Skip to main content

Rock County team excels at herdsmanship

Subhead
Group earns extra slot for next year’s event
Lead Summary
By
Mavis Fodness

Six Rock County 4-H’ers competed at the 2019 Minnesota State 4-H Horse Show Sept. 13-16 at the state fairgrounds in St. Paul in both individual and group events.
Attending the four-day event were Ayden Bonnett, Lizzie Chapa, Kennedy Safar, Joni Vander Beek, Kallie Chapa and Gavin Johnson.
As a group, Rock County achieved the ideal herdsmanship standards and was placed in a drawing for an additional 4-H’er to show a horse at the 2020 state show. 
Under the new herdsmanship program, each county was evaluated on animal care, respect to others, safety and presentation to the public.
The new program lessens the competitive focus of herdsmanship, according to Rock County 4-H Program Coordinator Kelsey Maeschen.
“Instead of critiquing all the small things, they made their requirements a little bit easier,” she said. “They encourage youth to work together to make their stalls look presentable and that their animals are taken care of.”
Individually, Rock County had five 4-H’ers place in the Top 10 in their respective classes.
Kallie Chapa, grade 11, competed in the game events and earned three ribbons: seventh in key race and fourth in both barrels and jumping figure eight.
Kennedy Safar, grade 10, also competed in the game events and placed sixth in poles and tenth in jumping figure eight.
Joni Vander Beek, grade 12, rode in the western and English riding events. She placed fifth in western showmanship.
Lizzie Chapa, grade 12, competed in the western riding events and finished fifth in western horsemanship.
Gavin Johnson, grade 7, also competed in the western riding events. He placed tenth in western showmanship.
Ayden Bonnett competed in grade 10 game events.

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.