAM Consumer Changes Regarding Wheat: Has the Pendulum swung? Jimmy Kimmel –What is Gluten Consumer Reports; –Gluten in diet –Challenges to alternatives Oprah Winfrey I eat BREAD everyday!

MICHIGAN WHEAT PROGRAM MI Wheat: The Future Continue to invest in partnerships to carry the farmer message regarding high-quality, healthy wheat. Continue to develop communication links to share information with farmers. Continue to develop communication links to share information with consumers and become a trusted source of information. Grow presence in consumer information arena, as opportunities arise.

MICHIGAN WHEAT PROGRAM MI Wheat: For More Information Michigan Wheat Program Jody E. Pollok-Newsom Executive Director WHEA (9432) WHEAT01 ( ) Michigan Wheat