Welcome to Olive Township, a community of thriving agriculture, business and residential neighborhoods cultivated from generations of families in the heart of Ottawa County, Michigan.
Founded through the first election of officers on April 6, 1857, Olive Township selected its first Supervisor, Clerk and Treasurer through the vote of 57 attendees. Today, Olive Township has approximately 2,700 registered voters and the ninth Supervisor of record since its founding. Originally named Eastman Township and extending all the way to Lake Michigan as the western border, Olive Township split in 1915, creating current day Port Sheldon Township.
Recent News
The Olive Township Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Monday, August 15, 2022 at 5:30 pm at the township hall to discuss placing the expired Road Millage on the November 8, 2022 ballot. Revenue generated from this millage would be used to pave, repair, construct and reconstruct roads, bridges or drain structures in the township. It is also used to control dust on our gravel roads. This millage replaces a millage that expired at the end of 2021. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting.
*Register by August 10th to make sure you reserve a lunch!*![]()
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The Ottawa & Allegan Conservation Districts, Outdoor Discovery Center, and Macatawa Area Coordinating Council are hosting Cultivating Resilience, a Farm Field Day, for the third year!![]()
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On Thursday, August 18th from 8:00 am - 2:45 pm, we will be at Shady Side Farm in Holland to showcase tried and true practices that promote soil health and water conservation, giving producers practical conservation knowledge that they can use to evaluate their operations to create a more resilient farm.![]()
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We have several talented speakers, local farmers, and educators from Michigan, including a number of Michigan State University Extension speakers, who will be leading the day’s sessions! Our Keynote Speaker, John Yellich, Director of the Michigan Geological Survey, will kick off the event by highlighting the growing groundwater quantity concerns within Ottawa County and surrounding areas and will identify key actions that can be taken to protect our groundwater reserves. On-site demonstrations will include a farm walk showcasing practices such as rotational grazing and composting that will help to build soil and increase water infiltration.![]()
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We will also be showcasing the soil profile of a no-till field and see a demonstration of a rainfall simulator showing the benefits of cover crops and no-till practices during weather events. Attendees will hear from local experts in the form of a Q&A panel on ways to manage surface drainage on fields and protect water quality in county drains using practices such as filter strips, grassed waterways, and two-stage ditches while also learning about conservation programs and financial resources available to landowners to help with practice implementation. Matt Raven, a Professor in the Department of Community Sustainability at MSU, will end the program with an introduction to holistic farm management that will allow producers to start developing a holistic context to guide their decisions and actions taken on the farm. There will be a variety of vendor tables on-site for participants to visit and learn more about local farmer resources from agri-businesses and natural resource industry partners. ![]()
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Cultivating Resilience Farm Field Day is a free event and includes a complimentary light breakfast and boxed lunch along with a few exciting door prizes donated from local businesses. Registration is required by August 10th to guarantee lunch. Producers will be eligible to earn 3 RUP credits and a MAEAP Phase 1 educational credit during this event.![]()
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As agriculture in West Michigan faces continued challenges - from extreme rainfall to groundwater shortages - cultivating resilience in our agricultural community is essential. We hope to see you on August 18th! ![]()
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We would like to invite all producers, of any operation size and commodity, and conservation and agribusiness professionals to visit the Cultivating Resilience event page for the full agenda and speaker biographies, and to register for the event.![]()
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We would like to give a special thanks to all of our event sponsors and partners. We would not be able to provide this free and valuable event without support!![]()
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National Grazing Lands Coalition – Platinum Grant Sponsor![]()
MAEAP – Platinum Grant Sponsor![]()
USDA NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program – Platinum Grant Sponsor![]()
Endeavor Ag & Energy - Platinum Lunch Sponsor![]()
Project Clarity - Platinum Sponsor![]()
Nutrien Ag Solutions - Platinum Sponsor![]()
Greenstone Farm Credit Services - Gold Breakfast Sponsor![]()
Byron Seeds - Gold Sponsor![]()
Bosch Cover Crop Seed - Gold Sponsor![]()
Farm Bureau Insurance, Mark Hop Agency Inc. - Gold Sponsor![]()
Cushman Creek Supply - Partner Sponsor![]()
Michigan Farm Bureau![]()
Ottawa County Farm Bureau![]()
Shady Side Farm - Host Farm![]()
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Register at ottawacd.org/cultivatingresilience/
