Specht named Michigan 4-H Volunteer of the Year
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EmailSaginaw County 4-H volunteer Jennifer Specht has been honored with a prestigious Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer of the Year award.
Saginaw County 4-H volunteer Jennifer Specht has been honored with a prestigious Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer of the Year award. Specht was recognized on Sept. 21 during the Michigan 4-H Legacy Awards Celebration hosted by Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan 4-H Foundation in East Lansing.
The 4-H Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to outstanding 4-H volunteers who have 10 years of service or less. Winners are selected through a statewide nomination and review process.
The award highlights the important work of 4-H volunteers across the state who share their time, energy and commitment to 4-H every day to improve the lives of Michigan young people. Through the 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards program, MSU Extension’s 4-H Youth Development program honors outstanding volunteers for their unwavering dedication to 4-H and Michigan young people.
Specht has been the club leader for the 4-H Frankenmuth Pacesetters Club for four years and has already made a major impact on the 4-H community. Under Specht’s leadership, the club has seen tremendous growth and exciting new developments, such as the introduction of the 4-H dog project to the club.
Specht incorporates team-building, life skill development, and giving back to the community into the club’s program year. Service projects have included making chemo bags for young patients in a children’s hospital, collecting hygiene products for foster children, and donating time, food, and clothing to the Franklin Avenue Mission. Specht is passionate about instilling lifelong values in 4-H’ers and helping them develop confidence, determination, and courage. She believes that young people learn best by doing—making mistakes and figuring out solutions on their own—and she loves to help guide them in their learning journey.
“My greatest reward is watching the children learn and develop new skills that give them confidence and find their self-worth and value,” said Specht. “They learn they can make a difference in others and the world around them. I take pride in knowing we are helping develop future leaders that will have care and concern for others.”
Specht also volunteers with the Saginaw County 4-H program in many other capacities. She is an instructor for the county 4-H fishing, archery, rifle, and Cloverbud programs and has been the lead chaperone for the Saginaw County delegation at 4-H Exploration Days for three years. Specht currently serves as co-president of the Saginaw County 4-H Advisory Board and has served on the Saginaw County 4-H By-Laws Committee. Specht has been instrumental in encouraging youth to use their voice and has had club members join her on each of these committees. She has been recognized for her efforts with a community service award and was named 4-H Sportsperson of the Year in 2023.
Robert Richards also received a 4-H Salute to Excellence Award at the event for 2024 Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer. 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 Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture Awards, 50-year 4-H volunteers, winners of the MSU 4-H Scholarship, and retiring 4-H staff.
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/.
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.
