VAN BUREN TWP. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined with Michigan 4-H youth and volunteers in Van Buren Charter Township on Aug. 15 to ceremonially sign legislation creating a Michigan 4-H fundraising license plate. The specialty plate will raise money for the Michigan 4-H youth development program.

“4-H programs bring kids together to learn new skills, become more active participants in their communities, and form lasting friendships,” Whitmer said. “This bill will kickstart the process to create a new, 4-H themed fundraising license plate and support this vital program across all 83 Michigan counties. Let’s keep working together to support rural communities and help more young people ‘make it’ in Michigan.”

The bill was introduced last year by State Reps. Reggie Miller (D-Van Buren Twp.), whose district also includes part of northeastern Lenawee County, and Matthew Bierlein (R-Vassar).

Originally signed into law on July 23, the legislation allows for the creation and sale of a Michigan 4-H plate through the Secretary of State’s office. A portion of the plate’s sale price will be distributed four times a year to the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

Tom Bosserd, president of the Michigan 4-H Foundation board of trustees, said in addition to raising money for 4-H, the license plate will increase visibility for the program “through thousands of 4-H clovers on license plates across the state.”

Each year, Michigan 4-H reaches more than 100,000 young people through hands-on learning experiences. The program operates in every county in the state and is available to youth ages 5 to 19.

An exact date of when the 4-H fundraising license plate will be available at the Secretary of State is not yet known.