MSU Extension 4-H

Now I'd like to turn the podium over to a longtime friend of MSU Extension and 4-H, Representative ***** Nyer. Representative Nyer serves at the Michigan's 92nd House District, which includes portions of Gracie and Isabella Counties. Please help me welcome Representative Nyer to the podium. My team will be happy to know that I took out my notes. It doesn't mean I necessarily will follow them. I don't really have a whole lot to say other than thanks. i didn't say it enough when i was involved in 4-h 40 years ago uh all those people and the staff and that and uh our leaders uh for our various groups i never really properly thanked them so for all you uh leaders out there and part of the extension community thank you for taking the time to willing to invest in our 4-Hers, willing to compete with the time that our kids have these, or limited time their kids have these days. It's a lot of stuff out there to keep kids and students entertained differently and to pull them into the 4-H field, whether you're talking showing animals or whether you're talking leadership skills or other activities that cover a gamut of things that go beyond the typical stereotype of 4 -H, you guys are out there making that investment to our kids, fighting for that time, and teaching our kids the value of integrity, leadership, and community involvement. I did not evaluate that enough. I didn't realize the subversiveness of what was ingrained in me and it's part of the reason why I got the position I have right now. Those skills were ingrained in my head and they eventually came out and I thank you for that. To the 4-Hers that made the time and investment to come down here, thank you. You got so many other opportunities to get involved in things and so many other distractions to show a commitment to 4-H to see it more than just an opportunity to show animals or do a cool still project is great. It's you guys are getting an opportunity to do things and develop skills that you're unaware of that you're developing right now and please take advantage of that. Don't be afraid to try something. Don't be afraid to fail at something you learn more from failing than what you do from winning sometimes and take that to heart i got a personal story about that i gotta now he's got 24 years old but when he was eight years old he could barely let go of his mother's leg he could not talk in public he purposely grew his hair long so that way he didn't have to look at people uh he got involved in 4-h judging dairy judging and uh the one thing that always showed up his ability to argue a point and that showed up in his uh dairy judging skills he was always very good at arguing a point and that led from one thing to another eventually had an opportunity to go to the 4-h nationals down in uh georgia you talk about an uh angst event there to put a kid on put a a kid that was barely 16 years old on a playing with a bunch of strangers going down to Georgia, was nerve-wracking alone. He came back with the idea that he wanted to come be part of the design team. That's the planning team for the following year. And he made that. Just a handful of students or a handful of 4-Hers have picked for that opportunity every year. And he got to go down there and be part of that plan. So that's just something to see my son be able to go through that growing stage. you folks you students have that same opportunity take advantage of that take a chance but in in closing i just want to thank you folks for the investment into the program uh you always have me at your back trying to help yous out and uh please don't be afraid to engage your elected leaders and let them know how important this program is because i can sit there and preach it all day long from the house floor but a phone call to your local elected officials whether it be your whether it be your county officials or your state officials please don't be afraid to let them know what this program means to you and for us to continue here at the state level to commit and invest in you folks. Thanks for your time.