by Maura Britt

The Britches & Boots 4-H Horse Club is off to another exciting year. Awards for accomplishments from last year included the first-ever Britches & Boots 4-H Horse Club Triple H Trophy. Club members are required to participate in the 4-H District Competitions of Horse Bowl, Hippology and Horse Show.  The trophies went to senior member Joshua McPherson and junior member Fiona Kee. Joshua went on to compete at the state level for Horse Bowl and Hippology.

Congratulations for your accomplishments! Both Joshua and Fiona are excited about opportunities for this year.

Each new year, officers are elected. The club discussed with the members what the group would like to do for the new 4-H year — competitions, service projects, fundraisers, county fairs, clinics and camps.

We had a great fundraiser at Tractor Supply in Franklin. Thank you to everyone who has supported our club. Another takes place on Saturday, March 10, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parents and children/teens interested in joining are welcome to come to the fundraiser to meet club members. You can learn about our great activities and ask questions.

At our last meeting in February, the club went to Dairy Queen in Windsor to eat and have our meeting. Then the group went on to Diamonds in the Rough Equine Rescue for our service project. We groomed the horses and brought them treats.

There are many opportunities for Britches & Boots 4-H Horse Club members to choose. Abby Boyce was a counselor-in-training last year at the 4-H summer camp. She applied again this year and was accepted as a counselor. Abby said “Camp is so much fun. Everyone should go. You make so many new friends and there are a lot of fun activities that you can choose from. I am so happy to have the opportunity to be a counselor this year!”

Joshua McPherson applied to and was accepted to the Teen Excellence Leadership Institute program — a premier leadership and personal development program offered through 4-H.

He shared his experience with the club at a recent meeting: “My leadership course (TELI – Teen Excellence Leadership Institute) was held at Smith Mountain Lake for the first part and will be held in Fort Royal, Virginia, on Feb. 23-25. I learned how to be a better leader and I would attend the event again. I also liked that I was able to go to new places and make new friends.”

Joshua also hopes to attend Virginia State 4-H Congress at Virginia Tech in June. This event is planned for senior 4-H members to gather, learn, elect a new 4-H Congress and make new friends. There were social events throughout the event for the senior members to get know new friends.

He said, “I am excited to have the opportunity to attend again this year!”

Club members invite you to join 4-H and the Britches & Boots 4-H Horse Club. Abby Boyce, vice president, said, “I like the club because we do fun activities and have fun together even during meetings.”

Fiona Kee, secretary, said, “I love the horses!”

If you would like to join 4-H, contact the Southampton County Virginia Cooperative Extension Office at 653-2572 or register online at https://va.4honline.com. To register online create a family profile (login and password), select your county and your 4-H club.