CLIFTON SPRINGS, N.Y. — On Saturday, March 3rd, more than 80 youth participated in the 4-H event known as Horse Extravaganza. The day was full of learning and fun and was held at Midlakes High School in Clifton Springs. 4-H members, volunteers, and staff from nine Finger Lakes counties worked together to make the day successful.
Seneca County 4-H members who participated included Madison Benz in the Senior Hippology division, Annabelle Tingue in the Junior Hippology and Junior Horse Bowl divisions and Ava Everhart and Zachary Tingue, who worked together in the Novice Hippology and Novice Horse Bowl divisions.
The day started with a welcome from Tim Davis, Executive Director of Ontario County Cornell Cooperative Extension. Mr. Davis also led youth in get to know you games and activities. Before heading off to their stations, the youth worked together to create ground rules for the day. They wrote these on large pieces of paper that were hung throughout the school as a reminder of behavior expectations.
One part of the Extravaganza is Hippology. Hippology is literally translated as study of the horse. The 4-H Hippology experience allows youth to share their knowledge of horses in a variety of ways. The participants travel to different rooms in the school where they participate in horse judging, identify tack, and work together to formulate a response to a scenario. There will be sixteen youth from both the junior and senior divisions who will represent the region at a Hippology event at the New York State Fair at the end of August.
The other event held was Horse Bowl. Youth are in teams of four and buzz in to answer a variety of questions. Topics covered include horse breeds, diseases, anatomy, and more. Team members try to buzz as quickly as possible to receive the chance to answer the question. Eight youth from both the junior and senior divisions will travel to Morrisville College in April for NYS Horse Bowl.
Volunteers are a key piece to making this day a positive experience. Over 30 volunteers gave their time in a variety of ways. Volunteers traveled from as far east as Morrisville and as far west as Batavia. They helped guide youth to their locations, read questions, corrected tests, and interpreted answers.
The day also included a community service component. 4-H members and their parents made cards for patients at the local Veterans Centers. The cards will brighten the day of patients as they decorate their rooms.
4-H is a part of Cornell Cooperative Extension. To learn more about 4-H or 4-H Horse Programs, please contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension Office.
—Cornell Cooperative Extension
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