4-H Youth honored by Governor Granholm
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EmailIt's not every day that someone gets asked to have lunch with the governor. According to Debra Dix, "We weren't even planning on going to the U.P. State Fair, and then we received these tickets in the mail!"
It’s not every day that someone gets asked to have lunch with the governor. According to Debra Dix, whose family received free tickets to attend the U.P. State Fair and an invitation to the luncheon, “We weren’t even planning on going to the U.P. State Fair, and then we received these tickets in the mail!” Debra was very surprised by the free tickets, and so the family decided to attend the luncheon.
It’s been a hard year for the Dix family, who were recently a part of the major layoffs that affected Ontonagon County due to the closure of the Smurfit-Stone paper mill. However, the same mill closure is what engaged daughter Alexandra “Alex” Dix, president of the 4-H Dolittle Club, in her efforts to get Ontonagon’s voice heard. Alex made tremendous efforts, speaking on the local nightly television news, writing letters to legislators and newspaper editors, and speaking out in her community about requiring Smurfit-Stone to sell the mill rather than abandon it after closure.
At home, Alex continued to help out her family through tough times by her entrepreneurial efforts, selling homemade goat’s milk soap, fishing worms, and most recently starting a pet-sitting business. She had no idea that her work was getting attention from Gov. Jennifer Granholm in Lansing.
During her luncheon address, the governor mentioned that she received a gift of Alex’s soap from a friend. To the family’s surprise, the governor then asked Alex to come to the podium. Granholm added, “I had Alex in mind when I signed the Cottage Food Bill,” a bill which enables Michigan residents to engage in the entrepreneurial spirit by selling homemade jams, jellies and baked goods directly to consumers. The governor lauded Alex for several minutes, congratulating her for being a model citizen and a young entrepreneur.
The family’s surprise tickets turned into a wonderful surprise in honor of their daughter’s efforts. According to Debra, “Bob [Alex’s father] almost fell out of his chair when he heard the governor call Alex’s name!”
The Dix family, the Dolittle Club, and Ontonagon County 4-H are very proud of Alex’s accomplishments. As for Alex, she’s continuing her hard work and just signed on for another year as her 4-H club president. With a new honor to add to her portfolio, she hopes to compete next year in the 4-H State Awards for Citizenship.
