Come to the Michigan State Fair and you’ll most likely see Jackie and LC Scramlin with their children and grandchildren showing animals, helping with displays, running the livestock area, or handling youth scholarships.
On March 22, the Oakland County Farm Bureau couple will be honored by the Michigan State University Block and Bridle Club and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for their contribution to the livestock industry.
It’s only the second time in the Block and Bridle Club’s 75-year history that a couple received the award, which will be presented during an annual recognition banquet. There, the Scramlins will have a portrait displayed in the university's Farm Bureau Pavilion.
“It is an unbelievable honor for us to receive this distinction,” Jackie said. “Farm Bureau has been such a big part of our lives together, so it really is very special that ours will be the first portrait hung in the newly named Farm Bureau Pavilion at Michigan State University.”
That support includes the mentorship and guidance of many ag youth at the Block and Bridle Club and the Oakland County Fair, where LC is general manager and Jackie serves on the fair board. The couple has also played an instrumental part in the revamping of the new Michigan State Fair LLC, which has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to Michigan youth.
The Block and Bridle Club promotes agriculture by forging new relationships through multiple livestock, social and community service events.
“It has been an amazing ride though all the years of being involved with Michigan agriculture — through fairs, MSU and Farm Bureau,” LC said. “To think at one time Jackie was the State Farm Bureau Queen and I was the State Young Farmer Chair — a lot of water has passed under the bridge since those days, but we are humbled by this recognition and are excited to continue to serve our industry.”
Jackie and LC met through Block and Bridle’s Little International and bonded over their family’s involvement in 4-H and Farm Bureau, with both serving on their county Farm Bureau boards over the years. Together they raised their children and grandchildren on the family farm in Holly, where they raise champion-quality Southdown sheep.
Learn more about the Block and Bridle Club here.