„If I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it,“ Springport’s Emmy Dyer says.
SPRINGPORT, MI – For as long as her parents can remember, Emmy Dyer has made sure her two younger brothers put on a coat when it’s cold outside.
Tom and Heather Dyer joke that it’s made their parenting pretty easy.
On a more serious note, they use the story to point out their daughter’s empathy and kindness – and how she uses both to take charge when she sees something she believes needs to be done.
„It’s just part of her personality,“ her father said.
The Springport community has witnessed this first-hand.
Volunteer programs let by Dyer, a Springport High School senior, have introduced children to nutritional foods and exercise, donated hearty and healthy meals to a community food pantry and provided financial assistance for fellow students.
For these efforts and how she tirelessly gives to her school and community, Dyer, 17, is the 2018 Youth Citizen of the Year.
„It’s very humbling knowing you are helping others,“ Dyer said.
Dyer’s desire to help is fostered through her long and active involvement in Springport’s Future Farmers of America chapter. Her love of animals and agriculture is something she said she stumbled into while showing animals at the Eaton County Fair.
„I have no ag background,“ she said. „But when I started this, I just knew I wanted to do more.“
Dyer is Springport’s FFA chapter president this year. She met Megan Merrill, high school agriscience teacher and FFA adviser, when she was in fifth grade.
„She had strong character even then,“ said Merrill, who nominated Dyer for Youth Citizen of the Year. „It’s continued to be stronger and stronger, along with her integrity, since then. She chooses to do the right thing all the time.“
Giving Dyer a project to lead ensures it will be done well, Merrill said. In her genuinely humble way, Dyer smiles and shrugs her shoulders at the praise.
„If I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it,“ Dyer said. „And I make sure that if I’m doing something, it’s something I’m passionate about and something I can accomplish to the best of my ability.“
In the last year, that included helping to revive Springport Public Schools‘ Harvestfest. For the event, students seek donations or use food they’ve raised to serve a meal of lamb, potatoes, squash, pumpkins and apples during a districtwide assembly. After the meal, students join in fitness activities.
„I learned a lot through team-building on this,“ Dyer said. „And I got to see so many smiles on a lot of kids‘ faces. I liked that.“
In FFA this year, students raised about 100 broiler chickens to see how they react to certain feed and conditions. When the project was finished, the students, guided by Dyer, processed the chickens themselves, cooked them and put them in casseroles that include vegetables and rice.
These casseroles – about 1,500 in total – are going to the Springport Food Pantry to feed area families in need.
„What a blessing,“ Jane Rennaker, food pantry director, said. „These wonderful meals are a gift. It’s a complete meal that helps so many families.“
FFA members who want to participate in leadership workshops or purchase a jacket for contest competitions can’t always afford to do so. Springport has set up the Ag-on-Wheels Scholarship to help.
To raise funds for this, students pledge money to drive their tractors or other agricultural equipment to school on Homecoming morning. Dyer’s team brought in $1,200 in pledges and an additional $300 from the school’s FFA alumni this year.
„Emmy really listens to people and sees how they walk in their shoes and respects that,“ Merrill said. „She has great empathy and she does not judge others.“
Dyer also volunteers in the school’s FFA bee pollinator project and voluntarily maintains hives at the school. She works at all the school’s American Red Cross blood drives.
„No matter where she has to be or what time of day it is, Emmy is ready to work and work with people to get the job done, whether it’s a big job or a small one,“ her mother said. „We couldn’t be prouder of her.“
Dyer, who has a 4.108 grade point average, also plays volleyball, basketball and soccer and runs cross country and track. She’s student council executive president and a National Honor Society member.
„I just get up and go,“ she said. „It makes me happy to be busy. I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t busy.“
Dyer’s father teaches third grade at Springport Elementary School. Her mother works for the MSU Extension in Eaton County. Brothers Caleb, 15, and Eli, 11, attend Springport schools.
Dyer has been accepted to both Michigan State University and Grand Valley State University, but hasn’t picked one yet. Her plan is to study international business „with the overarching goal to travel the world.“
Regardless of where she ends up, helping others and community service always will be part of the plan, Dyer said.
„I’m not sure what’s available in the future, but I’ll find it, and I’ll do it,“ she said.
