Roundtable panel to explore the future of farming in Berrien County

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – A panel of local agricultural producers will examine the future of farming in Southwest Michigan during the roundtable discussion "From Farm to Future: Sustainable Agriculture in Berrien County.” Lake Michigan College is hosting the 90-minute conversation on Thursday, April 9, at 12:30 p.m., in rooms L310-311 on its Benton Harbor campus located at 2755 E. Napier Avenue. 

The agricultural heritage of southwest Michigan runs deep, from the first commercial peach orchards planted in Berrien County in the 1840s to world-class vineyards that today produce roughly 90 percent of Michigan's wine grapes. The panelists will bring that legacy into the conversation as they explore the challenges and opportunities facing the region's farmers and how sustainable farming practices will benefit the industry’s future.  

Tim Godfrey, winemaker and director of LMC’s Wine & Viticulture Technology program, will moderate the program. Godfrey, who has more than a decade of experience in the wine industry, also manages Lake Michigan Vintners, the College's student-run winery that is the only teaching winery in the Midwest. 

Five panelists representing a cross-section of Berrien County agriculture will participate:

• Maxx Eichberg, Stranger Wine Company, Buchanan
  Regenerative estate winery
• Paula Camp, Carriage House Ciders, Benton Harbor
  Cidery crafting barrel-aged, European-style hard cider from locally sourced heritage apples
• Katie Burdett, Farmette, New Buffalo
  Sustainable farm marketplace and café
• Paul Meulemans, Wild Coyote Organic Farm, Berrien Springs
  Certified organic vegetable and livestock operation
• Brett Muchow, Verdant Hollow, Buchanan
  225-acre regenerative farm and farmstead goat creamery

The panelists represent the full breadth of sustainable agriculture taking root across Berrien County. Several of the operations hold USDA Organic or Regenerative Organic certification, reflecting a broader shift toward sustainable and restorative farming practices in Southwest Michigan.

The roundtable is coordinated by the College's Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum (LNAC) group, which organizes programming designed to foster discussion and education across the LMC community.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. No registration is required. Free parking is available in the front student parking lot. Attendees should use the front entrance and follow the signs to the first floor. Elevator and stair access to the event is located near the LMC library entrance.

About Lake Michigan College
Lake Michigan College is a two-year, accredited, public community college with campuses and course delivery locations in Benton Harbor, Niles, South Haven, and Allegan, Michigan. Established in 1946 as Benton Harbor Junior College, LMC is the region’s leader in higher education, offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer programs in more than 80 fields of study, including business, health sciences, manufacturing, wine and viticulture, culinary, and more. LMC serves as a regional economic partner, a leader in innovation, and a center for cultural activity. It features the largest performing arts center in the region, intercollegiate athletics, on-campus housing, and a wealth of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations to create an authentic college experience close to home. For more information, visit www.lakemichigancollege.edu.