Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services AFLS May News and Highlights

The power of collaboration was on full display during a recent outreach effort in Lenawee County, where the Agricultural Employment Services team members Elizbia Capula and Jesus Lule joined National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator Jesus Ruiz‑Santos and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Migrant Service Worker Ruby Flores for a meaningful community engagement event with local farmworkers.

Together, the team provided vital resource information, program support and direct assistance to workers in the fields. The visit offered an opportunity to strengthen relationships, understand needs firsthand, and ensure farmworker families are connected to services that promote stability, opportunity and well‑being.

During the outreach, the group also received an unexpected but valuable community‑building lesson from Chef Jeff, who shared insights on fostering trust, connection and cultural understanding. The experience highlighted how authentic engagement can deepen partnerships and enhance the support systems that farmworker communities rely on.

The day’s work was more than an outreach effort, it was a powerful example of what happens when agencies, programs and community leaders come together with a shared commitment to serve.

In early June 2025, Agricultural Employment Liaison Jesus Lule met farmworker Eliseo while conducting outreach at a blueberry farm in Grand Junction, located in Van Buren County. With the farmer’s permission, Jesus walked the fields, speaking directly with workers, sharing information about Agricultural Employment Services and providing printed resources and contact details. Moments like these, simple conversations held between rows of crops, often become the first step toward life‑changing opportunities. A few weeks after that initial meeting, Eliseo reached out to request more information about the NFJP. He expressed interest in training opportunities and asked for help connecting with the NFJP team. Through a warm handoff facilitated by Jesus, Eliseo was successfully enrolled and soon after began his journey in a welding-focused trade program.

Today, he is in his third semester at Thompson M‑TEC in Holland, MI, advancing steadily toward a skilled career that will open new doors for himself and his family. Stories like Eliseo’s demonstrate the powerful impact of dedicated outreach, one farm, one worker, one conversation at a time.

Thanks to the commitment of AEL staff and partners, farmworkers across Michigan continue to gain access to education, training, and opportunities that strengthen both families and communities.

NFJP Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator Abigail Frost visited the Branch County Michigan Works! Coldwater Service Center to strengthen collaboration and explore new ways to support the local community. She met with Michigan Works! leadership, Business Solutions staff and front‑office team members to discuss accessibility and upcoming outreach opportunities.

The Coldwater office shared they recently added new translation devices, expanding their language‑support capabilities to include Haitian Creole. This investment enhances their ability to serve the area’s large Haitian Creole population and reduce language barriers.

Abigail and MWA staff also discussed strategies to build trust, expand connections and guide more individuals toward services available through Michigan Works! and the National Farmworker Jobs Program.

If you are an agricultural worker or a dependent and would like to learn more about services available through NFJP, please contact us at LEO-NFJP@michigan.gov.

NFJP Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator Jesus Ruiz Santos partnered with MDHHS Migrant Worker Rudy Flores to conduct outreach in Adrian, MI, a city with deep cultural ties to the agricultural community.

Approximately 20% of Adrian’s population identifies as Hispanic or of Hispanic descent, making it an important location for meaningful engagement and support.

Together, they visited several agricultural businesses and employers to share NFJP resources, strengthen relationships and better understand the needs of local workers.

Michigan is hiring! Thousands of positions are available statewide across a wide range of industries. Whether you're looking to start a new career or take the next step, there are full-time jobs with benefits waiting, especially in the Food and Agricultural Industry and the Agri-business sector.

Explore your options on the Pure Michigan Talent Connect website (MiTalent.org) or click here to view a list of more agricultural industry related jobs.

View a list of agricultural jobs.

The NFJP team recently presented at a statewide ‘Lunch and Learn’ event organized in collaboration with the State of Michigan’s Inter‑Agency Migrant Services Committee. The session brought together participants from multiple agencies across Michigan, creating valuable space for shared learning and stronger coordination.

During the presentation, the NFJP team highlighted key services available through the program, including career services and training, as well as the Temporary and Emergency Housing Program. The event offered an opportunity to clarify available resources, answer questions and help partner agencies better understand how to support migrant and seasonal farmworkers through referrals and collaboration.

The Lunch and Learn proved to be highly successful, generating strong engagement from agencies throughout the state. This session marked an important step toward expanding outreach, improving alignment across service providers, and ensuring Michigan’s agricultural workers and their families can more easily access the support they need.