Rock Island 4-H Club recently issued the following announcement.
In 4-H, learning about horses means much more than learning to ride. Young people with a passion for horses participated in recent statewide educational contests related to the equine industry. 4-H’s educational programs enhance members’ knowledge of horse health, breed characteristics, management, and feeding. That knowledge and skills were tested during the March State Horse Bowl Contest.
Horse Bowl functions much like a scholastic bowl in a school setting, with an emphasis on equine knowledge with youth competing both individually and on teams. Horse ownership is not a pre-requisite in the either the educational programs or contests.
“Horse Bowl and Hippology are such inclusive events because youth don’t need to own a horse to participate; they just need to have a passion for horses,” says Debra Hagstrom, University of Illinois Extension specialist. “I think after this past year we realized more than ever how important it is to feel that sense of connection and belonging. I love that these events bring together youth with similar passions.”
The virtual format didn’t stop the sense of camaraderie and teamwork youth have felt in past events. “More than anything we wanted this to be a special event for the kids, so we put a lot of thought into the planning,” says Hagstrom. “In some ways, it was easier as families didn’t have to travel, but we wanted to be sure we created a comparable format that still allowed the connection and engagement of an in-person event.”
Youth were excited to gather in a virtual format and compete against teams and individuals from across the state. “Although the in-person event is far superior, everyone was very appreciative of the opportunity to participate,” says Hagstrom.
Top finishers are listed by category and region.
Junior Team Division
Central Region
McLean/Livingston Team: Emma Quinton, Claire Quinton, Kamryn Rader, Caitlan Ritter, and Libby Stipanovich, first
Champaign/Iroquois Team: Savannah Bailey, Claire Conner, Eiralys Unzicker, and Jessalyn Eisenmann, second
Tazewell County Team: Lilian Bullard, Reagan Zeigler, Sarah Larkin, and Summer Berlin, third
DeWitt County Team: Lexi Merriman, Brynlee Callahan, and Lillian Elsea, fourth
Junior Team Division
South Region
Monroe County Team 1: Shelby Bove, Maya Woodard, and Madelynn Mohr, first
Saline/Franklin/Marion County Team: Shelby Pribble, Shaylen Rowland, and Mallory Starwalt, second
Monroe County Team 2: Sydney Woodard, Paige Koch, and Julia Muertz, third
Junior Team Division
Northwest Region
Knox/Bureau Team: Emily Conlee, Grant Alexander, Payton Frueh, and Rylan Holman, first
Carroll/Ogle/Rock Island Team: Palak Rawani, Linnea Thorngren, Sawyer Stockton, Addison Yordy, and Alexis Kemmeren, second
Boone County Team: William Ellingson, Willard Rozanas, Sophia Frykman, Talayna Steiner, and Caylor Steiner, third
Rock Island Team: Emma Steiger Nicholas Gorbach, Alexander Serre, Emma DeKeyrel, and Bailey Callahan, fourth
Knox 2 Team: Avery Stegall, Addisyn Honeyman, and Julian Henry, fifth
DeKalb Team: Pacey Wyant, Eleanor Hooper, Ellie Davis, and Emalie Freehill, sixth
Junior Individual Division
Central Region
Emma Quinton, McLean County, first
Jessalyn Eisenmann, Iroquois County, second
Lillian Bullard, Tazewell County, third
Lexi Merriman, DeWitt County, fourth
Claire Quinton, McLean County, fifth
Kamryn Rader, McLean County, sixth
Reagan Zeigler, Tazewell County, seventh
Savannah Bailey, Champaign County, eighth
Caitlan Ritter, McLean County, ninth
Claire Conner, Champaign County, tenth
Junior Individual Division
Northeast region
Annelise Veeder, Kendall County, first
Junior Individual Division
South Region
Shelby Bove, Monroe County, first
Maya Woodard, Monroe County, second
Sydney Woodard, Monroe County, third
Madelynn Mohr, Monroe County, fourth
Shelby Pribble, Saline County, fifth
Shaylen Rowland, Franklin County, sixth
Paige Koch, Monroe County, seventh
Julia Muertz, Monroe County, eighth
Mallory Starwalt, Marion County, ninth
Junior Individual Division
Northwest Region
Emily Conlee, Knox County, first
Palak Rawani, Rock Island County, second
Grant Alexander, Knox County, third
Liam Ellingson, Boone County, fourth
Emma Steiger, Rock Island, fifth
Linnea Thorngren, Carroll County, sixth
Avery Stegall, Knox County, seventh
Willard Rozanas, Boone County, eighth
Payton Frueh, Bureau County, ninth
Sophia Frykman, Boone County, tenth
Senior Division Team Results
Central Region
Logan/Tazewell/DeWitt Team: Ruthie Ruhl, Kristina Morrow, David Morrow, Jessica West, and Nicholas Larkin, first
Jasper County Team: Alex Osborne, Chloe Jansen, Taylor Slough, and Virgil Jansen, second
McLean/Livingston Team: Elizabeth Ellis, Vivienne Pratt, Elizabeth Mallinson, and Kaitlyn Monical, third (tie)
Champaign/Iroquois Team: Delaney Smith, Elowyn Unzicker, and Stephanie Sterrenberg, third (tie)
Senior Division Team
South Region
Marion County Team: Eliza Engelhardt, Rachel Neubauer, Kristi Moody, Lauren Keltner, and Alexsys Hammond, first
Monroe/Pope/Saline Team: Hannah Wenzel, Avie Counts, Bailey DuChene, and Annika Olson, second
Senior Division Team
Northwest Region
Carroll/Whiteside Team: Olivia Charles, Tea Thomas, Lauren Burrs, and Talisa Thomas, first
Knox/McDonough/Mercer Team: Desiree Reid, Ellis Rogers, Rosalind Flater, and Ava Kilburn, second
Carroll/Rock Island Team: Allison Burrs, Abigail Schmidt, and Anna Taylor, third
Boone County Team: Elinor Ellingson, Sophia Mirabal, Savannah Mirabal, Alicia Downey, and Carl Rozanas, fourth
Ogle County team of Natalie Johnson, Dylon Timmer, and Cassidy Vincent, fifth
Senior Division Individual
Central Region
Ruthie Ruhl, Logan County, first
Kristina Morrow,Logan County, second
Alex Osborne, Jasper County, third
David Morrow, Logan County, fourth
Delaney Smith, Champaign County, fifth
Elizabeth Ellis, McLean County, sixth
Vivienne Pratt, Livingston County, seventh
Chloe Jansen, Jasper County, eighth
Elowyn Unzicker, Champaign County, ninth
Taylor Slough, Jasper County, tenth
Senior Division Individual
Northwest Region
Olivia Charles, Carroll County, first
Tea Thomas, Whiteside County, second
Desiree Reid, Mercer County, third
Lauren Burrs, Carroll County, fourth
Talisa Thomas, Whiteside County, fifth
Natalie Johnson, Ogle County, sixth
Allison Burrs, Carroll County, seventh
Abigail Schmidt of Carroll County, eighth
Ellis Rogers of Knox County, ninth
Elinor Ellingson, Boone county, tenth
Senior Division Individual
Northeast Region
Michaela Persico, Kendall County, first
Senior Division Individual
South Region
Eliza Engelhardt, Marion County, first
Hannah Wenzel, Saline County, second
Rachel Neubauer, Marion County, third
Avie Counts, Pope County, fourth
Kristi Moody, Marion County, fifth
Lauren Keltner, Marion County, sixth
Bailey DuChene, Monroe County, seventh
Annika Olson, Monroe County, eighth
Alexsys Hammond, Marion County, ninth
Original source can be found here.
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