As many may recall, in May 2020 the Michigan 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees made the difficult decision to permanently close and sell Kettunen Center, the 4-H volunteer and youth conference center in Tustin, Mich., owned and operated by the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

Over the past year, the Kettunen Center Memorabilia Committee has been hard at work. Historical 4-H and Kettunen Center items of significance will be donated to either MSU Archives or the MSU Museum, depending on which items each location will accept. These historical items have all been cataloged, boxed and are ready for delivery as soon as campus allows.

The sponsored bricks from Kettunen Center have been relocated to the Schoolyard Demonstration Garden at the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens. Additionally, the Reach for the Stars metal art honoring Don Jost, executive director emeritus, has also been placed in the Schoolyard Demonstration Garden. The 4-H Emerald Clover Society recognition formerly on display at Kettunen Center is in process to be redesigned to fit the 4-H Children’s Gardens theme.

There are over 100 items from Kettunen Center to be placed for auction which range from paintings, to prints, to books. The auction will likely be an online auction due to the ongoing pandemic. The Michigan 4-H Foundation will send out more information to constituents once auction details are confirmed.

In May 2021, the Michigan 4-H Foundation entered into a lease agreement with an intent to purchase with a religious youth
organization to run their youth camp at Kettunen Center this past summer. While the sale is not finalized at this time, the board is
anticipating a sale closing in early 2022.

After the completion of the sale, the board plans to allocate the net proceeds (after sale expenses and debt repayment) to support Michigan 4-H. The board will continue share information when possible. We know and understand that Kettunen Center continues to be near and dear to the hearts of many within our Michigan 4-H family.

Sponsored bricks from Kettunen Center have been relocated to the Schoolyard Demonstration Garden at the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens on the Michigan State University campus.