4-H members from throughout the state took part in the first ever, New Jersey 4-H Animal Art Contest held virtually in April and May. All entries were animal related and were organized into five categories – 1) Dog, 2) Equine, 3) Livestock (beef, dairy, goats, sheep, and swine), 5) Small Animals (rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, herpetology, and poultry) and 6) Other (alpacas, llamas, and cats). 4-H members representing 17 counties (Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren) entered more than 225 exhibits in the 2-D Art, 3-D Art, Photography, and Video divisions.
The winners named for the 2021 NJ 4-H Animal Art Contest by category and division were:
Dog
Best of Show and Best in Division (2D Art) Junior – Abigail Notary (Burlington County)
Best of Show and Best in Division (2D Art) Senior – Kaylee Exley (Cumberland County)
Best in Division (3D Art) Junior – Amanda Cugino (Cumberland County)
Best in Division (Photography) Junior – Holt Englander (Morris County)
Best in Division (Photography) Senior – Kyra Huebner (Ocean County)
Livestock
Best of Show and Best in Division (2D Art) Junior – Carley Wikander (Sussex County)
Best of Show and Best in Division (Photography) Senior – Hannah Lomino (Mercer County)
Best in Division (2D Art) Senior – Carlee Roell (Hunterdon County)
Best in Division (Photography) Junior – Sophia Kissling (Morris County)
Equine
Best of Show and Best in Division (2D Art) Junior – Holt Englander (Morris County)
Best of Show and Best in Division (2D Art) Senior – Emma Jackson (Hunterdon County)
Small Animals
Best of Show and Best in Division (Photography) Junior – Elisabeth Carruthers (Warren County)
Best of Show and Best in Division (Video) Senior – Cana Patterson (Cumberland County)
Best in Division (2D Art) Junior – Samarth Sharma (Middlesex County)
Best in Division (2D Art) Senior – Kirsten Flood (Salem County)
Best in Division (3D Art) Junior – Amanda Cugino (Cumberland County)
Best in Division (Photography) Senior – Alexis Hider (Cumberland County)
Other
Best of Show and Best in Division (Photography) Junior – Holt Englander (Morris County)
Best of Show and Best in Division (2D Art) Senior – Jillian Penczak (Morris County)
Best in Division (2D Art) Junior – Abby McSorley (Middlesex County)
Best in Division (3D Art) Junior – Kelly Farrell (Gloucester County)
Best in Division (Photography) Senior – Karsten Englander (Morris County)
“The virtual New Jersey 4-H Animal Art Contest provided a valuable opportunity for 4-H members to engage in creative activities and showcase their art and photography skills on a state level.” Says Jeannette Rea Keywood, State 4-H Agent, Department of 4-H Youth Development, Rutgers University.
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. For more information about the New Jersey 4-H Program visit the website at: http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/.
