Three Rivers Commercial-News: Senator visits Jones, Sturgis during #RideMI tour

JONES — U.S. Sen. Gary Peters visited sites in Jones and Sturgis on the penultimate day of his five-day #RideMI motorcycle tour of 26 counties with stops in 12.

While at Rolling Meadows Farms on M-40 in Jones, Peters discussed workers issues and about the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Rule with farm personnel and Farm Bureau representatives. He also took a tour, learning about the farm’s equipment and getting up close with the pigs they raise.

“I’m very grateful the senator chose to come visit with us to see what we do,” co-owner Jon White said.

Peters added, “it’s wonderful to be here. I had a chance to talk about the industry when Jon and others were in Washington D.C., now I have the opportunity to see it firsthand.”

This is Peters’ first time being in a hog operation, and it was “an incredible learning experience for me.”

He also said it was important to help the farming community in Michigan.

Peters ended the day at Hamilton Harley-Davidson in Sturgis, where he met and took a motorcycle ride with local veterans. Last year, Hamilton Harley-Davidson co-owners Tommy and Tom Hamilton launched the #FreedomRide program that makes a 2015 Harley-Davidson® FatBoy Low available to any current active or inactive military veteran to rent at no charge. Peters also discussed his legislation to help veterans who may have been erroneously given a less-than-honorable discharge from the military.