The Wranglers 4-H Club – Year in Review

The past year for the members of the Wranglers 4-H Club was filled with many fun and educational experiences. When we held our first meeting in the fall of 2016, we started to prepare ourselves for a busy 4-H year ahead. 
Our first field trip was to Woodbine Equestrian Center where we learned what it takes to run a horse boarding and training facility. We learned about different horse feeds and how they impact the horse’s life from owner Hailey Murdock. Hailey also talked to us about how she started her business and how much hard work she puts into it every day.
Our next stop was a meeting at the 4-H Lockwood Center where we learned about different types of bits and their uses. We each put on a blindfold, held the bit in our hands and the other members held the reins and steered us. We now all have an understanding of how hard it is for the horse to know where to go if the rider’s aids and commands are not clear.
Next, it was the most wonderful time of the year! We had our annual Wranglers 4-H Club Christmas party! We enjoyed horse bingo, pizza and sweet treats.
Then it was time for the 4-H “Chopped” competition where two of our members, Kate Pantelione and Kathleen DeGenova, competed and made some delicious food.
Shortly after “Chopped,” it was time for public presentations. Every 4-H member is required to give a presentation to fellow members and parents. All our members did a fantastic job and were eligible to compete and stable a horse project at the fair.
The next big event on our agenda was the annual 4-H Horse Council Golf Tournament at the Avalon Golf Club. This golf tournament is the main 4-H Horse Council fundraiser for the year. The event was a great success, and the money raised goes toward annual 4-H scholarships and arena renovations at the fairgrounds. It was a perfect day for golf, and there were so many golfers signed up they had to rent extra golf carts!
Our 4-H leader Jamie Carpenter invited a guest speaker, Jeanne DeVico, to one of our meetings. She talked to us about endurance trail riding and how to prepare for an endurance ride. We learned so much from her presentation.
Next we started to prepare for the fair by getting our hands dirty! Every year the Wranglers 4-H Club is responsible to clean out all the horse stalls to prepare for the fair in July. As 4-H members, we are required to complete work hours at the fairgrounds and community service hours. Each member must complete these hours in order to stable and compete in July. Every day we get closer to the fair, and the Wranglers can’t wait!