Jennifer Payne

Jennifer Payne

Contact Me

4-H Program Coordinator
Oceana County Extension Office

Cellphone:
231-724-4739

Email:

Jennifer Payne is a Michigan State University Extension 4-H program coordinator in Oceana County. She has worked in this capacity since August 2024. In this role, Jennifer provides leadership and management of local 4-H programs, volunteers, and youth participants in Muskegon County. She promotes and strengthens the Muskegon County 4-H program by developing programs and partnerships, promoting, and evaluating 4-H programs, and recruiting and training volunteers. Jennifer is also the liaison from the state Michigan 4-H office and helps to ensure that statewide opportunities and information are available to local participants. Certified Youth Quality Care of Animals Instructor and has been certified to provide initial help to a young person experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge.
 
Jennifer grew up in Alpena county's 4-H program and was raised on a fruit and ag tourism farm. She has been showing livestock nationally since her beginning in 4-H. As an adult she became an active 4-H volunteer serving on multiple county boards and councils and administrating her own 4-H clubs. Jennifer currently has a small hobby farm and enjoys showing Boer Goats and Draft Horses nationally with her daughter. They also occasionally show rabbits and poultry, species which were a passion for her as a younger member. Jennifer is a member of Michigan Draft Horse Breeders, Clydesdale Breeders of America, Michigan Horse Council, American Boer Goat Association, Muskegon County Trail Riders Association, and The National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.
 
Before joining MSU Extension in 2023, Jennifer attended and earned a degree from Baker College of Owosso and worked in Medical Laboratory Science for 13 years. Before moving to the area, she was working for Manistee Intermediate School District as a Transition Community Living Coordinator helping center based special education students become more independent. Prior to August 2024, Jennifer was serving MSU Extension as the 4-H program coordinator for Muskegon County.
Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).