Recognized by
Michigan 4-H Youth Development

With support from
Michigan 4-H Foundation

Last updated: May 26, 2004

State Senator, 21st District

“I believe my 4-H experience is directly responsible for my following a career in agricultural education and also my ability to be elected and carry out my duties….”

Ron Jelinek currently serves as the Michigan Senate’s majority caucus vice chairperson. Before becoming a senator, he served two years on the House Agriculture Policy Committee and then was appointed vice chairperson of the House Appropriations Committee. He also served as the chair of K-12 education funding committee, and was a member of the agriculture and community college and transportation; consumer and industry services, and history, arts and library subcommittees. He was elected to the board of directors for the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory and was appointed a member of the Midwestern Higher Education Commission. In 2002, Jelinek represented the United States in the Czech Republic to help promote democracy and civics.

Before being elected to office, Jelinek was an agriculture teacher and FFA adviser for 30 years at the River Valley High School in Three Oaks. He and his wife strongly support the schools in the area, giving college scholarships to all 20 high schools in Berrien County for two years and, for the past two years, to the 34 high schools in the 21st Senate district each year. Jelinek currently serves as a board member for his church, is a member of the Berrien County Farm Bureau and has received numerous honors from Michigan Farm Bureau. He was a co-founder, officer and volunteer of the Three Oaks Ambulance Service, was active in establishing a museum in Three Oaks and was a member of the Three Oaks Township Zoning Board. He served as a 4-H volunteer leader, a Girl Scout leader and a Berrien County Youth Fair barn superintendent. He is a lifelong resident of Berrien County, where he resides on his family farm and raises Dexter cattle.