Cummings and Goings in Agriculture

The State 4-H horse show was a bumpy road for the Yalobusha County 4-H Horse Club with  ups and downs.  The fourth-place high point county ranking was the best we have had in years.      

The club did well in classes we didn’t expect to, and the classes we expected to just didn’t work out.  However, the club did better than the last few years and with more members and contestants, it could do even better.  Take a look at these results, and if you are interested in horses, I encourage you to get involved.

The State 4-H Show started with non-riding contests, and Yalobusha County did extremely well in these contests.  The county senior 4-H horse judging team placed second, earning them a qualifying trip to represent Mississippi in the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Show held in Memphis the first few days of August.  Casey Byford, Delta Gill, Haley Morris, Shae Oats-Ward, and J.W. Pipkin make up this team.  This is the first time a judging team from Yalobusha County will compete in the regional 4-H Horse Show.

This was also the first year the State 4-H Horse Show held an Educational Display Contest and Yalobusha County placed second.  4-Hers, parents, and volunteers worked hard on their exhibit on “drawing horses.”  The junior horse team demonstration of Casey Moss and Liz Roark placed seventh.  

Yalobusha County had several 4-Hers participate in the horse art and photography contest.  This contest placed the top three in each category.  Art winners included: Liz Roark with first place, Shae Oates-Ward with two second places, Casey Byford with third place, and Casey Moss with third place.  Photography winners included: Shae Oates-Ward with second and third place and Hunter Dorris with a second place.

Qualifying for the Regional 4-H Horse Show is the objective of most 4-Hers, and Yalobusha County’s J.W. Pipkin accomplished this.  By receiving the High Point Gaited Award, he qualified for the regional show.      

Pipkin won Sr. Flat Shod Racking, placed third in Gaited Equitation, fourth in Saddle Horse Pleasure (flat shod), and sixth in Saddle and Gaited Halter Geldings.  Other first place winners included Liz Roark in Halter Registered Quarter Horse Broodmares, and Shae Oates-Ward in Gaited Halter.

Other Yalobusha County 4-Hers placing at the State 4-H Horse Show included:

Casey Byford – second in Aged Grade Western Geldings, second in 2-3 year-old Halter Paint Mares, eighth in 14-15 year-old Senior Hunter Under Saddle, ninth in Sr. Hunt Seat Equitation, and 11th in Senior Trail.

Delta Gill – second in Gaited Equitation, second in 2-3 year-old Halter Grade Western Mares, second in Senior Racking, third in Sr. Padded Horse, fifth in Halter Grade Western 4 years and older mares, fifth in 2-3 year old Halter Grade Western Geldings, eighth in Cutting, and 11th in Halter Grade Western Broodmares.

Hayden Harbour – fourth in 2-3 year-old Halter Grade Western Geldings, ninth in 12-13 year-old Pole Bending, 10th in Halter Grade Western Broodmares, and 11th in 12-13 year- old Stake Race.

Austin Haynes – third in Junior Walk-Trot.

Heather Lyon – third in 16-18 year-old Pole Bending and ninth in 16-18 year-old Stake Race

Haley Morris – 11th in 14-15 year old barrels, 11th in 14-15 year old stake race.

Casey Moss – third in 8-11 year old Hunter Under Saddle, fourth in Pony Hunter Under Saddle, fourth in Halter Pony Geldings under 48”; sixth in Pony Pole Bending under 48”; sixth in Pony Barrels under 48”; sixth in Halter Grade Western Broodmares, 10th in Pony Pleasure, 10th in Registered Quarter Horse Broodmares, 11th in Pony Stake Race under 48 inches, 11th in 8-11 year old barrels, and 12th in 48” – 52” Pole Bending.

Shae Oates-Ward – 11th in 16-18 year old Barrel Racing

Liz Roark – 6th in 8 – 11 year old Western Pleasure, 8th in 8-11 year old Hunter Under Saddle, and 11th in Halter Pony Geldings under 48 inches.  

Haley Smith also competed in the State 4-H Horse Show.

As you can see, these 4-Hers did extremely well and all we need is more 4-Hers to improve our overall county placing.  Call our office at 675-2730 if you want to get involved in the Yalobusha County 4-H Horse Club Program.