2024

A group of youth holding horse-related items, such as shirts, bits and buckles

The 2024 4-H Horse Awards Night, held Oct. 24, recognized top achievements at the Lancaster County Super Fair and other accomplishments throughout the past year. The theme was “Cowboy Boots, 4-H Roots.” The evening's event was MC'd by Tim Higgins and pledges led by the Boots N' Hooves 4-H club.

2024 Horse Awards Photos on Flickr

HORSEMANSHIP ADVANCEMENT LEVELS

The Nebraska 4-H Horsemanship Advancement Levels program is designed to serve as a guide for instruction and evaluation of each member’s progress. The correct handling of horses is emphasized from the beginning level to the most advanced level. Each level is a huge accomplishment.

  • Ground — MacKenzie McCoy
  • Level I Walk/Trot — Piper Pillard, Annabelle Zade
  • Level I — FLena Barnes, Madalyn Becker, Arianna Behrend, Saylor Bontrager, Shiloh Braunsroth, Addyson Carl, Grace Chevalier, Hannah Chevalier, John Chevalier, Madelyn Chevalier, Thomas Chevalier, Rue Faller, Bryce Golka, Annie Illian, Gwen Johnson, Layla Kravchuk, Zoey Kravchuk, Mili Macdissi, Stanley Newby, Avery Stohs, Brystal Thompson, Ethan Wooledge, Christina Zade, Samson Zade
  • Level II — Lena Barnes, Corrine Byrne, Gracen Byrne, Grace Chevalier, Hannah Chevalier, John Chevalier, Lilee Chevalier, Madalyn Chevalier, Reagan Dinger, Meg LaPlante, Katelyn Lightbody, Reese Pillard, Avery Stohs, Brystal Thompson, Campbell Tran, Ethan Wooledge
  • Level III — Thaxton Bourek, Xavyer Bourek, Grace Chevalier, Hannah Chevalier, Madalyn Chevalier, Lyra Krutak, Addisyn Lorenson, Ava Schepers, Evelynn Smith, Isla Strasburger, Campbell Tran, Lily Wooledge
  • Level IV — Braylee Thompson

INCENTIVE AWARDS

4-H’ers logged the hours they spent working with or learning about horses. The more hours invested, the more valuable the reward! The Horse Incentive Awards are sponsored by the Lancaster County 4-H Horse Volunteers in Program Service (VIPS) Committee.

  • Bronze Level (minimum of 100 hours or points) — MacKenzie McCoy
  • Silver Level (minimum of 225 hours or points) — Saylor Bontrager, Maya Dickes, Reagan Dinger, Brogen Frink, Lena Gropp, Gracie Mittan-DeBuhr
  • Gold Level (minimum of 390 hours or points, and completed horse record book) — Lena Barnes, Liz Boshart, Corrine Byrne, Easton Byrne, Gracen Byrne, Kiara Eppenbach, Shea Frink, Caraline Higgins, Lyra Krutak, Meg LaPlante, Addisyn Lorenson, Natalie Plautz, Amelia Proffitt, Max Roberts, Ava Wharton

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

  • Top Incentive Stories — Saylor Bontrager, Gracen Byrne, Gracie Mittan-DeBuhr, Kiara Eppenbach, Lena Gropp, Caraline Higgins, Meg LaPlante, Natalie Plautz, Amelia Proffitt, Max Roberts, Ava Wharton
  • Top Incentive Notebooks — Kiara Eppenbach, Lena Gropp, Addisyn Lorenson, Ava Wharton

