Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services AFLS August News and Highlights

This year’s event welcomed over 700 farmworkers representing 53 farms across Southwest Michigan. Attendees connected with agencies, nonprofits and community groups committed to ensuring workers have what they need to begin the season safely and successfully. Key partners included the Pokagon Fund, Southwest Community Action Agency, El Milagro, Hispanic Latino Commission, Lineage Community Foundation, and the Van Buren County Fairgrounds, along with many additional sponsors and supporters whose contributions helped the event continue to grow.

Several new offerings helped enrich the 2026 event. Somos Votantes and MBG provided youth education support through donated backpacks and school supplies, ensuring families had essential items for the upcoming school year. Forefront Dermatology offered on‑site skin cancer screenings, giving workers access to preventive health services.

Collaboration with over 25 community partners strengthened resources and food distribution, increasing the variety of support available for families. Together, these enhancements reflect the event’s ongoing commitment to meeting the evolving needs of Michigan’s farmworker community.

Behind every welcome tent, registration table, giveaway line and smiling volunteer is a team whose continued dedication makes Bienvenido’s possible year after year. Staff, agency partners and volunteers worked tirelessly, often quietly, to greet families, answer questions, distribute supplies, offer guidance and create an environment where everyone felt seen and supported.

Their ongoing work does more than organize a single day’s event. It strengthens Michigan’s agricultural industry by ensuring farmworkers and their families arrive with resources, information and community connections that support a successful season. The commitment, compassion and collaboration shown by the entire team are what make this event not only possible, but meaningful.

NFJP outreach staff have joined the momentum of Michigan’s peak agricultural season, participating in Farmworker Appreciation Days and resource distribution events across the state. These activities not only celebrate farmworkers but also strengthen NFJP’s ability to reach potential program participants while addressing barriers in career pathways, education access and housing stability.

The NFJP team members also worked alongside Agricultural Employment Liaisons at appreciation events recognizing farmworkers’ contributions. These gatherings included meals, resource tables and opportunities for workers to learn about services offered by NFJP and partnering agencies. Through collaboration with community organizations, NFJP can better understand workers’ needs and guide them toward programs that support long‑term career and educational goals.

During larger outreach efforts at farmworker camps, NFJP staff joined multiple agencies to provide resource information, recreational activities and donated items. These events foster meaningful connections with workers and families, helping NFJP identify barriers such as limited access to training opportunities, challenges navigating education systems, and difficulties securing safe and stable housing.

Together, these collaborative outreach efforts enhance NFJP’s visibility among farmworkers and strengthen inter‑agency partnerships. They have also increased referrals from organizations that serve agricultural workers, expanding NFJP’s reach and ensuring more individuals receive support in overcoming barriers to career advancement, education, and housing.

We’re excited to announce that William “Will” Connors III has joined the AFLS team and will be supporting the National Farmworker Jobs Program!

Will comes to us from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, where he worked as a Contract Monitor for the USDA‑funded SNAP‑Ed program. His experience in partner collaboration, program oversight and supporting federally funded initiatives brings a fantastic mix of knowledge and momentum to the NFJP team.

We’re truly happy to welcome Will aboard and look forward to the fresh perspective, positive energy and valuable expertise he’ll bring to our work.

The Foreign Labor Services team continued its mission of strengthening employer–worker partnerships during recent visits across the Upper Peninsula and Mackinac Island. These visits are part of the annual Post Certification Site Visits conducted statewide, designed to provide technical assistance to employers and ensure strong communication and compliance with federal contract requirements.

In Daggett, Michigan, the FLS team met with H-2A dairy workers at Johnson Farms, LLC. The visit offered an important opportunity to connect directly with workers, address questions and support the employer in upholding program standards. The team extends a warm thank‑you to Johnson Farms, LLC for their hospitality and commitment to creating a positive and supportive work environment.

The team’s travel also brought them to Mackinac Island, where they visited employers in the hospitality industry. Employers shared that Mackinac Island presents distinct challenges, including competition for workers, short seasonal employment windows and difficulties attracting a domestic workforce. They emphasized their economic success relies on supplementing their staff with H‑2B workers.

H‑2B workers reflected the same positive experiences, underscoring the importance of open communication and supportive labor practices.

Overall, the team remains committed to building lasting partnerships across Michigan, bridging communities, supporting employers and ensuring workers have the resources and protections they need.

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 2025 Employment and Training Annual Report, released earlier this month, highlights how Michigan’s workforce system is connecting people to high quality careers, helping employers fill critical talent needs and strengthening the state’s competitiveness and economy.

According to the report, the state’s workforce programs are helping more people find employment in a competitive and challenging job market while expanding access to career training, employment services and workforce opportunities across the state. One of the key statistics from the report is Michigan being #4 in the nation in serving migrant and seasonal farm workers!

Read more about the report here.