65 youth participate in annual contest.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Several Kansas kids got a jump start on their 4-H year, testing their skills and knowledge about horses recently during the annual Horse Panorama.
Kansas 4-H Youth Development program coordinator Shannon Rogge said the Horse Panorama includes a quiz bowl and hippology – the study of horses – and public speaking competitions in the intermediate and senior divisions. Rogge said the return to in person competition brought new and old competitors to the panorama.
“Overall, we had 65 kids in person, and there were about a dozen or so that were in the speech contest on Sunday,” Rogge said, “We were really excited about the number of new youth we had in attendance.”
For some participants, the Horse Panorama is a qualifier for national competitions, but Rogge said it also about assisting and educating Kansas youth interested in horses.
“This is great for all those foundational educational pieces, all that information that makes you a better horse owner,” she said.
The event, Rogge said, is not just for horse owners. She said the activities also give youth interested in horses access to learning materials they may not have at home.
“This is great for all of those kids that may not have access to horses,” she said. “They’re really interested in horses, but they don’t have property or someone to take them to the stable. They can get started on this part and be involved in the horse industry without ever having to own a horse.”
A few Kansas State University alumni and current students volunteered their time and horse expertise during the events, allowing for more educational opportunities for participants.
“We had a K-State veterinary graduate that came back and helped judge, and he still remembers the subject matter that he learned in these competitions and how it helped him through his (education),” Rogge said.
Rogge said the next event for youth in the 4-H horse project is the state horse judging competition June 9 in Manhattan. On June 7-8, the K-State horse judging team will hold an educational camp.
“For advanced and beginners, this will help teach them the horse judging terms, the reasons and how to improve. Then, they can be fresh for that contest on (June 9),” Rogge said.
For more information on all of the upcoming horse events, visit the Kansas 4-H website.
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FOR PRINT PUBLICATIONS: Links used in this story
Kansas 4-H, www.kansas4-h.org
K-State Research and Extension local offices, www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html
K State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Story by:
Emily Halstead
[email protected]
For more information:
Shannon Rogge
785-532-5800
[email protected]
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