Little did I know that 10 years in 4-H would have such a positive influence on my life. Participating in demonstrations helped me grow from a shy eight-year-old into a confident public speaker. As a 4-H teen leader, I encouraged members to develop skills and work to “make the best better.” At Purdue, I was a 4-H program assistant which opened my eyes to the possibility of a 4-H career. These 4-H experiences provided a great foundation for the rest of my life!
Though my Extension roles were not always labeled 4-H, I’m fortunate that all included 4-H responsibilities such as volunteer training, staff recruitment and employment, legal matters and diversity. Working with the MSUE 4-H team was one of the highlights of my career. What a way to give back to a program that made such a difference in my life! One of our accomplishments was the development and implementation of the Child-Well Being Volunteer Selection Process. As difficult this was, I kept saying, “If it’s in the best interests of kids, the answer is yes” to keep us laser-focused on what 4-H is—youth development.
Today, I am a 4-H volunteer and donor with my husband, Noel. From 2014-18, we served on the Leadership 10, a group of 10 couples who provided leadership for the Campaign for Michigan 4-H’s Future, which raised $13.3 million including more than $2.1 million to grow and build county 4-H endowments. I enjoyed working with my local 4-H community to raise $50,000 which was matched by the Michigan 4-H Foundation. Noel and I believe as MSU President John Hannah said, “People are our most important product.” We use his wise words to guide our philanthropic efforts as we use our time, talents and treasures to help people—especially youth.
