2002 4-H Centennial Alumni-The Inaugural Class of the Emerald Clover Society

Recognized by
Michigan 4-H Youth Development

With support from
Michigan 4-H Foundation

Last updated: June 30, 2006

The Emerald Clover Society reflects the ultimate outcome of 4-H membership—extraordinary use of an individual's head, heart, hands and health to make our communities, our country and our world a better place in which to live.

2002 4-H Centennial Alumni: The Inaugural Class of the Emerald Clover Society

LouAnn Olsen LouAnn Olsen, Otsego County 4-H'er

Director, Responsible Thinking Center,
Gaylord Intermediate School District

“My 4-H involvement as a child was a very positive experience that influence me to want to share with others what I was taught in 4-H. It made me feel a part of something that really meant so much to me at that time. It has been a very rewarding experience seeing children succeed and they know someone cares about them.”

LouAnn Olsen has introduced innovative methods for improving the education of children in the Gaylord Area School District. She introduced and is the director of the Responsible Thinking Center at the Intermediate School where she encourages fourth-through sixth-graders to consider and model responsible behaviors as a means of administering discipline. The program is based on one administered in Arizona. On a typical school day, she will see 20 to 50 students referred by teachers for behavior-related issues.

Olsen has also served on the Big Lake Township Board for the past 20 years. She has served as township treasurer and was recently elected township supervisor. In addition to her volunteer service to Otsego County’s 4-H youth program, she is a member and volunteer for both the Otsego County Historical Society and the Otsego Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She is also an Otsego County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program volunteer.