While Michigan Rep. Julie Brixie, 73rd District, grew up in Chicago, her family has deep roots in agriculture. As a child, she visited cousins who lived on a 2,000-acre cattle ranch in Nebraska.
A burgeoning interest in agriculture eventually prompted her to pursue a master’s degree from Michigan State University in crop and soil sciences and environmental toxicology.
“Even though I grew up as a city person, my parents thought it was important for my cousins and me to learn from each other’s environments,” Brixie said. “My cousins are farmers, and I ended up marrying someone who grew up on a small dairy farm in northern Wisconsin. That and my education are reasons I’m interested in agriculture, but of course being in Michigan as a state representative, one of the most wonderful things about Michigan is the agricultural diversity of our state.”
The wide range of specialty crops produced is one of Michigan agriculture’s defining characteristics, Brixie noted, something she believes needs to be protected. Specialty crop growers face a multitude of pressures, from insects, pests and diseases to navigating volatile economic and policy environments.