3 Volunteers Reflect on 50 Years of 4-H Leadership
Published: Friday, June 19, 2026
It's rare for a 4-H leader to continue volunteering for 20, 30 or even 40 years. But Cass County (Mich.) has three 4-H leaders who have reached the half-century mark—and are still going strong.
Peter and Linda Preston, who met in 4-H, and Betty Groth, all from Dowagiac, were recently honored by Michigan State University Extension for their dedication to the 4-H program. They are among 11 people statewide who have served as 4-H volunteers for at least 50 years.
Peter and Linda are leaders of the M-40 Hustlers. They took over in 2000 from another couple that had led the club for a long time. Linda started out as a 4-H leader in dog obedience and then transitioned to basketweaving. She continues to teach that skill and is also the key leader for the M-40 Hustlers, which has 40 members. Peter provides support.
Betty leads the North Red Hill 4-H club, which has quite a few members involved in the horse project, but also many other project areas. The club was created by Betty's grandparents.
All three 4-H leaders were all 4-H'ers themselves at one time. They put their children through 4-H, and now they have the next generation entering.
"We have grandkids just getting into it now," Peter said. "They're pushing us."
Like many 4-H leaders, the Prestons always save up their vacation time for fair week.
"When our kids were growing up, basically that was our vacation," Linda said, referring to fair week. "They would have their animals. Our kids showed everything from beef to dairy cows to goats and sheep and pigs and rabbits."
All three leaders say one of the biggest changes with the 4-H program is an explosion of new rules.
"A lot of them are probably good," Linda said. "Anything to protect children."
Peter pointed to the additional project areas offered through 4-H. He said the new projects are designed to appeal to a wider range of interests. When he was a youth, 4-H offered a narrow list of projects that were largely meant for farm kids. But now there is a project for almost any type of interest.
"When I showed, you showed animals at the fair, and that was basically what 4-H was known for," Peter said. "And now, 4-H is so diversified. Anything that you can think of is pretty much what you can take to the fair."
The diversification reflects how the 4-H program is reinventing itself. Once dominated by farm youths, the youth educational program now has a wider audience. Four-H clubs can be found in inner city schools, with project areas like robotics and scrapbooking.
The Prestons say their club has fewer members compared to 25 years ago.
"When I was in the club, we had close to 100 kids," Peter said. "Now, you have like 30."
To hold the children's interest, the Prestons have become more creative.
"At one of our last meetings, we had a robotics demonstration," Linda said. "A lot of kids found that to be very interesting. We try to show them some of the new and different things."
The 4-H leaders get their 4-H'ers involved in community service projects, like roadside cleanup, sending cards to patients at the veteran's hospital in Battle Creek, and sending Christmas cards to active-duty military personnel.
Last year, the Prestons organized a field trip to a county park on the Dowagiac River. The 4-H'ers learned about the river and how to keep it healthy and clean. Linda said the students had a great time.
Five members of the M-40 Hustlers recently attended Exploration Days at Michigan State University. The youths stayed in a dormitory and attended classes—just like real college students. The classes covered a wide variety of topics, including animal husbandry, crafts, canoeing and many other things.
Linda, who attended MSU, attended Exploration Days when she was in 4-H. The experience impacted her so much that wants to help young people in 4-H. She is now the township supervisor in Pokagon Twp.
Another impactful trip was the Citizenship Washington Focus trip. Both Peter and Linda visited Washington, D.C. as 4-H'ers, then, a few years after they were married, they served as chaperones.
Groth said her 4-H club participates in the Dowagiac Fun Fest and holds car washes and bake sales.
"You name it, we've done a little bit of everything," she said.
During National 4-H Week, members decorate the windows in downtown Dowagiac.
After 50 years as a 4-H leader, Groth has seen and done it all. She plans to be at the Cass County Fair again this year—staying in a camper, as always, and being a reassuring presence for her family and 4-H club.
"No, I keep going," she said when asked about retiring from 4-H. Her mother was a 4-H leader for over 60 years.
"It's all in the family for our club," she said. "My grandparents started it, my mom and dad were key leaders, my oldest sister was a key leader, and now my nephew is a key leader."
In addition, she has another sister who is a 4-H leader in Van Buren County, and her son is also a 4-H leader.
"We all cut our teeth at the fairgrounds," she said.
For Peter and Linda, it would be an understatement to say that 4-H has opened up new opportunities for them. Married for 43 years, they met through a 4-H co-ed softball tournament. Linda was a player and Peter, the coach. One year, the team advanced to the state and won. During the Cass County Fair, Peter gave Linda a ride home in his car, and "I think that kind of kicked it off," he said.
Soon after, Peter asked Linda for a date and she said yes. Their first date was to see Bob Hope perform at the Berrien County Youth Fair.
Four-H proved to be a life-changing experience for the Prestons, and the leaders say 4-H can do that for today's youth as well.
"I think everyone should be involved with 4-H," Linda said, "because you learn responsibility, respect, patience and a lot of good values. It really builds good character for young people."
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