When Innovation is the Impact: Agricultural Innovation Counselor Mike Score

Agricultural agents have worked with farmers since the late 1800s. Their role has been to help the working farm identify and overcome barriers to increased production profitability. These agents have found themselves on the leading edge of all the incredible change in farming in recent years.

For more than ten years as an agricultural agent, Mike Score of MSU Extension has seen the changes, and the many challenges facing farmers today. With Mike however, there is one common thread that has helped to boost local agriculture - innovation:

• Mike worked with Michigan State University’s Product Center, local farmers and other agricultural agents to convert local soybeans into Clean Green, a phosphorus-free fertilizer for lawns.
• He’s worked with local orchards to convert commodity apples into hard-cider.
• Mike worked with farmers and other local leaders to explore the potential of bio-diesel using oil seeds like soybeans.

Recognizing the need for full-time agricultural innovation, Washtenaw County Government worked in partnership with MSU Extension in 2006 to make Mike Score the state’s first Agricultural Innovation Counselor. He is currently working with 40+ entrepreneurs to develop written business plans related to converting agricultural commodities into higher-value consumer goods.

One of those farmer entrepreneurs is Mike Bossory of Alber Orchard & Cider Mill. Alber Orchard has been in Freedom Township for over 100 years and Mike and his wife purchased the orchard from a fifth generation farmer in 1999.

For several years they worked in survival mode and decided in 2006 that they needed a new plan if they were going to make it. After looking at several software packages and consultants, Mike Bossory chose to work on a business plan with Mike Score because of his industry specific knowledge. The two Mike’s spent many hours together developing the plan for his business

With the completion of the plan, the Bossorys have applied for, and received, a marketing grant. Mike is also meeting with financiers to get financing for some of the expansions laid out in the plan. The future looks very different and very bright.

The new Agricultural Innovation Counselor gets three or four requests for business planning help every week in his new position, and Mike Score sees success breeding success. “Having worked with the farming community for as long as I have, I know that it only makes sense to work with people who are ready to take the next step. But I know that if I can work well with the people who are ready, and make some positive differences, the others will want to take those next steps, too.”