Members of the DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties 4-H equestrian team qualified for the state tournament after competing March 20 in the Northeast Regional 4-H Hippology and Horse Bowl Competition. (Chronicle Media file photo/Courtesy U of I Extension)

Members of the 4-H from DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties placed in several divisions of the Northeast Regional 4-H Hippology and Horse Bowl Competition on March 20 at Saratoga School in Morris.

Local teams are now preparing for the state competition later this spring in Urbana.

In March, teams from several counties across the region competed in individual Hippology and team Horse Bowl competitions at various levels, vying for entrance to the state contests.

During the competitions, 4-H youth answer questions about equine anatomy and care including: diseases, genetics, parasites, feed, nutrition, behavior, breeds, equipment and the digestive, respiratory, skeletal, endocrine, and circulatory systems. The state qualifying event was hosted by University of Illinois Extension with leadership from the Grundy County 4-H Horse Committee.

“These horse bowl teams and hippology contestants are very dedicated,” said Deanna Roby, 4-H youth development educator with University of Illinois Extension. “The youth and their coaches regularly meet to practice and study academic and science materials.”

Horse Bowl competitions are like other scholastic bowls, with two teams competing at a time, and each trying to be the first to buzz in and answer correctly to score points. In the Hippology contest, individuals complete both a written test and visual stations to earn a combined score.

In the regional Horse Bowl Junior division, DuPage County earned top honors with its team of Josie Schwab of Naperville, Kate Hardy of Glen Ellyn, Madigan Marusiak and Anne Gulbransen of West Chicago, and Bridget Weyer of Warrenville.

Kane County A finished second with members Grace Feuerborn of Batavia, Samantha Lind and Nora Thompson, of Maple Park, and Andrew Haviland of Elgin.

Two Kendall County 4-H teams rounded out the top four spots with Manes and Reins earning third place with members Molly Breen of Newark, Olivia Woods of Yorkville, Audrey Breen of Newark and Maddie Wietting of Joliet, and Kendall County Overo placing fourth with members Augie Staudacher, Delaney Fisher, Lucy Anderson and Jenna Buss, all of Yorkville.

Kendall County’s Molly Breen also earned the top junior bowl individual score, while Hardy of DuPage County placed second and Kane County’s Feuerborn took third. Other local 4-H’ers also placed individually, including: Lind, fourth; Buss, fifth; Wise, sixth; Staudacher, seventh; Fisher, eighth; Thompson, ninth; and Anderson, 10th.

Other Kendall County Horse Bowl teams that competed at the junior level included: the Buckskins with Emily Wacker of Yorkville, Sara Buss of Yorkville, Adelina Jimenez of Montgomery, and Maddy Capasso of Oswego, and the Roans with Karrington Kirkby of Yorkville, Tito Jimenez of Montgomery, Lillyana Velazquez of Yorkville, and Annelise Veeder of Montgomery.

In the Senior Horse Bowl division, Kane County took the lead with a total of 89 points. The team included Madde Klinkey, Bailey Ricketts, and Gwen Klinkey, all of St. Charles; Miranda Scheel of Batavia; and Shianne Votava of Campton Hills. The combined Kane-Kendall team placed third, with members Macy Krempski of Yorkville, Lacy Hyslop of St. Charles, Mikayla Peters of Maple Park and Jenna Peters of Maple Park. McHenry County took second, and Grundy County placed fourth in the team event.

Senior level 4-H members also placed individually with top scores during the Horse Bowl, including: Madde Klinkey with first; Ricketts, third; Gwen Klinkey, fourth; Scheel, fifth; Krempski, ninth; and Mikayla Peters, 10th.

In Junior Hippology, Kendall County 4-H members took the top four places and all earned their way to the state contest. They are: Wacker, first; Anderson, second; Buss, third; and Woods, fourth. Kane and DuPage youth rounded out those advancing to the state contest with Thompson, fifth; Marusiak, sixth; Wise, seventh; and Shelby Jensen of St. Charles, eighth. Weyer placed 10th.

In Intermediate Hippology, area 4-H’ers also will advance to the state competition. Gwen Klinkey took top honors, followed by Krempski, second; Scheel, third; Votava, fourth; Lind, fifth; Feuerborn, sixth; Schwab, seventh; Molly Breen, eighth; Staudacher, ninth; and Fisher,  10th. Hardy, Gulbransen, Lacy Hyslop of St. Charles, and Jimenez also scored high enough to advance to the state hippology competition.

At the Senior Hippology level, Aubrey Sieve of Lisle earned first place and will advance to state, along with Kane County’s Klinkey and Ricketts, who took second and third, respectively.

Coaches for DuPage, Kane and Kendall county teams included: Bonnie Breen, Rita Feuerborn Kiley Granat, Laura James, Sandy Klinkey, Toby Staudacher, Amber Wesner and Laura Younglove.

“Without the time and efforts of our 4-H volunteer coaches, these youth would not have the chance to learn and grow through this program,” said Roby. “Opportunities like this allow 4-H members to build critical life skills, including communication and cooperation. We wish everyone best of luck at the state event.”

—  Fox Valley Area 4-Hers advance to state equine competition —