Tom Nugent is a true supporter of agriculture and youth development. His 10-year 4-H career set him up for success as a professional, completing two degrees from Michigan State University (MSU) in 1992 – one in food systems, economics and management and the other in agricultural and natural resources communications. In 2011, he earned a Master of Business Administration from Western Michigan University. After a short career in agribusiness, he returned to Michigan to serve as a regional representative for Michigan Farm Bureau. He went on to work with county Farm Bureau communication committees and county newsletters before becoming the manager of member services for Michigan Farm Bureau. Nugent then served 16 years as director of field operations. Today, he is the director of human resources, providing leadership for the future generation of agriculturalists. Outside of his professional career, Nugent has served as president of the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Alumni Association and has served on MSU’s Michigan Dairy Memorial Scholarship Fund board of directors.

As a Kent County 4-H’er, Nugent was a member of the 1988 winning State 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Team, and a royal ambassador for the Kent County Youth Fair. He competed at the World Dairy Expo with the state 4-H Dairy Judging Team. He competed in dairy and dairy beef project areas for 10 years before going on to compete in collegiate dairy judging at MSU. Today, he is the founder and co-leader for Milky Way 4-H Club in Kent County, the team coach for the Kent County Dairy Quiz Bowl team and assistant for the county dairy calf program.