TOP AWARDS

  • Top Trail Award for all-around champion of the Lancaster County Super Fair 4-H Trail obstacle class, sponsored by Dick and the late Cookie Confer — Caraline Higgins
  • All-Around Cowboy/Cowgirl Award — age division awards for most total points scored from specified classes at the Lancaster County Super Fair — Senior: Caraline Higgins; Junior: Kayla Isaacs; Elementary: Braylee Thompson
  • All-Around Ranch Horse Awards — age division awards for All-Around Ranch Horse at the Lancaster County Super Fair, sponsored by Olive Creek Acres Performance Horses — Senior: Caraline Higgins (horse “J Friends in Gold Places”); Junior: Kayla Isaacs (horse “Aces Shining Freckle”); Elementary: Braylee Thompson (horse “Rosie”)
  • Franklyn Manning All-Around Barrels Award for fastest time in the Lancaster County Super Fair 4-H Barrel Racing competition, sponsored by Brad and Susan Frink — Nina Roberts (horse “Holly”)
  • Bluestem All-Around Miniature Horse Award for high point 4-H miniature horse and youth pair in two age divisions at the Lancaster County Super Fair, sponsored by the Bluestem Miniature Horse Club — Senior: Ava Wharton and horse (“D.M. King Chipette”); Junior: Gemma Bunz (horse “Juan”)
  • High Score Dressage Rider Awards for high score riders in the 4-H Dressage Show in both the dressage classes and the western dressage classes at the Lancaster County Super Fair, sponsored by Nebraska Dressage Association — Elsie Maranville (champion) and Xavyer Bourek (reserve champion); high score western riders: Shiloh Braunsroth (champion) and Gracen Byrne (reserve champion)
  • Lowell Boomer High Point Jumping Award for the all-around champion in the 4-H jumping classes at the Lancaster County Super Fair — Gracen Byrne
  • Top NRHA Reining Awards for highest NRHA pattern score in each age division at the Lancaster County Super Fair 4-H Reining competition, sponsored by Dr. Kelly Stich — Senior: Scarlett Battles (horse “Baby Step Up Your Whiz”); Junior: Kayla Isaacs (horse “Aces Shining Freckle”); Elementary: Evelynn Smith (horse “Whizkeys Hot Jewel”)
  • All-Around Versatility Horse Award, sponsored by Brad and Susan Frink and Pam Schaaf — Shea Frink and horse (“Maggie”)
  • Wilhelmina Wittstruck Memorial All-Around Champion Award for Lancaster County Super Fair all-around 4-H champion individual, sponsored by Joan and the late Dwayne Wittstruck — Caraline Higgins

JUDGING CONTEST

The Horse Judging Contest (a Lancaster County Super Fair contest) emphasizes how much 4-H members know about horse conformation as they judge four or more classes of horses along with the opportunity to give oral reasons. The champion of each division receives a buckle.

  • Senior Division: Elizabeth Funk (champion), Max Roberts (reserve champion), Shea Frink (3rd)
  • Junior Division: Kiara Eppenbach (champion), Lily Wood (reserve champion), Kayla Isaacs (3rd), Claira Heinzle (4th), Xavyer Bourek (5th), Cayle Callahan (6th), Meg LaPlante (7th), Katy Weaver (8th), Greta Rogers (9th), Bryce Golka (10th)
  • Elementary Division: Lena Gropp (champion), Gracen Byrne (reserve champion), Christina Zade (3rd), Corrine Byrne (4th), Braylee Thompson (5th), John Chevalier (6th), Madalyn Chevalier (7th), Campbell Tran (8th), Thaxton Bourek (9th), Madelyn Becker (10th), Thomas Chevalier (11th), Brystal Thompson (12th)

HERDSMANSHIP

The herdsmanship contest during the Lancaster County Super Fair evaluates five areas: condition of the animals, stalls, alley ways, storage and teamwork or conduct of those participating in the contest. Good herdsmanship shows that they are taking pride in their projects, themselves and their clubs.

  • Large Clubs: Mighty Lopers 4-H Club (champion), Tails N Trails 4-H Club (reserve champion)
  • Small Clubs: Rusty Spurs 4-H Club (champion), Hunters Pride 4-H Club (reserve champion)
  • Independent: Ava Wharton (champion), Isla Strasburger (reserve champion)

STALL DECORATIONS

At the Lancaster County Super Fair, clubs and independent members take pride in decorating their horse stall areas.

  • Large Clubs: Tails N Trails 4-H Club (champion), Mighty Lopers 4-H Club (reserve champion)
  • Small Clubs: Boots N' Hooves 4-H Club (champion), Salt Valley 4-H Club (reserve champion)
  • Independent: Ava Wharton (champion)

4-H Horse Awards Night Results