Rogers honored as outstanding 4-H agriculture volunteer
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EmailMandy Rogers of Washtenaw County was among five Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award recipients honored in 2024.
Mandy Rogers of Washtenaw County was among five Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award recipients honored on Sept. 21 during the Michigan 4-H Legacy Awards Celebration. The event was hosted by Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan 4-H Foundation in East Lansing.
The award recognizes the outstanding youth education and leadership development achievements of Michigan 4-H volunteers in the beef cattle; dairy cattle; goats; horses; horticulture, crops and soils; poultry; rabbits; sheep; swine; and veterinary science project areas. Honorees receive $1,000 grants they can use for training, to buy supplies or curriculum, or to enhance local or statewide programming.
Rogers has helped the Washtenaw County 4-H program in countless ways since first becoming a volunteer 15 years ago. She has been the adult volunteer leader of the Saline 4-H Farmers 4-H Club; leader of the county 4-H Cloverbud Camp; coordinator of the 4-H Cloverbud Mentor Program; adult advisor to the small animal, livestock, and dairy committees; and superintendent of the 4-H Cloverbud and poultry divisions at the county fair. In all these roles, Rogers exemplifies the 4-H guiding principles of positive youth development by providing a safe space for young people to be active participants in their learning and to develop real world skills.
Active participation is a central focus in all Rogers does. As leader of a club with more than 50 members, she engages 4-H’ers in choosing club activities and projects. As an adult advisor on various committees, Rogers encourages youth involvement in decision-making, giving them real life experience in leading and managing committees and making decisions.
As coordinator of the county 4-H Cloverbud Mentor Program, Rogers engages the youngest children in the 4-H experience, pairing them with teen mentors to show livestock, dairy cattle, or small animals. This exciting program often lights a fire in 4-H Cloverbuds that leads them to a long career in agriculture or 4-H and providing teen mentors with a valuable experience, too.
“It brings such joy to see the kids learn about what they are passionate about,” said Rogers. “To see the kids win an award after they have tried so hard in learning a new skill is amazing. I love seeing the kids have fun at 4-H meetings, at activities, and at the fair. They bring such great joy to me!”
A Lenawee County 4-H alumna, Rogers has been pledging her hands to larger service for decades. Today she helps current 4-H’ers do the same. She coordinates a community service project at the Washtenaw County 4-H Youth Show where 4-H’ers raise market birds to donate to the Saline Area Social Services program to feed families in need. Her club members also plant flowers, make holiday cards for local seniors, donate paper products to needy families, pack meals for the Coalition Against Hunger, and bring animals to live Christmas nativities. Rogers has a passion for seeing all youth succeed and is a respectful role model for all members of the 4-H community.
The other 2024 recipients of the 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Awards are Donna Budd of Wayne County, Rick Gould and Kevin Yeager of St. Joseph County, Charity Hackett of Berrien County and Angela Oakman of Washtenaw County. The award is supported by an endowment with the Michigan 4-H Foundation that was established by Michigan Farm Bureau. To learn more about the 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award and awardees visit https://mi4hfdtn.org/4-h-emerald-awards/michigan-farm-bureau-4-h-excellence-in-agriculture-award/.
Other honorees recognized at the 2024 Michigan 4-H Legacy Awards Celebration included partners receiving the Michigan 4-H Citation Award, inductees into the 2024 class of the 4-H Emerald Clover Society, volunteers awarded the Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards, 50-year 4-H volunteers, winners of the MSU 4-H Scholarship, and retiring 4-H staff.
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. Nearly 135,000 youth are involved in 4-H with the support of 8,000 adult volunteers. For more information about Michigan 4-H, visit www.4h.msue.msu.edu.
