Cow Camp- It Takes A Team!
54 campers from all three counties participated in Cow Camp at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in early July. Campers learned about fitting and showmanship, GMO’s, udders, dairy products and making butter, and dairy breed basics in addition to participating in team building activities and caring for their heifer calf throughout the weekend. Congratulations to Dylynn Cubbage our 2017 Cow Camp Champ who will be joining the planning team for Cow Camp 2018!
We couldn’t have an event with this many campers and animals without the essential help of lots of volunteers- Sharon Anderson, Charmayne and Sara Busker, Lee Dulin, Leslie McClements, Len Green, John and Ron Hickey, Stephanie Knutsen, Jenna Morris, Richard Morris, Dan Severson, Emily Smith, and all the parent chaperones. Special thanks to the past Cow Camp Champs for all their help in planning and carrying out this year’s camp- Holly Anderson, Jaiden Cain, Garrett Geidel, Mackenzie Larimore and Spring Vasey. Last but not least extra special thanks to the Morris/Cook family, Bob Moore and Cheryl Vest for providing extra heifer calves for the campers that needed them.
52nd State 4-H Horse Show Results
35 Delaware 4-H Horse project members competed recently at the 52nd Annual State 4-H Horse Show held on July 28, 2017 in the Quillen Arena during the Delaware State Fair. Put on by 4-H volunteers on the State 4-H Horse Advisory Committee, the show offers 4-H members the opportunity to show and learn under the guidance of capable volunteers and judges while having fun at the same time.
Judged this year by Justin Smith of Ridgely, Maryland members competed in the required showmanship classes as well as horsemanship, equitation, trail, pleasure, driving and fun classes like barrel racing, egg and spoon, dollar bareback and costume. Trail classes were evaluated by Ms. Morgan Scuse of Smyrna, Delaware.
Champion and Reserve Champion Horse Show awards were sponsored by the Delaware Equine Council and the Delaware Quarter Horse Association respectively and were presented to the following 4-H members:
Champion Western Horse- Sydney Messick exhibiting Zip It Up Charlie- Kent County
Reserve Champion Western Horse– Sydni Brown exhibiting A Country Porsche – Kent County
Champion Western Pony- Alexis Skodinzski exhibiting Lex- Kent County
Reserve Champion Western Pony – Dawson Mitchell exhibiting Fiesta – Kent County
Champion English Horse- Ashley Bullock exhibiting Willie’s Lovely Lady- Kent County
Reserve Champion English Horse – Kassidy Hearn exhibiting Hobby’s Honky Tonk- Kent County
Champion English Pony- Lauren Williams exhibiting Steel N Cookies-
Reserve Champion English Pony – Kenzie Ward exhibiting KW’s China Doll– Sussex County
Grand Champion Walk Trot – Stephanie Strachar exhibiting Confidential – Kent County
Reserve Champion Walk Trot – Paige Taylor exhibiting Big Boy Bernie – Sussex County
The Betty Niblett Perpetual Trophy is presented to the 4-H member who acquires the most points in Showmanship and Equitation/horsemanship classes. Betty was the President of the State 4-H Horse Advisory Committee at the time of her death and helping kids with horse projects was a passion of hers. The winner of the 2017 Betty Niblett Perpetual Trophy was Sydney Messick of the Peach Blossom 4-H Club in Kent County.
The annual horse show is open to any 4-H member on the Delmarva Peninsula or Delaware 4-H members. Major sponsors and supporters of the 2017 show included the State 4-H Horse Advisory Committee and the Delaware Equine Council, the Delaware Quarter Horse Association.
Saddle Up with 4-H!
The annual State 4-H Trail Ride sponsored by the Delaware 4-H Horse Advisory Committee will be held on November 5, 2017 at the Redden State Forest with the ride off occurring at 10 am. This is a fun family event with riders of all ages and experience level. There will be some volunteer walkers as well to assist our less experienced riders if needed. Following the trail ride there will be a picnic in the pavilion beginning at 11:30 am. ASTM/SEI hard hats are required for all riders. Proof of negative Coggins Test and a certificate of vaccination for Equine Influenza and Rhinopneumonitis (EHV) within the past 180 days are required to participate. For more information please see the flyer posted on the State 4-H Animal Science webpage https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/22080659/2017-4-H-Fall-Trail-Ride.pdf To RSVP, please contact Susan Garey at (302)730-4000 or truehart@udel.edu no later than November 1st.
Delaware 4-H Horse of the Year- Deadline November 13, 2017
Have you ever wished that you could have a model of your own favorite horse or pony to cherish forever? Here’s your chance!
Peter Stone of Stone Model Horses (www.stonehorses.com) has volunteered to create a model horse to honor the great horse or pony selected as Delaware’s “4-H Horse of the Year”. The winning 4-H member will be announced at the Horse Bowl contest and awarded their horse/pony model horse at the winning member’s county achievement banquet in fall of 2018.
Any currently enrolled traditional Delaware 4-H member (Cloverbuds are not eligible), can nominate their beloved horse/pony by completing these steps:
- Complete the Nomination Form 2018.
- Provide Four (4) 4×6” full color photos of your horse/pony in natural light (not in the barn): front, back, left side and right side. Attach to the provided page. These photos will not be returned so make sure you have copies.
- Add an essay of 500 to 1000 words written by the 4-H’er (age of 4-H’er will be considered in writing quality). The award will be chosen based on how well the 4-H member can answer the following topic:
“I am thankful for a horse in my life because…”
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- Should be a horse or pony you have owned or worked with in some way.
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- Do NOT include your name or the horse/pony’s registered name in the essay.
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- Use the horse’s unregistered nick name or pet name in the essay.
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- Not required to own the horse or pony being nominated.
- The nomination with the essay must be postmarked by November 13, 2017.
Nomination forms, the scoring rubric used by judges, and more details are available on the state 4-H animal science webpage
http://extension.udel.edu/4h/projects-activities-for-members/4-h-animal-science/
Delaware Livestock Exposition
The 2017 Delaware Livestock exposition is coming on October 14 and 15th at the Delaware State Fairgrounds. This is a breeding animal show for junior exhibitors ages 21 and under as of January 1 of 2017 showing meat goats, swine, sheep and beef cattle. The exhibitor handbook and entry form is available on the expo website at
http://www.delawarelivestockexpo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Showring-Catalogue-2017.pdf Entries must be postmarked by September 22, 2017. Late entries will be accepted this year but at double the regular entry fee. Judges are Olivia Rush of Pennsylvania for the goats, John Ebersole of Pennsylvania for the swine, Bradley Gill of Pennsylvania for the cattle and Kyle Wood of California will be evaluating sheep entries. For more information please contact Susan Garey at truehart@udel.edu or Kristin Cook at kristin@udel.edu or by phone at (302)730-4000.