Michigan 4-H Spotlight: Logan Dole
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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 18-year-old Michigan 4-H member Logan Dole, who is a college freshman from Clare County.
Video Transcript
Next, I would like to welcome to the stage a current Michigan 4-H'er, Logan Doyle. Logan is an 18 -year-old college freshman from Clare County. He has been in 4-H for the past three years, participating in signature 4-H programs like 4-H Capital Experience and 4-H Exploration Days. Logan was also a 4-H Community Ambassador for the Michigan Vaccine Project. Please help me welcome Logan. Good afternoon, everyone. It may be impossible to tell, but if you knew me before I joined 4-H, you would know that I wasn't always the kind of person you'd expect to see speaking in front of a crowd. I used to be quiet, nervous, and honestly terrified of the idea, sharing my opinion. My opinions publicly. If there was a way to avoid raising my hand, I'd take it. If there was a group discussion, I'd let other people lead. It wasn't that I didn't have ideas. It was that I didn't believe that they were worth hearing. That changed when I found 4-H. From the very beginning, 4-H gave me something I didn't even realize I was missing, a safe space to grow. It wasn't just about teaching skills. It was about believing in me before I believed in myself. Through experiences like being a 4-H Youth Ambassador for the Michigan Vaccine Project and 4-H Capital Experience, I was encouraged to speak up, share my thoughts, and be a part of the real decision making. But here's the thing. 4-H didn't just give me a microphone. It gave me the confidence to use it. The adults I work with didn't just tell me what to do. They asked me what I thought. They valued my perspective, and they gave me room to lead in my own way. That trust changed the way I saw myself, not as someone in the background, but as someone capable of making a difference. Over time, I began to notice changes in myself. I was no longer avoiding opportunities to speak, I was seeking them out. I was no longer afraid to lead a group. I was stepping into leadership roles willingly. I was not only learning to share my own ideas, but also learning how to create spaces where others felt comfortable sharing theirs. That's the real magic of 4-H. It's not just a program, it's a community. A community that empowers youth to believe in their abilities. It teaches us that leadership is more than a title. it's listening collaborating and helping others shine it gives us skills that matter far beyond our years in 4-H for me 4-H has been the difference between keeping my thoughts to myself and standing here in front of you all today it's the reason I can walk into a room full of strangers and feel confident enough to speak it's the reason I've learned to take to take on challenges instead of avoiding them when I think about the impact 4-H has had on me it's not just about the projects I've completed or the events I've attended. It's about the person I've become because of them. And if 4-H can do that for me, I know I can do the same for countless other young people. Thank you.