Volunteer Recognition

Great Lakes, Great Leaders Recognition Program

The Great Lakes, Great Leaders recognition program offers an opportunity for staff, volunteers, community members, participants and their families to nominate volunteers who demonstrate outstanding dedication, leadership and impact within their communities. Volunteers are the heart of MSU Extension 4-H Youth Development programs, and this recognition program celebrates those make a difference in their clubs and communities.

Those nominated must be active Gold and Silver level volunteers with Michigan 4-H. They will receive a letter, certificate, window cling and sticker to proudly display.

Recipients are acknowledged for their contributions and may be considered for the Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards, further highlighting their influence and commitment.

The nomination process invites community members to share stories of volunteer excellence, showcasing the transformative power of service and the vital role volunteers play in enriching lives across Michigan. Nominate someone today by completing the Great Lakes, Great Leaders Nomination form.

The nomination form will ask you to provide the following information about the nominee:

Why are you nominating this individual?
Specific achievements or contributions?
Describe the impact?
Share any additional comments or supporting materials related to their nomination.

Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards

The Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards highlight the important work of 4-H volunteers across the state. Volunteers are, undeniably, the “heart and soul” of 4-H, and in an age when time is at a premium, the Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Award serves as an opportunity to acknowledge our volunteers’ unwavering dedication to Michigan 4-H Youth Development. These awards honor outstanding volunteers for their dedication to youth. There are two categories for nominations:

The Lifetime Volunteer Award is presented to a 4-H volunteer with more than ten years of service.
The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to a 4-H volunteer with ten years of service or less.

These awards are patterned after the national 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards. Currently, Michigan 4-H does not have an organized system for providing state, regional or national recognition to its volunteers. Instituting this award in Michigan provides us with this opportunity and assists in the identification and selection of individuals to be nominated for the national Lifetime Volunteer Award and Volunteer of the Year Award.

Each year, counties are invited to nominate two outstanding individual volunteers, one in each of two categories. A state winner and runner up will be selected in each category. Recipients of the Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer Recognition Awards will be chosen from nominees submitted by county 4-H offices. Each year the recipients of the Michigan 4-H Lifetime Volunteer Award and the 4-H Volunteer of the Year Award will be submitted for regional and national recognition honors. Recipients of each award will be presented with a plaque and asked to designate a 4-H program, club or activity to be the recipient of a $400 monetary award in their name.

Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award

Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture

The Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes outstanding achievements of Michigan 4-H volunteers or groups that have exhibited excellence in 4-H youth education and leadership development in the areas of 4-H beef cattle; dairy cattle; goats; horses; horticulture, crops and soils; poultry; rabbits; sheep; swine; and veterinary science. Honorees choose where their $1,000 recognition award will go to advance Michigan 4-H youth development programming in agriculture. Visit the Michigan 4-H Foundation website for the application materials.