Janice Gruss recognized for Berrien 4-H efforts

Janice Gruss of Benton Harbor has spent 18 years crafting and clowning around. 

Gruss is craft leader for the Countrysiders 4-H Club, where she puts on programs like arts and crafts, clowning, leathercraft and cake decorating. Her volunteerism includes helping with 4-H Spring Achievement, the 4-H Talent Show and the 4-H Booth at the Berrien County Youth Fair. 

In November she was named one of the two 2017 Berrien County Outstanding 4-H Leaders. The award recognizes 4-H leaders for their volunteer service and leadership within their 4-H clubs as well as their leadership on county programs, committees, and activities that benefit the more than 400 families with children enrolled in Berrien County 4-H.

Gruss grew up in Benton Harbor and graduated from Benton Harbor High School. She is semi-retired from American Greetings. She lives with her husband, and has a son, a daughter, and a granddaughter who is almost 16. 

Herald-Palladium Staff Writer Alexandra Newman sat down with Gruss recently to talk about her many years as a 4-H leader. 

How did you get involved with 4-H to begin with?

A friend of mine, whose kids went to school with mine, said, “We need to get the kids involved in 4-H.” I was like, “What’s 4-H?” because I had never heard of it at that point. That’s when I got started.

The first year the kids were just involved in it, and then the next year we were asked to be leaders. We ended up doing the crafts and the wood burning, tin punch, and whatever we could come up with. We did personalization and clowning. We went to the Kettunen Center to learn how to apply the makeup, and I also knew a girl who would dress up as a clown and she referred me to someone else that would teach it.

So that’s how I got started. I did that for 12 years the first time around. I took a break for a little while. I was asked to take over cheerleading at a school. And then my granddaughter came, so something had to go. Then when she got involved (in 4-H) I started again. It’s been almost seven years this time.

What did it feel like when you were named one of the Outstanding 4-H Leaders in Berrien County?

It was exciting. I did not expect it. It was a big surprise for me. When they were reading the thing (during the awards banquet) they were going through some of the things that I would teach, when they came to clowning, I’m the only one around anymore that does clowning, I went, “Oh no, it’s me.”

What would you say you enjoy the most about being a 4-H leader?

I would have to say, the little ones that have just started, the 5- to 8-year-olds, when they do a project they just get so excited, like, “Look what I just made.” Then with the older ones, as they go along they have mastered the skill, of say wood burning or tin punching, and they just come up with these ideas, “Hey, Mrs. Gruss, how about this idea.” So it’s neat to see how they progress through the years and develop their own skills.

Have you had a favorite project or favorite thing you’ve done with a group of kids?

I don’t think so. I think I enjoy them all because each project is so different, and I don’t like being stuck on one thing. All the projects are fun.

Is there anything that is difficult or challenging about being a 4-H leader?

I think the most challenging is getting parents to RSVP that their kids are going to be at a certain class, knowing how many are going to be in class and getting prepared for that. I send out emails, reminders and I have three reply, then I have 10 kids in the class.

About how much time do you put into it?

That’s a good question because you have time where you have to come up with your project and you have to get the supplies, so you’re running around doing that. Each class is at least two to three hours long and so through the winter time you’re more busy and then in the summer things kind of fall off.

During your time as a 4-H leader, has it changed any?

It’s harder to keep the members involved past about 15 years old because once they get about that age they have their activities at school, between the sports and clubs. Countrysiders right now is mostly under 10 years old. We have a couple 12-year-olds. Then we only have three that are 16-18. Some of those are doing two officer positions. Like my granddaughter is vice-president and treasurer. There are so many more sports and clubs than there used to be.

Do you ever see yourself stopping?

No. As long as I can, I will. I enjoy it so much, being with the kids and teaching them things. I think the kids enjoy what I do, too.