Washtenaw County 4-H’er Nancy Thelen is an MSU graduate with a bachelor’s in home economic education. She began her career as home economics teacher at Swartz Creek Middle School. She spent the next five years in Nebraska and Illinois working in beef cattle sales. In 1979, Thelen launched her career in MSU Extension as Eaton County 4-H youth agent, a role she served for 10 years before assuming her current position as county extension director for Washtenaw County. A 4-H leader for over 10 years, Thelen remains involved in 4-H today. She was a member of the State 4-H Livestock Programming Committee, Michigan 4-H Livestock Camp and served two years as a Michigan 4-H Foundation trustee. A Michigan Farm Bureau member since 1987, Thelen worked closely with Eaton County Farm Bureau and the Eaton Intermediate School District to create and fund a Rural Life Past and Present education program and also helped to create Washtenaw County’s Project Rural Education Day (RED). Over the past thirty years, Thelen has held numerous roles with the Michigan Angus Association, the Michigan Angus Auxiliary and the American Angus Auxiliary, where she currently serves as president. She serves as Michigan Junior Angus Association advisor and is the former director, vice president and president of the Michigan Junior Livestock Society. A proud MSU alumna, Thelen has served as director and scholarship co-chair for the Washtenaw County MSU Alumni Club and is also a charter member of the Washtenaw County Ag Boosters/FFA Alumni. Her professional organizations include memberships in the Michigan and National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Staff and Epsilon Sigma Phi where she served as historian and has received the MSU John Hannah Award for her work on an MSU Extension team.