Hannah Marshall epitomizes the ‘Heart’ in 4-H

by Mary Jo David

This is the story of two very special Hannahs—Hannah Glair, a high school senior from Munith and longtime member of 4-H whose life was cut short by a tragic automobile accident in 2018 and Hannah Marshall, also from Munith, and also a longtime member of 4-H, who found a special way to honor Hannah Glair’s memory through one of her 2021 4-H projects.

Before her accident, Glair was captain of Ingham County’s Happy Hustlers 4-H Club. Year after year, she was a notable presence in the sheep and goat barns at the Ingham County Fair.

“Hannah and I would sit in purple plastic chairs in the aisleway of the barn and watch for folks to come in. ‘Would you like to see my lambs?’ Hannah would ask,” Julie Glair, Hannah’s mom remembered. “She loved to share what she knew with people at the fair; so many of them were unfamiliar with farm animals. Hannah was a teacher at heart.”

In 2019, the year after Glair’s death, her parents, Julie and Michael Glair, initiated two bequests in Hannah Glair’s memory: a Stockbridge High School scholarship and a 4-H Service Award. Each one is awarded annually to different, deserving young people.

The money to fund these gifts primarily comes from fundraising, which has become more difficult in the age of COVID. That has made Hannah Marshall’s magnanimous gesture in 2021 even more appreciated.

That’s where Hannah Marshall enters the scene. Although she was years younger than Hannah Glair, Marshall had great respect for Glair when the two were both in 4-H.

“What I remember about Hannah [Glair] is that she was very driven, and she dedicated herself completely to every project she submitted at the fair,” Marshall recalled.

These lasting recollections of Glair prompted Marshall to do something special in Glair’s memory. Marshall, who is raising a herd of dairy goats, entered her goat “Twitchy” in the dairy goat competition at the 2021 Ingham County Fair—and Twitchy won for Best Udder. As a result, Marshall was able to enter a gallon of Twitchy’s milk in the small animal auction at the fair.

So what does a gallon of goat milk go for at a small animal auction? Those not in the know might initially guess $2, or maybe $5, or maybe $10—it is award winning after all. Not even close! The highest bid for Twitchy’s award-winning goat milk rang in at a resounding $617.50!

Unbeknownst to the Glairs, Marshall had already decided that any winnings she made from that dairy goat competition would be donated. In November, Hannah Marshall visited the Glairs and handed over a check for $617.50 to help fund the 4-H Service Award in Hannah Glair’s name.

“I saw the donation in Hannah Glair’s memory as a way to make something good out of a sad situation,” Marshall explained. “I thought it would be nice to put the money toward something that will help 4-H kids in the community in the future. I just thought of it as a good way to give back.”

The Glairs were astonished and very appreciative when Marshall delivered the check to them for the award.

“Hannah Marshall is a wonderful young woman—responsible, kind, generous, and always willing to help others. Her kindness hopefully inspires others and has honored our Hannah with this gesture,” Julie Glair said, on behalf of the Glair family.

The woman who bought the gallon of milk at auction received an engraved milk glass for her generosity; it was filled to the brim with the sincere gratitude of the local 4-H community.

Hannah Glair’s memory lives on through the 4-H Service Award and the SHS Scholarship that are awarded in her name. Photo from the Glair Family

A judge at the Ingham County Fair viewing “Twitchy,” Hannah Marshall’s award-winning dairy goat, at the fair last summer. Photo from Hannah Marshall

Signs in the sheep barn and the goat barn at the Ingham County fairgrounds, in memory of Hannah Glair, remind young people of the example they can set. Photo from Julie Glair