Ralph Kirch was an outstanding Michigan 4-H member. He joined Michigan Extension as a 4-H agent in 1950 and was assigned to Kent Co. in 1953. He led the 4-H Panorama program in Kent Co. which dramatically increased membership. Ralph served in every office of the Michigan 4-H Agents Association, including president in 1959 – the year he was honored as a National 4-H Fellow. He similarly held NAE4-HA national offices and was elected president in 1960. He was a leader in state and national efforts to establish the 4-H youth development profession as a respected career path in Cooperative Extension.
Ralph joined the National 4-H Foundation staff in 1961. He served for eight years, five as chair, on the National 4-H Report to the Nation (1963-70), which included an annual presentation to the President. Ralph successfully developed partnerships with corporate leaders – including J.C. Penney, Firestone and McCormick – to raise more than $30 million to complete a debt-free expansion of the National 4-H Center. Ralph returned to Michigan to lead their 4-H foundation for seven years. He ended his career as an administrator of the Michigan Department of Agriculture.
