Members of the New Jersey Eastern National 4-H Horse Round-Up team pictured at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY.
Thirteen New Jersey 4-H horse project members competed in five events, capturing top awards in four of the events during the Eastern National 4-H Horse Round-Up held Nov. 6-8 in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Eastern National 4-H Horse Round-Up provides a place for youth to compete nationally while encouraging and developing teamwork, self-confidence, independence, critical thinking and leadership skills. Nearly 250 4-H members from over 25 states participated in the event. New Jersey 4-H members competed in Horse Bowl, Horse Judging, Equine Presentations, Hippology and Public Speaking events.
The New Jersey State Equine Presentations team comprised of Madison Whiting and Sarah McDonnell (both from Somerset County) won the National Team Equine Presentations competition. Jennifer Miller (Burlington County) placed 10th in the Public Speaking competition.
The Horse Bowl team, which included Kayla Rockhill (Camden County), Kirsten Jeansson (Burlington County), Molly Worek (Gloucester County) and Cheryl Neveling (Atlantic County), placed 9th.
The Horse Judging team comprised of Nikayla Hetzell (Cumberland County), Pier Semanchik (Warren County) and Sara Allen (Salem County) placed 4th overall. Pier Semanchik received several individual awards.
The Hippology team did not place in the top 10 but was represented by Brittany Smith (Warren County), Nicole Bursac (Middlesex County) and Jessica Geese (Cumberland County).
The 4-H volunteer coaches who work with these teams to prepare them for the competitions were Mary Howard (Gloucester County), Erin Sharpe and Courtney Dilks (Atlantic County), Judy Hennessey (Somerset County) and Lori Wunderlich (Sussex County).
The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station – Cooperative Extension. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades K-13(one year out of high school), on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status and any other category protected by law.
Visit the New Jersey 4-H Youth Development Program for more information. Like 4-H on Facebook – New Jersey 4-H.
