The Maryland 4-H Horse Jamboree was held June 26-28, 2015 at the Claggett Center in Buckeystown, Maryland. Hosted by Montgomery County 4-H, the Jamboree brought together 4-Hers with a passion for horses to learn, share, compete, and have fun. A total of 58 4-Her members from 9 counties (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Kent, Montgomery, and St. Mary’s) participated in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Divisions of the Horsemanship and Horse Communications Contests.
The weekend’s highlights included workshops on equine chiropractic, dentistry, acupuncture, and emergency rescue, and on miniature horses and donkeys. Especially popular was the “Dirty Pony Contest” in which 4-Hers groomed filthy ponies to make them show-ready in a limited amount of time. Traditional camping activities of skits, games, crafts, and roasting marshmallows over a campfire were enjoyed by all.
Many talents were on display during the Jamboree, as well. A number of 4-Hers entered their horse-related handiwork in the art and crafts contests, earning ribbons for their drawings, paintings, photographs, posters, and novelty items.
In the Horsemanship contest 4-Hers demonstrated their knowledge of a broad range of equine science topics including anatomy and physiology, feeding and nutrition, health and diseases, breeding and genetics, tack and equipment, and riding and equine sports. Participants completed a written examination and an identification challenge to test their “horse smarts.”
Youth ages 8-10 competed in the Junior Division. Junior competitors achieved the following Horsemanship awards:
Claire Wheeler, Montgomery County – Champion
Hayley Spicknall, Calvert County – Reserve Champion
Lilly Ricketts, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Molly Koch, Anne Arundel County – Blue Ribbon
Dianne Russell, Anne Arundel County – Blue Ribbon
Teaghen Green, Carroll County – Blue Ribbon
Allyson Sewell, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Gwyn Sewell, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Minnie Ricketts, Montgomery County – Red Ribbon
Katherine Ziegler, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
Danielle Leppert, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
Emily Vandergriff, St. Mary’s County – Red Ribbon
Carolyn Melody, Baltimore County – Red Ribbon
Megan Downing, Frederick County – Red Ribbon
Logan Mackenzie, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
Haley Welty, Frederick County – Red Ribbon
Kailey Banyard, Anne Arundel County – Red Ribbon
Cassidy Isaacson, St. Mary’s County – Red Ribbon
Eliza Owens, Anne Arundel County – Red Ribbon
Rowan Poth, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
The Intermediate Division was for 4-Hers ages 11-13. Intermediate competitors achieved the following Horsemanship awards:
Lesley Porterfield, Calvert County – Champion
Brooke Howard, Anne Arundel County – Reserve Champion
Cassie Reid, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Phoebe Vacek, Anne Arundel County – Blue Ribbon
Amelia Sim, Anne Arundel County – Blue Ribbon
Alyssa Cloutier, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Amina Harouna, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Aniah White, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Kamryn Barth, Carroll County – Blue Ribbon
Maddie Solley, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Jenna Reid, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
Sarah Hofstetter, Kent County – Red Ribbon
Maya Howard, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
Haley Martin, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
Makenna Isaacson, St. Mary’s County – Red Ribbon
Madison Donnelly, Anne Arundel County – Red Ribbon
Kayla Clarke, St. Mary’s County – Red Ribbon
Youth ages 14-18 competed in the Senior Division. Senior competitors achieved the following Horsemanship awards:
Tori Willis, Montgomery County – Champion
Hannah Cimbaljevich, Carroll County – Reserve Champion
Gertrude Tesar, Garrett County – Blue Ribbon
Jenny Searles, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Olivia Stibolt, Anne Arundel County – Blue Ribbon
Tabitha Gregory, Frederick County – Blue Ribbon
Katie Grasser, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
Carley Gray, Anne Arundel County – Red Ribbon
Allie Kaloss, Montgomery County – Red Ribbon
Ashlee Leshinski, Montgomery County – Red Ribbon
Maggie Ryan, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
Joshlyn Robertson, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
Tara McKenna, St. Mary’s County – Red Ribbon
Taylor Bennett, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
In the Horse Communications contest 4-Hers presented horse-related prepared speeches and demonstrations. Topics ranged from horse anatomy to preparing for a horse show; from collecting horse models to popular horse actors.
The Junior 4-Hers (ages 8-10) earned the following Communications awards:
Prepared Speech: Molly Koch, Anne Arundel County – Champion
Team Demonstration: Eliza Owens and Dianne Russell, Anne Arundel County – Champion
Individual Presentations:
Logan Mackenzie, Carroll County – Champion
Hayley Spicknall, Calvert County – Reserve Champion
Claire Wheeler, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Haley Welty, Frederick County – Blue Ribbon
Carolyn Melody, Baltimore County – Blue Ribbon
Abigail Cloutier, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
The Intermediate 4-Hers (ages 11-13) earned the following Communications awards:
Prepared Speeches:
Brooke Howard, Anne Arundel County – Champion
Phoebe Vacek, Anne Arundel County – Reserve Champion
Kamryn Barth, Carroll County – Blue Ribbon
Individual Presentations:
Madelyn Solley, Anne Arundel County – Champion
Lesley Porterfield, Calvert County – Reserve Champion
Anthony Righter, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Cassandra Reid, Montgomery County – Blue Ribbon
Aaryane Cloutier, Montgomery County – Red Ribbon
Alyssa Cloutier, Montgomery County – Red Ribbon
Sarah Hofstetter, Kent County – Red Ribbon
The Senior 4-Hers (ages 14-18) earned the following Communications awards:
Prepared Speech:
Tabitha Gregory, Frederick County – Champion
Carley Gray, Anne Arundel County – Reserve Champion
Joshlyn Robertson, Carroll County – Blue Ribbon
Gertrude Tesar, Garrett County – Blue Ribbon
Team Demonstration: Erin Snyder and Amber Snyder, Montgomery County – Champion
Individual Presentations:
Olivia Stibolt, Anne Arundel County – Champion
Jenny Searles, Montgomery County – Reserve Champion
Hannah Cimbaljevich, Carroll County – Blue Ribbon
Katie Grasser, Carroll County – Blue Ribbon
Josiah Manning, Calvert County – Red Ribbon
Maggie Ryan, Carroll County – Red Ribbon
Lela Mayhew, Montgomery County – Red Ribbon
The Champion 4-H Communications Winners in the Senior Division will represent Maryland 4-H in national 4-H contests at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio and at the Eastern National 4-H Roundup in Louisville, Kentucky.
Three 4-Hers were named the Overall 4-H Horse Jamboree Champions, based on their combined scores in the Horsemanship and Communications Contests. They were:
Junior Overall Champion – Claire Wheeler, Montgomery County
Intermediate Overall Champion – Brooke Howard, Anne Arundel County
Senior Overall Champion – Olivia Stibolt, Anne Arundel County
To learn more about Calvert County 4-H, please contact the University of Maryland Extension Calvert County 4-H Office at 410-535-3662 or 301-855-1150, or email the 4-H Educator Elaine Long Bailey at elbailey@umd.edu or Ari Strahl, 4-H Program Assistant at astrahl@umd.edu. University of Maryland Extension offers equal access programs.
Calvert County 4-H members, Lesley Porterfield and Hayley Spicknall proudly display their prizes they earned at the 2015 MD State 4-H Horse Jamboree. Lesley was named Champion in the Intermediate Horsemanship Contest and Hayley earned Reserve Champion. The 4-H Horsemanship Contest covers many topics, including communications, genetics, nutrition and more. Congratulations, Lesley and Hayley!
