2025 Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Award recipients
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EmailTwo remarkable Michigan 4-H volunteers were named the 2025 Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Award winners for their outstanding contributions to both county and state 4-H programs: Keri Bancroft of Grand Traverse County and Lynn Olthof of Ottawa County.
Two remarkable Michigan 4-H volunteers were named the 2025 Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Award winners for their outstanding contributions to both county and state 4-H programs: Keri Bancroft of Grand Traverse County and Lynn Olthof of Ottawa County. These individuals join an elite group of 4-H volunteers who have dedicated their time to serve Michigan 4-H youth and help make the best better.
The Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards highlight the important work of 4-H volunteers across the state who share their time, energy and commitment with 4-H every day to improve the lives of Michigan young people. Through the 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards program, Michigan State University Extension’s 4-H Youth Development program honors outstanding volunteers for their unwavering dedication to 4-H and Michigan young people.
This year, Lynn Olthof, of Spring Lake, was named the Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence 4-H Volunteer of the Year. This award is bestowed on outstanding Michigan 4-H volunteers with 10 years of service or less. Olthof is a heavily-involved and deeply committed volunteer with the Michigan 4-H dairy program. She routinely gives her time to campus-based events, including Michigan 4-H Dairy Days, the Michigan 4-H Dairy Conference and 4-H Career Quest. Among her many contributions, Olthof helps to facilitate the state 4-H dairy quiz bowl contest, dairy management contest and dairy judging contest. She also frequently teaches sessions to 4-H’ers on animal science careers, dairy judging, dairy nutrition and dairy management.
“Lynn always goes above and beyond to help with whatever she can,” said Kendra Van Order, MSU Extension 4-H dairy educator, who nominated Olthof for the award. “She loves and supports the 4-H program because she grew up in it and she knows what it can do for others. She believes that showing up for others is an integral part of any program's success.”
Receiving the Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award, which honors a 4-H volunteer with more than 10 years of service, is Keri Bancroft of Buckley. Bancroft has been involved as a 4-H volunteer with the Northwest Michigan 4-H Livestock Council for 12 years. Currently, Bancroft serves as president of the council, supporting 4-H youth in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties who exhibit livestock at the Northwestern Michigan Fair. Outside her work with the council, Bancroft is the leader of the Happy Highlanders 4-H Club and helps to organize the annual Education Expo, an educational conference for 400-500 4-H youth and their families.
“Keri is wonderful at spotting gifts in others and knows how to lead them to opportunities where they can use their gifts to thrive in 4-H,” said Sarah Bye, 4-H program coordinator for Grand Traverse County MSU Extension, who nominated Bancroft for the award. “This provides them with opportunities to feel empowered and take ownership of different aspects of our local 4-H community as leaders and educators.”
Recipients of the Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards receive a $400 monetary award donated in their name to the 4-H program, club or activity of their choice. These grants are made possible by the Michigan 4-H Volunteer Recognition Fund of the Michigan 4-H Foundation. Awardees will also receive a personalized recognition memento and have their name engraved on the Salute to Excellence brick path located at the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens in East Lansing, Mich.
To make a tribute gift through the Michigan 4-H Foundation in honor of these outstanding individuals, visit mi4hfdtn.org/memorialtributedonation/. For more information about the 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards and past honorees, visit https://mi4hfdtn.org/4-h-emerald-awards/michigan-4-h-salute-to-excellence-awards/.
