Walter Jenkins Jr, a rapper from Sumter, South Carolina, has found at least one four-leaf clover every day for 1,091 consecutive days. The practice began on 22 May 2023, the day after the 28th anniversary of his father's death, when he felt compelled to go outside and discovered a four-leaf clover in his yard.
From grief to a daily ritual
Jenkins lost his father at age 11 and struggled with anger for decades. On the anniversary of his father's death, he locked himself away in mourning. The next day, he felt a strong urge to go outside and knelt in a patch of grass. Spotting a four-leaf clover, he took it as a sign that his father was at peace, allowing him to find peace as well. He said, 'Thanks Dad,' and placed the leaf in his wallet.
Within 12 days, he found four more clovers and decided to spend time each day searching for them. The probability of finding a four-leaf clover is between one in 5,000 and one in 10,000, according to Jenkins. The extra leaflet is caused by a gene mutation, and if one patch produces a four-leaf clover, that patch is more likely to keep producing them.
Building a collection and community
Jenkins now collects between 15 and 100 clovers daily, making videos about his finds. He spends up to 10 hours a day hiking to go-to spots, even finding clovers in snow. He has built an online community of fellow collectors and has found clovers in four US states, the District of Columbia, and 15 cities.
He preserves his finds by drying them between heavy books and laminating them. He now has hundreds of photo albums and gifts thousands of clovers each year to delivery drivers, wait staff, and others. 'I like to randomly hand them to people to give them a boost,' he said.
Addressing skepticism and record ambitions
Some people question the authenticity of his clovers. Jenkins attributes his ability to find so many to his upbringing in a high-crime area, where he learned to be observant. He also spends spare time researching clover lore and mythologies.
Jenkins wonders if he has enough clovers to break the Guinness World Record, currently held by a collector with 118,791 clovers. He stopped counting in 2023 when he had 2,500. 'I dread to think how long it would take for me to count them all now,' he said.
Healing through nature
Being in nature has been incredibly healing for Jenkins. He now makes music about luck and clovers. 'Finding a lucky clover a day has helped me become a better person and make those around me smile,' he said. He likens clovers to snowflakes, noting that no two are the same, and his collection has helped him celebrate imperfections and embrace uniqueness. 'Some people only find peace after passing away; I feel incredibly lucky to have found it while alive,' he added.
