Published on 02/17/21

Georgia 4-H'ers test their equine knowledge at virtual state competition

By Austin Clark

On Feb. 13, 45 Georgia 4-H youth participated in the 2020 Georgia 4-H Virtual Horse Quiz Bowl. The event was held in a hybrid format, with all competitive portions of the quiz bowl held electronically to comply with COVID-19 precautions.

Youth participating in 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl learn about horse health and other equine-related topics, then demonstrate that knowledge in a competitive and thought-stimulating environment. Participants develop leadership and life skills while strengthening social skills by working as part of a team.

“The Horse Quiz Bowl event is always a day of excitement for the youth, trying to be fast on the buzzers while adult officials watch the youth display so much horse knowledge,” said Julia McCann, equine science specialist with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. “Our new format was adapted to keep everyone safe. It was amazing how we played the afternoon with the same excitement as live play.”

Both Junior and Senior 4-H teams compete during the quiz bowl. Junior teams consist of fourth through eighth grade youth, and Senior teams are ninth- through 12th-graders.

The panel teams compete in double-elimination brackets. Points are awarded to teams who provide correct answers to questions after responding with button signals.

In addition to the hybrid format, the new Horse Smarts Test was used as a prequalifier for the top five Junior and the top five Senior teams to be selected. More than 130 youth completed the Horse Smarts Test on January 28.

“Due to the intense efforts and commitment of youth, coaches, county agents and the UGA staff to do their homework and address every detail of this event, the state Horse Quiz Bowl contest felt like a huge win for everyone involved,” McCann said. “I am proud and thankful for everyone who made the competition a success and hope this model can serve the program well in future preparations for quiz bowl contests and other future horse events.”

A team plaque was presented to the top three placing Senior and Junior teams. The winning Senior team will represent Georgia at the Western National Roundup in January 2022, in Denver, Colorado, receive Master 4-H’er status and be honored at the State 4-H Congress in July in Atlanta.

The winners of the 2021 Georgia 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl are:

Senior teams
First place team: Raven Cooper, Kate Spearing, Ashley Spearing and Katie Embry — Oglethorpe County
Second place team: Jessica Gay, Bethany Beauchamp, Isaac Monteiro and Lila McCoy — Gwinnett County
Third place team: Noel Pickel, Natalie Ross, Lyndon Reeder and Emilee Smith — Morgan County

Junior teams
First place team: Chloe Folsom, Emily McBrayer, Kenleigh Pearce and Hadley Thaxton — Grady County
Second place team: Molly Smith, Allie Thaxton, McCall Woodruff, Danica Heeter, Elli Land, Emerson Bagget — Oconee County
Third place team: Avery Pruett, Addison Hill, Elena Williams, Claire Lummus — Coweta County

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 190,000 people annually through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities. For more information, visit georgia4h.org or contact your local Extension office.

Austin Clark is a Georgia 4-H public relations associate.

Authors:

Austin Clark

Experts/Sources:

Julia S. McCann

Heather Kalino

The 2021 Georgia 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl was held in a hybrid format to comply with COVID-19 precautions. (file photo)

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Download Image

Georgia Simmons at the office of U.S. Sen. Warnock

CAES News

Georgia 4-H alum, CAES student spends semester serving at the nation's Capitol 12/03/24 Josie Smith, Cooper Hardy

Third-year University of Georgia student and Banks County 4-H alum Georgia Simmons has been in the center of the political action this fall with the Georgia 4-H Washington DC Intern Program. Simmons, an environmental resource science major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, works in the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. As an intern on his staff, she interacts directly with policy experts and lawmakers, participating in the legislative process while earning a semester of credit hours.

Seth McAllister and farmer Mark Daniel discuss crop production and agritourism.

CAES News

UGA Extension supports agritourism through expert advice and collaboration 10/24/24 Emily Cabrera

On a sunny day with bright-blue skies, I arrive at Mark’s Melon Patch in Sasser, Georgia, and immediately spot the familiar white University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pickup truck, the Terrell County Extension logo prominently displayed on the door. Seth McAllister, the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Terrell County, greets me with a broad grin and a firm handshake. Terrell County alone has 60,000 acres of row crops, half in cotton. But what McAllister loves most about his role as an Extension agent is the diversity of his work.

CAES News

Campers create lasting memories of summer at Georgia's 4-H centers 10/07/24 Josie Smith

By the end of his first week at 4-H summer camp, fifth grader Cooper Hardy already had many memories of new and exciting experiences. “That was the first time I got in a canoe,” Hardy said. “It was a big deal for me.” Now, 10 years later, Hardy serves as a Georgia 4-H camp counselor at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia. It’s a dream he’s held since the first time he set foot on the sprawling, wooded 1,500-acre campus as a camper.

Caroline Hinton is the director of experiential learning for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. (Photo by Peter Frey/UGA)

CAES News

Director of experiential learning herds students toward new fields of education 10/02/24 Averi Caldwell

Caroline Hinton wants to foster a love of learning for all students who walk through her door. As the director of experiential learning for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Hinton helps students connect with their fields of study outside of the classroom. “I find joy and excitement in getting to watch students experience different parts of agriculture and find a place in our state’s own agriculture industry,” she said.

The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel saw some damage from the winds and rain of Hurricane Helene. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

CAES News

UGA weathers Hurricane Helene 09/27/24

The University of Georgia’s main campus was fortunate to emerge relatively unscathed after Hurricane Helene barreled through the state early Friday morning. However, the impact was more significant at our extended campus locations. While the UGA Griffin campus reported no major damage, UGA-Tifton was hit much harder, with dozens of downed trees and power outages, as well as flooding in several buildings. Damage to farm operations across south Georgia appears to be extensive.

Honorees at the 2024 State 4-H Congress included 4-H Green Jacket Award winner Jay Morgan, Master 4-H’er Vidhi Patel, Warnell Associate Dean for Outreach Nick Fuhrman for Warnell accepting the Friend of 4-H Award on behalf of the college, Georgia 4-H State President Kingston Ryals, William H. Booth Award winner Patrick Willis, and Ryles Rising Star Award Laura Mirarchi.

CAES News

Outstanding youth, supportive adults celebrated at Georgia 4-H State Congress 08/14/24 Josie Smith

Accomplished 4-H youth and the adults who empower them gathered at the 81st Georgia 4-H State Congress in Atlanta July 23-26. The weeklong event for top 4-H’ers features state-level Project Achievement and Leadership in Action competitions and recognizes youth development professionals and community supporters contributing to the success of 4-H in Georgia. More than 200 youth delegates competed in 50 Project Achievement areas and eight youth delegates competed in the Leadership in Action contest during annual event.