Members of the Silver Spurs 4-H Club successfully represented Ellis County at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo in Skillathon, Quiz Bowl and Horse Judging contests on February 19th-February 21 and brought home many awards.

In Horse Judging, Silver Spurs Ellis County “Green” Team placed 1st out of 53 junior teams overall. The team won ribbons, boots compliments of Anderson Bean Boot Company as well as the prestigious championship San Antonio Stock Show first place banner that will be displayed permanently in the extension office. First place “Green Team” members included Paige Tillis of Rocket, Alyssa Ingram of Waxahachie, Jacob Ingram of Waxahachie and Margret Manning of Maypearl.

In addition to the team wins, the twins Alyssa Ingram placed 4th individually with Jacob Ingram placing 8th. On the senior team, Alyssa Ballew of Midlothian placed 4th individually out of 538 competitors- one point away from winning a $10,000.00 scholarship! Ballew, who is a sophomore, said she was happy to do so well out of so many and that she still had two more years to try and get the scholarship.

During Horse Judging the participants evaluated many halter and performance horses including in a variety of classes that include halter fillies, halter aged geldings, western pleasure, western horsemanship, trail, hunter under saddle and English equitation.

In Quiz Bowl, the Silver Spurs had three junior teams competing. Quiz Bowl is a double elimination tournament play game complete with buzzers where 4-Her’s are tested on a variety of equine trivia questions. None of these teams placed, however, the “Pink” team comprised of Sadie Hinz of Italy, Gentry Rogers of Milford, Autumn Wells of Waxahahcie and Jacob Ingram played through 6 rounds, one round away from semi finals, which is their clubs best record.

In Skillathon, Silver Spurs had a total of 10 contestants competing. Six intermediates, two seniors and two juniors. In this contest participants are tested on identification stations, a one hundred question test. Those that made the top 10, then had to prove their horsemanship skills in the hands on portion in which they were judged on how they maneuvered a horse, tied a safety release knot, and tacked and un-tacked a horse. In juniors, Sadie Hinz won a trophy for second place and Gentry Rogers earned a trophy for third. In addition, Autumn Wells and Margret Manning placed in the top 10 for Intermediates.

“Words can’t express how proud I am of these 4-H kids this week! They have worked so hard studying for these competitions. It takes special, hard working kids, with a passion for horses to dedicate the time it takes to do this well at a major show like San Antonio,” said club manager and coach Julie Hinz of Italy.

While in San Antonio the Silver Spurs enjoyed a variety of activities including dinner on the Riverwalk, swimming in the jacuzzi, team building games and a pizza party! The Silver Spurs 4-H Club meets the first Thursday of each month and holds the majority of their practices at the Flying Dollar Ranch in Italy.