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

The 2022-2023 Georgia 4-H student board poses with green slime-covered Georgia 4-H Leader Melanie Biersmith after the 2023 $4 for 4-H celebration. Biersmith has agreed to subject herself to the slime again this year if the $74,444 goal is reached.

CAES News

Support Georgia 4-H with a $4 gift on April 4 04/03/24 Josie Smith

The Georgia 4-H Foundation is encouraging friendly competition between 4-H supporters in each county in Georgia to benefit positive youth development during the “$4 for 4-H” fundraiser on April 4. In what has become an annual tradition, each Georgia county asks local donors to make online donations of $4 or more that day, with the goal of receiving at least four donations per county. Counties that receive four or more donations will turn green on a Georgia map that will be updated throughout the day on social media April 4.

The First Flock was established at the Georgia Governor's Mansion in July 2021.

CAES News

Inaugural First Flock retires to 4-H center as 15 new hens move to Governor’s Mansion 03/18/24 Josie Smith, Lily Thomas

Georgia’s inaugural First Flock is retiring to Fortson 4-H Center almost three years after they came to roost at the Governor’s Mansion in 2021. Six members of the original flock traded places with 15 new hens during a ceremonial swap on Feb. 1 at the First Flock’s custom coop on the eastern side of the 18-acre mansion grounds in Atlanta. The idea for the project was hatched in 2020 when Georgia first lady Marty Kemp expressed her desire to include agricultural education via residential hens at the mansion.

web Capitol Day Group Photo on Oglethorpe Stairs

CAES News

4-H’ers see leadership in action during Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol 02/28/24 Josie Smith

The gold dome of the Georgia Capitol was complemented with shades of green on Feb. 14 as 4-H youth and adult leaders joined elected officials for the largest Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol on record. With nearly 700 in attendance, outstanding 4-H’ers from counties across the state gathered to engage with legislators, observe leadership in action and learn about the civic process.

CAES News

Metro Atlanta Extension office growing capacity to reach diverse audiences 02/21/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani

As the population of Gwinnett County approaches the 1 million mark, with a highly diverse demographic profile, the county's University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office is preparing to serve its changing constituency effectively. Recently, the Gwinnett County Extension Program received a $250,000 budget increase from the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners to increase staffing and expand community educational outreach and engagement to underrepresented groups around the county.

As drug overdoses linked to opioids continue to rise, rural communities in particular struggle to control the epidemic.

CAES News

Extension project focuses on education, outreach to address opioid crisis 11/27/23 Cal Powell

As drug overdoses linked to opioids continue to rise, rural communities in particular struggle to control the epidemic. More than 75% of the nearly 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021 involved an opioid, with higher rates of poverty and a lack of resources in rural areas being a significant factor in the alarming trend. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is working with rural communities to address the issue, thanks in part to a three-year $350,000 Rural Health and Safety Education grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Warnell professor Kris Irwin (right) helps campers set leaf-litter traps to capture macroinvertebrates, small amphibians and other organisms during Georgia 4-H Natural Resources Exploration Camp at Rock Eagle 4-H Center.

CAES News

Georgia 4-H offers new Natural Resources Exploration Camp 10/17/23 Josie Smith, Alyssa Haag

A dozen 4-H’ers from around Georgia were the first explorers to experience Georgia 4-H’s newest summer program — Natural Resources Exploration Camp — and learn about wildlife, forestry, fisheries and other natural resources from University of Georgia faculty.