At Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, over 40 4-H youth from 13 counties competed in the 4-H Equine Skillathon, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association (PQHA) and Penn State. The Skillathon is an educational contest designed to test 4-H’ers familiarities with a variety of horse-related topics.

The event included three learning activities for 4-H members in the junior (ages 8-11), intermediate (ages 12-14), and senior (ages 15-18) age groups. Competitors in each age group evaluated the conformation of a class of horses, took a written test focusing on equine knowledge, and tackled a series of stations that required them to identify everything from horse coat colors to equine tack and equipment.

Winners in each group were:

Junior Champion: Julie Sobers, Monroe County; Reserve Junior Champion: Camen Weber, Perry County

Intermediate Champion: Kelsey Henry, Perry County; Reserve Intermediate Champion: Arielle Raugh, Lebanon County

Senior Champion: Drew Jeffrey, York County; Reserve Senior Champion: Amy Jacobs, York County.

The Grand and Reserve Grand Champions in each age group received $200 and $100 savings bonds, respectively, courtesy of PQHA. PQHA also sponsored the following premiums for competitors in each of the three competitive learning activities: first place, $25; second place, $20; third place, $15; fourth place $10; and fifth place, $5.

For more information on 4-H horse programs, contact a county Penn State Extension office nearby or go to: www.das.psu.edu/4h/horse/.

 (Photo: Ashley Egan) Junior Age Group's Reserve Champion, Camen Weber (left), and Champion, Julie Sobers (right).