-by April MacDonald
It was an incredible weekend for the Inverness County 4-H club.
The 38th Nova Scotia 4-H Show, held at the Hants County Exhibition Grounds was from October 2nd to 4th in Windsor, NS.
Members from all five of the county’s clubs attended the event and over 40 per cent of the 35 members participating in this year’s show were first time competitors.
Points are awarded based on the member’s placing in each event and then averaged over the number of classes.
“To win the flag it takes every single member to do their best and that is what each member did...an awesome job,” said Dianne Cox, Inverness County 4-H Club treasurer.
Inverness County came home with approximately 45 rosette ribbons (top three placing) and 14 Champion and Reserve Champion ribbons.
Two members of the Inverness County 4-H club are going to the National Dairy Classic Show in Toronto at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Sarah and Hayley Wilson will be representing Nova Scotia with their dairy calves.
Sarah and Hayley Wilson are from the Brook Village 4-H Club. They were awarded with top honours of the Dairy project. Sarah Wilson was selected as the winner of the prestigious John Versteeg Memorial Award guaranteeing her a spot on the NS Dairy Team and Hayley Wilson was selected as a member of the team as Champion Dairy Showperson. They will be travelling to Toronto in early November with their calves and six other team members from across NS.
Cox said that there is a ton of sportsmanship, friendship, fun and hard work that goes into the weekend – and the year.
“Way to go members, leaders and parents,” said Cox.
4-H members from every county in Nova Scotia attend this provincial level competition and compete for top honours in a variety of life-skills and livestock projects.
Although the weather did not fully cooperate that did not dampen the spirits at the show. Not only is the annual 4-H Show an opportunity for members to compete but it is a place for members, leaders and parents to see old friends they have met over the years.
For many families it is the highlight of their 4-H year.
“It is so inspiring to wander through the beautiful displays and be amazed at the accomplishments of today’s members,” said Dianne Cox.
Inverness County 4-H members had an incredible weekend with 4-H families attending from all five of the local clubs.
4-H is a youth development organization which promotes leadership, encourages the care and responsibility of our resources, and builds positive life skills to secure a sustainable future for Nova Scotia. The philosophy of the 4-H program is explained by the 4-H motto: Learn to do by Doing.
4-H members feel the accomplishment that comes from trying and succeeding at something new – whether it’s fixing a small engine, knitting a sweater, training an animal or presenting a speech or demonstration to an audience. 4-H offers all kinds of opportunities for its members.
Opportunities include various provincial and regional programs that members can attend, they get to visit new places and make new friends.
Senior 4-H members can also apply for scholarships and earn a personal development credit for grade 10.
The heart of 4-H is in its Clubs. 4-H Clubs are comprised of 4-H members and trained and screened volunteers who act as Club Leaders. The club decides on what projects it will offer through instruction by volunteer leaders, and hands-on learning.
Members attend monthly club meetings and project meetings as determined by the leader. In addition to gaining a hands-on education, members develop leadership skills; they gain an understanding of how an individual can affect their community and country, as they make lasting friendships.
There are currently five clubs in Inverness County: Margaree, Brook Village, SW Mabou, Port Hood and Strait Area 4-H Clubs.
These are the unofficial 2015 NS 4-H Show results:
Reserve Champion Light Horse Judge – Julia Curley, Margaree Club
Champion First Aid Judge – Emily van den Hoogen, SW Mabou Club
Champion Dairy Showman; Reserve Champion Holstein Calf and Reserve Champion Dairy Calf – Hayley Wilson, Brook Village Club
Champion Foods Item and Champion Pet Rabbit – Hayley Cox, SW Mabou Club
Champion Garden Item – Alex MacIsaac, Strait Club
Champion Vet Science Item: Monica van den Hoogen, SW Mabou
Champion Computer Project – Marshall van den Hoogen, SW Mabou
Champion Jr Vegetable Preparation – Spencer van den Hoogen, SW Mabou
Champion Jr. Food Preparation – Margaret Campbell, Port Hood Club
Champion Sr. Cake Decorator – Logan Fox, Strait Club
Champion Versteeg Award – Sarah Wilson, Brook Village Club
First place rosettes went to Hayley Cox’s bread, Monica van den Hoogen’s bread, Tessa MacIsaac’s paper wreath, Sarah Wilson’s quilt, Logan Fox’s fondant decorations, Marc Timmon’s carved bear and his metal flower.
Second place rosettes went to Anna Rankin – Cake Decorating judging; Spencer van den Hoogen – Garden judging; Marshall van den Hoogen – computer judging; Darcie Wilson’s muffins; Sarah Wilson’s quilted wall hanging; Logan Fox’s decorated cake and photography print; Clare Glover’s edible Jelly; Tessa MacIsaac’s photography print; Emily van den Hoogen’s print display; Marshall van den Hoogen’s computer drawing program; Julia Curley – Equitation; Lauren Whalen – Equitation and Pleasure.
Third place rosettes went to Maesey Phillips – Lt horse judging and Pleasure; Katie MacDonald – photography judging; Evany LeVesconte’s Survival Kit and Sr. Buck Rabbit; Monica van den Hoogen’s vet science poster and Food Preparation; Tessa MacIsaac’s scrapbooking cards; Maria Meagher’s scrapbooking album; Sarah Wilson’s Intermediate Holstein Heifer;
Julia Curley also received 2nd in Western Trail, 3rd in Western pleasure and 2nd in light horse judging.
