Michigan 4-H Alumni Spotlight: Jackie Venton
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EmailOctober 28, 2025
On Wednesday, October 8, MSU Extension hosted the third annual Michigan 4-H Day at the Capitol. This event showcases the positive impact of the Michigan 4-H program and brings visibility to its efforts throughout the state.
Hear from Michigan Department of State Chief Operating Officer Jackie Venton, a Michigan 4-H alumna.
Video Transcript
At this time, I'm pleased to welcome to the stage Jackie Vinton. Jackie, as we mentioned, is the Chief Operating Officer for the Michigan Department of State. She was appointed by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in 2023, and since then, Jackie has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and streamlining processes across various departments. But years before she was COO, Jackie was a 4-H member in Calhoun County 4-H program, participating in the horse and pony program for eight years. Later, Jackie returned to 4-H as a volunteer, serving as a 4-H leader in the same club she was once a member. Please help me welcome Jackie Benton. Thank you so much. It's great to see so many future leaders here today. I was asked to share my personal story, so I appreciate that. That is definitely why I'm here today, in the position that he described. So when I was a child, I was obsessed with horses. When I was four, uh, they found me in a horse pasture, uh, playing with a full, I guess it ran me over. I had a smudge on my bonnet. It was a whole thing. And my mom tells that story to this day. She said, I knew the minute you were in that horse pasture, we were in for it. Um, I was obsessed my whole life. Um, I memorized every breed, every color. I wanted a horse so badly. So finally my father found me, um, some racking lessons every Tuesday on this giant chestnut named Easter and I couldn't wait every week. Yay, it's Tuesday, I get a writing lesson. And that tied me over a little bit. Unfortunately, when I was 12 years old, I woke up in the middle of the night and I could hear my mom yelling. My father, who was a police officer for the police department, Sault Ste. Marie, was violently attacked. I later found out he was actually supposed to, he could have passed away from the injuries he sustained. And he was in a coma for three months. When he woke up, he was no longer my father. He was blind and paralyzed. So we had to move from Sault Ste. Marie to Battle Creek, where there was a head injury clinic. I went into a major depression at this point. I didn't even know if I wanted to live. I lost my riding lessons, my friends, my family. We left with barely anything. So my mom saw the state I was in, and she signed me up for 4-H. And I tell you what, this family that adopted me, I spent summers at their house. I spent every waking minute at their house. They found me a horse to show. They got me show clothes, tack, you name it. They set me up to show horses. And every year following from the time I was 13 until my last year at 20, someone found me a horse to show. Now, let me tell you, when someone just finds you a horse, it's not always trained, okay? So they're like, you can have so -and-so in the posture. So this taught me a lot, right? It taught me to be humble. You are probably going to go into that show where that horse might buck you off, but you know what? You get back on that horse and you try again. I can't tell you how many times I fell off and got frustrated. So I am indebted for that experience. that is part of the reason why I'm here today is because these volunteers that gave up their time their energy their money my mom couldn't come to my horror shows my father couldn't go they were there every single time that my fellow 4-hers rooting me on me rooting them on which is why I continued to volunteer for 4-h this is such an important program for kids I can't tell you how much I learned, I grew, I became a leader. I was so quiet as a child. And by the time I was done with 4-H, I was announcing shows, I was announcing awards. I'm here today talking in front of everyone because of that experience. So I can't express that enough. In my current role, you know, someone asked me today, you're like, I introduced myself to someone who didn't know me. And they're like, so what do you do? I'm like, the chief operating officer. What is that? I'm Um, it's a lot, right? I mean, it's, it's a, it's an array of things over facilities, the branch offices, the DMV people that get driver's licenses. Um, it's, it's a lot. Um, but I have to say when I, um, saw that we were producing this plate, my life was full circle. I'm like the most important thing that ever happened to me ever. And I get to help produce this plate for everyone to have. This is fantastic. And everyone jokes, they're like, that's your favorite plate, Jackie. I'm like, absolutely. So I am really honored to be here today. Thank you for letting me share my story. I have not told that story many times, but I felt like it was important because 4-H saved my life. So thank you so much for having me today.
