For 33 years, Jean Martin has been a steadfast and selfless leader in the Washtenaw County 4-H program. Her decades of knowledge, experience and dedication have reached nearly every area of the program. Quiet and humble, Martin never seeks recognition; when something needs to be done, she simply steps forward.
Since the late 1990s, Martin has served on the Washtenaw County 4-H Advisory Council, including as secretary. She is co-superintendent of still projects, overseeing judging, recruiting and orienting judges, as well as ensuring the department runs smoothly. Martin also serves as an administrative leader for Country Expressions 4-H Club and assists with the county 4-H archery program. Throughout the years, she has contributed to the Livestock and Dairy Committee, Youth Show Committee and Spring Achievement program.
Martin’s service has extended far beyond her formal roles. She has helped lead the annual 4-H Holiday Tree Sale, assisted with the 4-H Recognition Program, served on scholarship and awards committees, worked in the 4-H kitchen during youth shows, participated in county work bees and has spent countless Saturdays teaching basket weaving and sewing to youth. Martin has also helped her club support Project Rural Education Days by preparing materials for nearly 2,000 students and more than
80 teachers.
Perhaps Martin’s greatest legacy is the young people she has mentored. Former club members have returned as 4-H volunteers and leaders, including dairy, livestock, auction and committee superintendents and officers. Her influence has created a lasting cycle of service and leadership within the county.
Martin has also been an invaluable mentor to 4-H staff, sharing her institutional knowledge and helping new staff understand the history and inner workings of the program. Named Washtenaw County 4-H Leader of the Year in 1999, Martin has become a cornerstone of the Washtenaw County 4-H program, helping to enrich the experiences and lives of countless 4-H families across her three decades of service.
