The Michigan 4-H Emerald Clover Society honors former Michigan 4-H members whose professional leadership and community service reflect the ultimate outcome of 4-H membership – extraordinary use of an individual’s head, heart, hands and health to make communities, the country and the world better places in which to live. This recognition, provided by Michigan 4-H Youth Development with support from the Michigan 4-H Foundation, is a tradition in Faye and Wayne Adam’s family.

Wayne Adam, the family patriarch; Alan Adam, the family’s younger son; and Dawn Reid, the family’s oldest daughter, have all been inducted into the Emerald Clover Society. Their induction allows them to proudly have their names engraved on the 4-H Emerald Clover Society wall at Kettunen Center, and to each to have a recognition award, an exclusive Emerald Clover Society membership pin and individual biographical recognition on the society’s website.

Wayne Adam, Alan Adam and Dawn Reid were selected because of their outstanding professional and business achievements, leadership in community service and philanthropy, contributions to or impact on American society, and significant leadership and achievements as Michigan 4-H members for three or more years – all requirements for nominees.

Faye Adam, although not a past 4-H member herself, recognizes the importance of the Emerald Clover Society through her family’s participation in Michigan 4-H and her service as a past president of the Michigan 4-H Foundation. Mrs. Adam said her family’s induction into the Emerald Clover Society has allowed them to identify “how they have impacted their community by what they have done because they have learned through 4-H the importance of being a volunteer and helping others what they have benefited from.”

As a family of five – Faye, Wayne and their three children – four of the five are eligible for the Emerald Clover Society, and to date, three of them have been inducted.

“It’s just a real special honor for our family to have,” the family says. “It’s a great opportunity for all of us to be involved with Michigan 4-H today in various ways.”

Emerald Clover Society members include former 4-H’ers whose careers vary from politics, teaching and farming to entrepreneurs, community leaders and those who have dedicated their lives to 4-H. Emerald Clover Society members include former Gov. John Engler, former Michigan first lady Janet Blanchard, Mary Ellen Sheets and Fred Meijer. (For the complete list of members, visit www.mi4hfdtn.org/ecs.)

Michigan 4-H Emerald Clover Society members are inducted every two years. The inaugural class of 62 members was inducted in 2002 in honor of the national 4-H centennial. Subsequent classes were inducted in 2004, 2006 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016.

The 4-H Emerald Clover Society class of 2018 nomination deadline has been extended through May 6, 2018.

For more information on the 4-H Emerald Clover Society or to nominate distinguished 4-H alumni, visit www.mi4hfdtn.org/ecs or call the Michigan 4-H Foundation at (517) 353-6692.

Photo cutline: Pictured above are Wayne and Faye Adam with their daughter, Dawn Reid (center), at the 2008 4-H Emerald Clover Society induction ceremony.