Ila Methner Ezop has always been a role model for other 4-H volunteers and members. She founded the Midland County 4-H style show and the 4-H achievement booths at the Midland County Fair. She served on the state 4-H clothing and textiles programming committee, judged the clothing and fashion review state 4-H award, taught at many Kettunen Center workshops, and chaperoned at Citizenship Washington Focus, the National 4-H Conference and 4-H Exploration Days. For the past 10 years as fund-raising treasurer, Ezop has been accountable for more than $500,000 in fundraising to help many Midland County 4-H members attend National 4-H Congress, state 4-H exchanges and other activities.

She has been known in her community for ringing the Salvation Army bell and soliciting for the March of Dimes. She also visits nursing homes and delivers food to the elderly. Ezop is a member of her church choir, taught Sunday school and served as secretary for various church programs. She is also a Michigan 4-H Foundation donor. Beginning when she was 14 years old, she dreamed of becoming a dental hygienist. As a teen-ager, she worked in an oral surgeon’s office for three years before taking a job as a secretary for the Dow Chemical Co. for the next eight years. After raising a family, she decided to go back to college to pursue a degree in dental hygiene. Ezop graduated from Delta Dental College in 1983 and has worked as a dental hygienist for Dr. C.E. Hannah in Midland for the past 21 years.