Posted on August 28, 2017 at 9:32 AM by Global Reach
Janet Meek has been a long-time supporter of the 4-H program. Janet grew up in a family of 12 children. She enjoyed being outside and helping her father around the farm, although he died at a young age. She was a 4-Her during the time when there were 4-H clubs for girls and 4-H clubs for boys. She couldn’t show livestock as a member of a girls club, so her projects were sewing, cooking, crafts, and writing, especially poetry.
Janet was the leader of the Birmingham Busy Bees 4-H club for 13 years. This club was one of the larger clubs in Van Buren County. One of the special projects Janet remembers was showing the 4-H members how to make flowers out of pigskin.
She served on the Van Buren County Extension Council from 2001-2006. She was also a member of the Van Buren County Pork Producers.
Janet was a strong advocate for the 4-H organization and it’s opportunities for life skill development. She crusaded for the underdog or the 4-H member from a low resource family as well as other 4-H members in Van Buren County.
Janet went from working with county youth activities to assisting with financial fees. She made sure every 4-H member had the opportunity for achievement of personal and educational/career goals. She found a way to make things happen and 4-H alumni have remarked that Janet “made a difference in their lives.”
Her husband Van was also a 4-H leader and their 2 sons, Brian and Richard were active 4-H members. Janet firmly believes in 4-H and the personal development for the 4-Her and the family involvement that is an essential part of the 4-H program.
Janet will always be a 4-H promoter.
