Michigan 4-H to honor outstanding 4-H youth, alumni, volunteers, partners and staff at 2024 Michigan 4-H Legacy Awards Celebration

Jamie Wilson<jmwilson@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan 4-H Foundation will co-host the Michigan 4-H Legacy Awards Celebration on Sat., Sept. 21, in East Lansing, Mich.

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Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan 4-H Foundation will co-host the second Michigan 4-H Legacy Awards Celebration on Sat., Sept. 21 in East Lansing, Mich. The event will honor outstanding 4-H youth, alumni, volunteers, partners and staff and take place on the campus of Michigan State University at the Molecular Plant Sciences Building.

“We are excited to be hosting our second Michigan 4-H Legacy Awards in 2024,” said Jodi Schulz, state 4-H leader for Michigan and co-director of MSU Extension’s children and youth programs. “It’s a great opportunity to gather together and honor some of the amazing individuals in our 4-H community.”

The Michigan 4-H Legacy Awards Celebration will begin at 2 p.m. with a reception and light refreshments. The official program and awards ceremony will begin at 2:45 p.m. These awards are provided by Michigan 4-H Youth Development with support from the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

“There is so much to celebrate: exceptional alumni, dedicated partners, committed volunteers, outstanding staff and noteworthy students,” said Abbey Miller, director of the Michigan 4-H Foundation. “We’re grateful for this chance to come together to recognize those 4-H’ers, past and present.”

Reservations may be made for $50 per person. Please make reservations by August 30 online or by check to the Michigan 4-H Foundation (mail to 446 West Circle Drive, Room 160, East Lansing, Mich. 48824).

“We know these individuals mean so much to their respective communities and we encourage anyone who knows or has been impacted by these remarkable people to join us for a day of celebration and camaraderie,” said Lisa Bottomley, co-director of MSU Extension’s children and youth programs.

Awardees to be honored at the event are:

MICHIGAN 4-H CITATION AWARDS

The Michigan 4-H Citation Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose contributions to and support of Michigan 4-H Youth Development programs have significantly advanced the work of Michigan 4-H on a multicounty, regional, statewide, and national basis.

  • Apple
  • Julie Chapin

4-H EMERALD CLOVER SOCIETY CLASS OF 2024

The Emerald Clover Society celebrates individuals who had significant 4-H involvement as youth and who have made significant contributions to their local, state, and national communities.

  • Sarah A. Black, Eagle
  • Thomas L. Bosserd, Plymouth
  • Mary F. Draves, Midland
  • Katie M. Eisenberger, Shepherd
  • Maurice J. Kaercher, Kalamazoo
  • State Sen. Edward W. McBroom, Vulcan
  • State Rep. Joel Sheltrown, West Branch
  • Nancy L. Victorson, Newberry
  • Shaun T. Wade, Norton Shores
  • Dave D. Weatherspoon, East Lansing

MICHIGAN 4-H SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARDS

The 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards honor outstanding volunteers for their dedication to youth. Honorees will be recognized in two categories. The Lifetime Volunteer Award is presented to a 4-H volunteer who has spent 10 or more years volunteering for 4-H and the Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to a 4-H volunteer with less than 10 years of service. These awards are funded by the Michigan 4-H Volunteer Recognition Fund.

  • Robert (Bob) Richards, Ovid
  • Jennifer Specht, Vassar

MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU 4-H EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE AWARDS

The Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes outstanding Michigan 4-H volunteers or groups that have exhibited excellence in 4-H youth education and leadership development in the areas of 4-H beef cattle; dairy cattle; goats; horses; horticulture, crops and soils; poultry; rabbits; sheep; swine; and veterinary science.

  • Donna Budd, Belleville
  • Rick Gould, Sturgis, and Kevin Yeager, Centerville
  • Charity Hackett, Eau Claire
  • Angela Oakman, South Lyon
  • Mandy Rogers, Saline

At the event, 2024 fifty-year 4-H volunteers, MSU 4-H Scholarship winners, and MSU Extension 4-H retirees will also be acknowledged.

The Michigan 4-H Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization which supports Michigan 4-H Youth Development. For more information about the Michigan 4-H Foundation, visit https://www.mi4hfdtn.org/.  Michigan 4-H Youth Development is the youth-serving program of Michigan State University Extension. Thousands of youth are involved in 4-H with the support of caring adult volunteers. For more information about Michigan 4-H, visit www.canr.msu.edu/4h.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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