Coweta 4-H Junior, Senior Teams win at State Horse Quiz Bowl
By BILL HAMMOND, Coweta County 4-H Extension Agent
The State 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl contest brought teams from across Georgia together on Saturday, March 15, for a spirited match in which buzzers were hot and stakes were high.
Coweta County’s senior team took home first place, and Claire Lummus, Prissy McGuire, Avery Pruett, Josie Roberson, Elena Williams,and Kira Lawson became the newest Master 4-H’ers in the Georgia 4-H program. The Senior team is coached by Vickie Lummus.
Coweta County’s Junior Team also placed first in the contest. The team members are Emeryn Foster, Macie Jeffords, Peyton Sanders, and Abby Scott. The Junior Team is coached by Linda Rett.
Horse Quiz Bowl is one of Georgia 4-H’s dozens of agriculturally based programs that are offered to youth with the goal of providing educational experiences that equip participants for their future as citizens and stewards of the planet. Contestants prepare by studying industry-standard handbooks on equine health, history, management, and care. Participating 4-H’ers gain a practical understanding of equine science and principles of horse management applicable to enhancing horse ownership or other equine-related activities.
The contest takes place in a fast-paced quiz bowl style that places teams in brackets with double elimination. Fifteen junior teams and five senior teams competed at the State Contest in Eatonton, GA.
Junior teams are made up of youth from 4th grade to 8th grade, and senior teams consist of 9th through 12th grade 4-H’ers. The winners of senior-level state competitions become Master 4-H’ers.
The equine industry has a $2.5 billion impact on Georgia’s economy in an average year. The Horse Quiz Bowl program connects students with leading veterinarians and industry specialists as they prepare to compete. These impactful relationships facilitate the successful future of this important part of Georgia agriculture. Participants and their parents gain access to valuable information that can improve their equine operations.
Kate Whiting, Georgia 4-H Animal Science Specialist for Equine and Poultry, states, “4-H Horse Quiz Bowl is one of many events offered by our Animal Science Department that allows youth to increase their knowledge of the equine industry. Programs like Quiz Bowl enable youth to be a part of a team that builds life skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making through species-specific topics. Knowledge and skills gained in this event provide long-term benefits for youth in Georgia.”
Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships, and community awareness. As the premier youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches hundreds of thousands of people annually through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities.
For more information about how to get involved with Horse Quiz Bowl and Georgia 4-H, contact the Coweta County University of Georgia County Extension Office at 770-254-2620 or visit www.georgia4h.org.
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran, Disability Institution.
