Cow Camp- It Takes A Big Team!
61 campers from all three counties participated in Cow Camp at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in early July. Campers learned about fitting and showmanship, herdsmanship, what do cow’s eat?, milking 101, calf care, and the healthy benefits of eating real dairy in addition to participating in team building activities and caring for their heifer calf throughout the weekend. Congratulations to McKenna Vest our 2018 Cow Camp Champ who will be joining the planning team for Cow Camp 2019!
We couldn’t have an event with this many campers and animals without the essential help of lots of volunteers- Charmayne and Sara Busker, Steve Cook, Lee Dulin, Leslie McClements, Ashton Garey, Len Green, John and Ron Hickey, Gregg and Stephanie Knutsen, Richard Morris, Bonnie Smith, Cheryl Vest, Caitlin Walton and all the parent chaperones. Special thanks to the past Cow Camp Champs and Herdsmen for all their help in planning and carrying out this year’s camp- Lauren Berry, Jaiden Cain, Dylynn Cubbage, Mackenzie Larimore, Emily Smith Emerson, Spring Vasey and Leslie Webb. Last but not least extra special thanks to the Busker Family, Morris/Cook family, the Milford FFA Chapter, Bob Moore and the Knutsen Family for providing extra heifer calves for the campers that needed them.
53rd State 4-H Horse Show Results
43 Delaware 4-H Horse project members competed recently at the 53rd Annual State 4-H Horse Show held on July 27, 2018 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 Rebecca Trego of Port Royal, Pennsylvania 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. Brooke Dixon 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- Sierra Kane exhibiting Chipnotized- Kent County
Reserve Champion Western Horse– Sydney Messick exhibiting Zip It Up Charlie- Kent County
Champion Western Pony- Alexis Skodzinski exhibiting Lex- Kent County
Reserve Champion Western Pony –Keeley Rose exhibiting Lucky Duck – Sussex County
Champion English Horse- Ashley Bullock exhibiting Revitalize- Kent County
Reserve Champion English Horse – Danielle Eisemann exhibiting Midnight- Sussex County
Champion English Pony- Lanie Satterfield exhibiting Churchill’s Supreme Eclipse- Kent County
Reserve Champion English Pony – Rachel Adkins exhibiting Guda Dreams Come True– Kent County
Grand Champion Walk Trot – Savannah Messick exhibiting Roxy Dee Heart – Kent County
Reserve Champion Walk Trot – Gracie Ricker exhibiting Bright Eyed Hollywood – 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 2018 Betty Niblett Perpetual Trophy was Ashley Bullock of the Hearts 4-Horses 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. Thank you to our gold sponsors and supporters of the 2018 show including the State 4-H Horse Advisory Committee, Anytime Fitness Smyrna, the Delaware Equine Council, and the Delaware Quarter Horse Association. Silver Sponsors were Courageous Hearts Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Horse Power Show Hunters.
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 4, 2018, location TBA 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/2012/02/29101430/2018-4-H-Fall-Trail-Ride.pdf To RSVP, please contact Susan Garey at (302)730-4000 or truehart@udel.edu no later than October 31st.
Delaware Livestock Exposition
The 2018 Delaware Livestock exposition is coming on October 13 and 14th at the Delaware State Fairgrounds. This is a breeding animal show for junior exhibitors ages 21 and under as of January 1 of 2018 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/2018/01/Showring-Catalogue-2018.pdf
Entries must be postmarked by September 21, 2018. Late entries will be accepted this year but at double the regular entry fee. Judges are Ryan Cummings for beef and swine, Troy Longenecker sheep and Jessie Kimmel will be evaluating goat 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.
2018 Small Ruminant Field Day at DSU’s Hickory Hill Farm
Hold the Date! October 20th Small Ruminant Field Day at Delaware State University’s Hickory Hill Farm. The focus this year is on Biosecurity and Disease Management. For more information, email Dr. Kwame Matthews at kmatthews@desu.edu