MSU Extension 4-H Volunteering & Mentoring

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Kent County 4-H alumnus W. G. (Mac) McPherson, of Lowell, is among eight 4-H alumni inducted into the Michigan 4-H Emerald Clover Society in 2018. McPherson was recognized on Oct. 5 during the Michigan 4-H Foundation’s 4-H Emerald Awards Ceremony in East Lansing.

The Michigan 4-H Emerald Clover Society honors former Michigan 4-H members whose professional leadership and community service reflect the ultimate outcome of 4-H membership – extraordinary use of an individual’s head, heart, hands and health to make communities, the country and the world better places in which to live. This recognition is provided by Michigan 4-H Youth Development with support from the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

McPherson began his career as a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Financial in 1975. Today, he leads Team McPherson, a group of self-employed experts who collaboratively advise very accomplished business owners, corporate executives and their organizations to plan, design and fund executive benefits, succession, exit strategies, wealth transfer and family legacy plans. Along with receiving many accolades, McPherson has trained as a Strategic Coach Multiplier, a five-year international coaching program offered to entrepreneurs in all industries. He has completed three levels from the Life Underwriter Training Council and has been certified as a Disability Income Master, an award bestowed on only 125 of 5,000 Mass Mutual agents. McPherson also has served as president of the Grand Rapids Mass Mutual Agent’s Association and Grand Rapids Association of Life Underwriters. He has been a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors since 1975, and a member and past board member of the West Michigan Estate Planning Council.

McPherson has also been an elected trustee for Grand Rapids Community College, president of the Vergennes Township Cemetery Association, member of the Mason Grand Rapids Blue Lodge, member of the board of directors of the Michigan Centennial Farm Association, president of the Lowell Rotary Club and much more. McPherson is a Michigan State University (MSU) graduate who was active in the Michigan Senate as a senate aide and served as an aide to Senate Majority Leader Emil Lockwood in 1970. He has also been honored as an MSU Landon Society member for making a deferred gift to the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

“4-H in the ‘60s was fun and the competition was friendly,” said McPherson. “I made lots of friends from all over the county and state. I also made friends in many other states when I attended the Washington, D.C., one-week session for qualifying 4-H’ers. 4-H is tremendous!”

McPherson’s leadership began in Kent County 4-H where he served as vice president of the Kent County 4-H Youth Service Club, chaired the 4-H Youth Service Club food and beverage booth at the Kent County Fair, and was a club officer. As a 4-H member, he participated in dairy, horticulture, vegetable, field crops and demonstration projects. McPherson raised dairy cows, receiving several grand champion awards at the county and 4-H state show. He was also the State 4-H Dairy Project Award runner-up. McPherson feels that his 4-H experiences were life changing, and they shaped his life vision to set the high expectations for himself that he still embodies today.

The 4-H Emerald Awards Ceremony was hosted and emceed by State Sen. Judy Emmons, a Montcalm County 4-H alumna and 2014 4-H Emerald Clover Society inductee. Also inducted into the 4-H Emerald Clover Society Class of 2018 were: Darwin Booher, Evart; Domonique Clemons, Flint; Ronald Hendrick, East Lansing; Barbara Haynes Heyboer, Hudsonville; Thomas Nugent, Clarksville; Maggie Sans, Clarkston; and Gretna Van Fleet, Frankenmuth.

Michigan 4-H Emerald Clover Society members are inducted every two years. The inaugural class of 62 members was inducted in 2002 to coincide with the national 4-H centennial. For more information on the 4 H Emerald Clover Society and its members, visit www.mi4hfdtn.org/ecs.

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 Michigan State University Extension. More than 209,000 youth are involved in 4-H with the support of 16,000 adult volunteers. For more information about Michigan 4-H, visit www.4h.msue.msu.edu.