The Michigan 4-H Foundation hosted the second 4-H Town and Country Gala for Michigan’s Youth Sept. 16 at the MSU Tollgate Education Center in Novi, Michigan.

The 4-H Town and Country Gala featured the 4-H Emerald Awards: the Michigan 4-H Citation Award, the 4-H Emerald Clover Society Class of 2016 and the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award. These awards are provided by Michigan 4-H Youth Development with support from the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

Serving as mistress of ceremonies was Ionia County 4-H alumna Jamie Clover Adams, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and 2014 4-H Emerald Clover Society inductee.

Michigan 4-H Citation Awards

Michigan 4-H Citation Award recipients are Noel and Sandra Stuckman, of DeWitt, Michigan, and the Michigan Milk Producers Association. Since its inception in 1946, the Michigan 4-H Citation Award, the highest recognition presented by Michigan 4-H, has honored and recognized individuals and organizations whose contributions to and support of Michigan State University (MSU) Extension 4-H Youth Development programs have significantly advanced the work of Michigan 4-H on a multicounty, regional, statewide and national basis. The contributions of honorees have served to expand the capacity of Michigan 4-H to make positive impacts on the lives of Michigan’s young people in significant and meaningful ways.

Michigan 4-H Emerald Clover Society

Michigan 4-H Emerald Clover Society (ECS) Class of 2016 inductees are: Alan W. Adam of Howard City, Ohio; Gary L. Koppelman of Blissfield, Michigan; Dennis H. Krafft of Frankenmuth, Michigan; David D. Kugler of Ortonville, Michigan;Tom A. Stewart of Lansing, Michigan; Mary Lou Tanton of Petoskey, Michigan; and Heather A. Triezenberg of Lansing, Michigan.

The 4-H Emerald Clover Society honors Michigan 4-H alumni whose professional leadership and community service reflect the ultimate outcome of 4-H membership – extraordinary use of an individual’s head, heart, hands and health to make communities, the country and the world better places in which to live. ECS members receive a recognition award, an exclusive ECS membership pin, and individual biographical recognition on the society’s website and on the ECS wall at Kettunen Center. ECS members are inducted every two years. The inaugural class was inducted in 2002 in honor of the national 4-H centennial. Nominations for the 2018 ECS class are available online at www.mi4hfdtn.org and will be accepted through Jan. 31, 2018.

MFB 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Awards

The MFB 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award, funded by the MFB 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Endowment Fund, recognizes outstanding achievements of Michigan 4-H volunteers or groups that have exhibited excellence in 4-H youth education and leadership development in 4-H agriculture areas. Honorees designate a $1,000 grant to a 4-H agricultural program of their choice. For more information on the MFB 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award, visit www.mi4hdtn.org.

The 2014 recipients to be honored are: Trudy Herzog of Paris, Michigan; Erika Humm of Breckenridge, Michigan; and Nell Ward of Dowagiack, Michigan. The 2015 recipients are: Katelyn Horning of Manchester, Michigan; Tara Miller of Charlotte, Michigan; and the Kounty Klover Kids 4-H Club of Livingston County. The 2016 recipients are: Penny Sween of Leslie, Michigan, and Hollis and Jill Rockwell of Shelby, Michigan.

The Michigan 4-H Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that supports Michigan 4-H Youth Development. For more information about the Michigan 4-H Foundation, visit www.mi4hfdtn.org. Michigan 4-H Youth Development is the youth-serving program of MSU Extension. More than 200,000 youth are involved in 4-H with the support of 17,000 adult volunteers. For more information about Michigan 4-H, visit www.4h.msue.msu.edu.