Coweta County 4-H Excels in Animal Science Competitions
By BILL HAMMOND, Coweta County 4-H Extension Agent
Coweta County 4-H youth continue to raise the bar in Animal Science events, earning multiple Master 4-H titles through outstanding performances in Dairy Judging, Poultry Judging, Horse Judging, and Horse Quiz Bowl.
Guided by dedicated volunteer coaches and driven by teamwork and determination, these young people have turned their interest in animals into leadership and lifelong learning.
Under coaches Vickie Lummus and Julie Pruett, Coweta’s Horse Judging and Horse Quiz Bowl Teams displayed exceptional skill. In Horse Quiz Bowl, members Avery Pruett, Josie Roberson, Claire Lummus, Elena Williams, Prissy McGuire, and Kira Lawson combined equine knowledge with teamwork to master the competition. Horse Judging team members Josie Roberson, Prissy McGuire, Josiah Benjamin, and Claire Lummus excelled in conformation and performance evaluation, earning state recognition.
Coach Vickie Lummus credits success to mentorship and inclusion.
“You don’t have to own a horse to be successful — we encourage all to learn and drive themselves to succeed,” Lummus says. “My favorite thing is watching youth develop passion and confidence, realizing that every member has something important to contribute.”
The Dairy Judging Team was coached by Master 4-H’ers Josie Roberson and Josiah Benjamin, assisted by volunteers Chris Ritts, Kirk Butcher, and Stephanie Butcher, Coweta’s Agricultural and Natural Resources Agent. Team members Justice Benjamin, Josiah Benjamin, Josie Roberson, and Lesley Nichols earned Master 4-H titles for their precision in evaluating dairy cattle.
Lesley shared, “Through Dairy Judging, I gained critical thinking, communication, and a new love for cows that will last a lifetime.”
The Poultry Judging Team, coached by Bryan Massengale and Marinda Halstead, continued Coweta’s strong showing. Members Justice Benjamin, Avery Pruett, Josiah Benjamin, and Colin Rhymer demonstrated expertise in evaluating carcasses, egg quality, and production hens — with Justice earning High Individual honors.
Bryan, a Coweta 4-H alumnus who has coached for 19 years, said, “I love seeing kids achieve their goals with a passion for poultry.”
Marinda, a 2019 Coweta 4-H graduate and former competitor, now helps coach the next generation, continuing a legacy of leadership and learning.
Team member Avery Pruett, now a freshman at the University of Georgia majoring in Animal Bioscience, reflected, “As a member of the Horse Quiz Bowl and Poultry Judging teams, I learned to think quickly and communicate effectively — skills I’ll use in college and beyond.”
Recent graduate Josie Roberson, now studying Agricultural Education at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, says 4-H was life-changing. “That’s the beauty of this program — it doesn’t give up on people. Even when you don’t believe in yourself yet, someone in 4-H does. It’s where challenges become steppingstones and leaders are grown.”
While most Coweta 4-H members come from suburban or rural areas, their enthusiasm for livestock and animal science has grown through hands-on programs and volunteer mentorship. Josiah Benjamin says, “The contests helped me evaluate and process information under pressure — real-life skills I’ll need in my future.” His brother, Justice, now studying Accounting and Supply Chain Management at UGA, credits 4-H for building focus and discipline that continue to serve him.
From the show ring to the classroom, Coweta County 4-H youth and alumni continue to demonstrate the power of learning by doing. Their dedication, curiosity, and teamwork reflect the heart of 4-H — growing leaders who will shape the future of agriculture and their communities.
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity Institution.
