Vestaburg woman’s dedication to 4-H program spans almost a half century

Alice Hoitinga’s career in the 4-H program began simply because she wanted to cheer up her younger sister, keeping the Allegan County 4-H club alive by taking it over. Fortynine years later, she continues to bring smiles to 4-H youths.

Back in the early 1960s, the Allegan County 4-H club was on the verge of folding until the then-20-year-old Hoitinga offered to become its new leader.

“When the club was going to fold because the person in charge was going to retire, I decided to get into it because my sister, Pauline, who was 15 at that time, was going to join the club with her horse and I didn’t want to see her disappointed,” said Hoitinga, 69, who now lives in Vestaburg.

That “small favor” began a relationship between her and the 4-H that became what she calls “the love of my life.” It was a small club back then and because of her background in farming and handling animals, the transition into the position as director of the county’s 4-H program was smooth.

“I always worked well with animals and kids,” she said.

Hoitinga, who married Tony Hoitinga just before she took over the 4-H club, moved to Vestaburg in 1974, but continued her dedication to 4-H by joining Montcalm County’s club.

She then started her own 4-H club in Montcalm County, which still exists today.

In the 30 years on the Montcalm County fair board, Hoitinga had not missed one fair, except in 2008, when she retired and had planned a long trip out west with Tony.

She continues to be active in the 4-H program, servingon the 4-H Council, the 4-H livestock committee, and she is the club’s project leader.

“When you’re involved with 4-H, you don’t totally retire from it,” she laughed.

Continuing to be involved with the Montcalm County 4-H Fair is a passion she has had even when she was in Allegan County.

“I always enjoyed the Montcalm County fair because it was smaller, more personable than Allegan County’s, which was very big,” said Hoitinga.

“Coordinating the Allegan County fair was pretty hectic because, back then, it was held in September and we’d always have to work around the start of the school year.” Hoitinga’s mother, Barbara, was a stay-at-home mother, and her father, Paul Strobridge, was a factory worker, but Hoitinga was introduced to farming through what she calls her father’s “hobby farm.” When Alice and Tony Hoitinga were married, the couple started a dairy farm, having as many as 90 cows.

Today, both are retired from the dairy business but still farm, tending to a corn and hay field that spans more than 200 acres. Tony Hoitinga still offers a hand in the dairy farm that their daughter, Diane, and her husband now operate in Vestaburg.

All three of their children — John, Calvin and Diane — participated in 4-H, and nine of the Hoitinga’s 11 grandchildren are now or have completed the 4-H program.

“The remaining two are still too young to join,” Hoitinga, said.

Companionship and lifelasting friendships are the greatest assets to being involved with 4-H, said Hoitinga.

“The children also learn the value of responsibility, responsibility of taking care of an animal, properly feeding it, and breaking them to lead,” she said.

The operation of Montcalm County’s fair at the 15-acre Hillcrest Street site is coming to a close, this being its last year at the site after 75 years. By next year, the fair will be operating on a more spacious 65-acre site on Peck Road. The Hillcrest Street site will then be in the care of Montcalm Community College, which will look to expand its operations and programs on the site. People like Hoitinga will now become even more valuable to Montcalm County and its 4-H program in passing on the experience, the knowledge and memories made over the latter part of the years from the old site.

Hoitinga said she is looking forward to beginning a new era for Montcalm County’s 4-H program.

“It’s going to be nice because we’ll have more room, and room to grow,” she said. “It’ll be both overwhelming and exciting for everyone, including me, because of the big change, but there will be a lot of improvements and everyone will be happy. We’re just going to need a lot of volunteering with the new undertaking.” Rest assured, Alice Hoitinga will be there, continuing her passion and dedication to the 4-H program.

“I’ve always been impressed with what Alice has brought to the table with her passion for 4-H, Montcalm County and the farming industry,” said Mike McGonigal, chairman of Montcalm County’s New Fairgrounds Fundraising Committee. “She is the reason why the kids, our children of this county, at the forefront of our fair.”