Chad Fusilier: A young farmer growing his dreams

(Chelsea Update would like to thank Kathleen A. Siler and the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau for the information in this story.)

Twenty-year-old Chad Fusilier’s boldly chasing a dream he was determined to pursue when, at age 17, he told his parents he wanted to buy his own farm.

A year later, he was well on his way to making his lofty ambition a reality. This May, Fusilier Farms – Chelsea reopens its farm store for the season on land owned and operated by the young farmer at 20000 Sager Road in Sylvan Township across from the Chrysler Proving Grounds on M-52.

Fusilier has farming in his blood; he and his siblings represent the sixth generation of Fusiliers to farm in this area. He grew up on his family’s home farm of 220 acres at the edge of the Irish Hills in Manchester. The majority of their farm is devoted to raising fresh, high-quality produce marketed directly through several farmer’s markets, a “Share of the Farm” Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, and area public schools. A small amount of acreage is planted for commercial corn and soybean production in rotation with the produce.

You could easily say “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” when it comes to his determination and entrepreneurial work ethic because he has great role models for learning and persevering when it comes to making a dream a reality. His parents, Mike and Kathy Fusilier, wanted to try something “different” when they got married and bravely ventured from hog farming into the greenhouse and farm market business in 1996.

He’s already weathered some challenges, and successfully overcome obstacles in buying his own farmland and launching a business. The new 2014 Farm Bill offers several incentive programs for young farmers, however; the delays in its passage nearly caused him to lose everything, and complicated his ability to obtain a mortgage on the property he wanted to purchase. He’s also overcome some township restrictions and challenges with resolve, determination and hard work.

Fusilier devotes every moment possible on his new farming venture when he’s not at Michigan State University (MSU) where he’s been pursuing a degree in agribusiness management and horticulture since August of 2013. He’s getting a minor in technology system management.

He’s also active in the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau and was recently elected vice-president of the MSU Collegiate Farm Bureau organization.

While most farmers are still planting crops, May and June is harvest season for Fusilier and other floriculture greenhouse growers who planted flower seeds back in March for annual bedding plants and the lush hanging baskets and containers.

As the season continues to warm, fresh produce will take center stage.

“Asparagus is here now and there will be strawberries in June. We’ll also have broccoli, cauliflower and sweet corn and some new items this year including dill, kale and celery,” he said.

The young farmer is still deciding what to plant on some of the acreage behind the farm market. Last year, he grew you-pick- pumpkins.

“I haven’t seen any deer here, so I might try some cut flowers for bouquets,” he said.  When you’re in business for yourself you get to take chances and “see how things go.” So far, that a strategy that seems to be working for him as he continues to grow his dreams.

He’s excited about the new farm market season which opened May 1 and eager for customers to see the work they’ve accomplished over the winter. “Come on out to see all the beautiful flowers, the newly renovated store and the finished greenhouse,” he said. “We’ll have annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, pottery, jams and more. We hope to see you out there.”

Fusilier Farms –  Chelsea at 20000 Sager Road is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Phone  is 734-945-5711. You can follow the Fusilier Farms—Chelsea on Facebook or find more information about the home farm in Manchester here.