Recognized by
Michigan 4-H Youth Development

With support from
Michigan 4-H Foundation

Last updated: June 30, 2006

Retired Elementary School Teacher,
Saginaw Public Schools

“For 60 years 4-H has enriched my life. First, as a member I learned many life skills, made new friends and learned how to work with other people. Later, I was able to attend MSU on 4-H scholarships to achieve my dream of becoming a teacher. I decided to teach in the inner city where I could help children read and I began a 4-H club, giving back to others what had been given to me as a youth.”

For 37 years, Henrietta Hensler dedicated her life to formally helping young children build their reading and math literacy skills. She has also spent many of those years and her retirement helping young people grow, develop and succeed as a 4-H volunteer leader in Bay and Saginaw counties. She retired from the Saginaw Public Schools in 1991 after serving as a reading and math teacher, an early childhood and preschool teacher and a reading specialist for children in preschool through sixth grade. She also taught for the U.S. Army Dependent Schools in France in 1958-60 and in Germany in 1960-61.

Early in her career, Hensler received the Saginaw Jaycees Outstanding Young Educator Award. More recently, she received the Community Service Award for volunteerism presented by Nestle, USA, Inc., and the Golden Rule Award presented by J.C. Penney and the National 4-H Council. In 1956, she was a Michigan International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) ambassador and today is an active member of the IFYE Alumni Association. She served as cochairman for the national IFYE board and was a board member and chairman of the World Conference board for the 50th anniversary.