From August 1-5, 4-H members from 13 states came together for the annual Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships, an event combines both educational contests and a horse show, to determine the best of the best of all things equine in the Southeast.
This year, Florida 4-H was represented in the horse show as well as five of the educational contests, held on August 1 and 2 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, Ga.
In Horse Judging, Florida was represented by your current state champion team, Lake County 4-H, made up of Dominique Palka, Stephanie Walters, Payton Allen, Iris Jackson and Katie Straub, and your reserve state champion team from Marion County 4-H, of Natalie Tincher, Alexandria Tomasovich, Bailey Gunter and Josiah Caswell.
As a team, in Horse Judging, Lake County 4-H placed tenth in the halter division, seventh in the performance division, seventh in reasons and seventh overall. Individually, Palka placed fourth in performance, and was the highest scoring individual overall for Florida, placing eleventh overall, and Walters placed eleventh in the halter division and twelfth in reasons. Marion County 4-H placed eleventh overall as a team, with 15 teams and 57 individuals competing.
In the Hippology Contest, Florida was represented by your reserve state champion team from Brevard County 4-H, made up of Megan Lee, Sophie Moutsatos, Emma Rosseau and Lexi Andress. As a team, they placed fourth in the judging phase, and Lee placed as the first high individual overall in the stations phase and as the sixth high individual overall, with 17 teams and 66 individuals competing.
Within the Horse Quiz Bowl Contest, Florida was represented by your state champion team from Duval County 4-H comprised of Caraline Coombs, Sarah Bryant, Virginia Barnett and Abigail Wilson. As a team, they placed ninth overall.
In the communications contests, Florida was represented by your state champion Tara Holtzendorf from Bradford County 4-H in Horse Public Speaking, and your state champion Jacquelyn Griffith from Seminole County 4-H in the Individual Horse Demonstration Contest, who placed eighth overall in her contest, with 11 youth competing in Horse Public Speaking and 13 youth competing in Individual Horse Demonstrations.
Each of these teams or youth qualified to compete in their respective contests on the regional level by placing first or second at the state contest, held back in the spring or earlier this summer. State champions may also compete at Eastern National 4-H Horse Round-Up at the NAILE in Louisville, Ky. this fall and at the Western National Roundup in Denver this winter.
Congratulations to each of these youth on their accomplishments, and best of luck to those advancing to the national level.
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