David and Margaret Folkersma and Ken and Fayda Mills, all of Rudyard, were named Citizens of the Year as part of the Rudyard Summerfest activities July 24 through July 27. The awards were given to recognize their efforts as contributors to any community need, or individual need, in the area.

Folkersmas Active in Church, Farming Associations

Mr. and Mrs. Folkersma are longtime residents of Rudyard and both are members of the Christen Reformed Church, where they have served in many capacities. Mr. Folkersma has been a church board member and Mrs. Folkersma has been on the board of the Women's Guild and taught Sunday School for 35 years. Each has spent time on the Rudyard Christen School board and helped with many fundraisers over the years.

Their large dairy farm has led Mr. Folkersma to be involved an several local and state associations, often as a leader, including Michigan Milk Producers Association, Cheboygan Cooperative, Chippewa Soil Conservation District, and the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. Mr. Folkersma has also served Rudyard Township on the Zoning and Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals, and is a board member of the Rudyard Cooperative Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Folkersma also enjoy participating in the Rudyard Historical Society and are lifetime members. Their appreciation for history also involves them in the E.U.P. Antique Equipment Association and participating in the annual "Old Time Farming" demonstrations at the Chippewa County Fair. Playing the accordion for different functions is an activity that Mrs. Folkersma enjoys.

Their family includes seven children, Joan, Jim, Bob, Edward, Davey, Nancy, and Ted, 20 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Mills Volunteer for School and Community Causes

Ken and Fayda Mills were both graduated from Rudyard High School and have been involved and supportive of community and school organizations and activities.

Mr. Mills is a retired United Parcel Service driver and Mrs. Mills is retired from serving Rudyard Area Schools as a secretary and payroll clerk. As members of St. James Lutheran Church, they have actively served in many capacities, including as council members, on the Social Ministry Committee, which assists people in need with meals and transportation, and Mrs. Mills has been council secretary and church treasurer.

As sports fans, they have always enjoyed athletic activities. For many years, Mr. Mills was part of the volunteer "chain gang" at football games, was scorekeeper at high school basketball games, and assisted with the junior high football program; Mrs. Mills sold tickets to athletic events, and they both worked to support athletic programs, especially when the entire school athletic program was supported by fundraising.

Mr. Mills is a lifelong avid outdoorsman. Along with his enjoyment of trapping, he has been a member of local, state, and national trapping associations, serving as president of the local association for many years. Mr. Mills has volunteered to give presentations on the history of trapping, its trade, and wetland preservation in local schools and for other groups.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Mills have assisted in the planting and weeding of the flowerbeds in the community.

Mrs. Mills has been a member of the Chippewa-Mackinac County Association of Retired School Personnel since she retired, and has been secretary for eight years. She has also been a member of the state Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel organization, and was recently elected to a two-year term as state secretary. She is part of a group of volunteers who do pre-retirement information meetings in their local areas for employees in public schools.

Mrs. Mills has been a hospice volunteer since 2005, and has volunteered for American Red Cross blood drives. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have participated in the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Chippewa County.

They have three children, Ken, Steve, and Carrie, and seven grandchildren.

Nominations for the 2009 Rudyard Citizen of the Year can be submitted by sending a note to Gary Davis, Chairman, Citizen of the Year Committee, 11264 West Welch, Rudyard, Michigan 49780.