Submitted Photo Ward County 4-H State Horse Contest participants from left to right. (Back row) Mackenzie Wipf, Emily Fannik, Hailey Schauer, Olivia Lebrun, Anne Schauer, Mikaela Woodruff, and Reagan Albert. (Second row) Walter Holt, Bailey Bloms, Sadie Lemer, Nadia Lemer, Emily Merck, and Lainey Rockwell. (Third row) Sophia Lebrun, Taryn Albert, and Faith Carpenter.

FARGO — The Ward County 4-H State Horse Contest took place on April 2-3 in Fargo. Ward County 4-H had 16 youth participate in Horse Judging, Hippology, Demonstrations/Illustrated Talks, Public Speaking, and Quiz Bowl. The participants earned multiple awards.

Those participating were: Olivia and Sophia Lebrun, Nadia and Sadie Lemer, Berthold; Bailey Bloms, Burlington; Anne and Hailey Schauer, Carpio; Faith Carpenter and Emily Merck, Granville; Mikaela Woodruff, Garrison; Emily Fannik, Max; Reagan and Taryn Albert, Lainey Rockwell, and Mackenzie Wipf, Ryder; and Walter Holt, Velva.

Horse judging splits into two age groups: seniors (ages 14-18) and juniors (ages 8-13). Since four of the seniors had competed at the 2022 Western National Roundup horse judging contest in Denver, Colo., they judged in the open division. The classes analyzed by the contestants included Ranch Riding, Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Halter Mares, and Halter Geldings. The youth gave oral reasons for Ranch Riding and Halter Mares.

The results are as follows:

Open

– Champion Team: Ward County

– Champion Individual: Woodruff

– 2nd Place Individual: Fannik

– 3rd Place Individual: A. Schauer

– 4th Place Individual: O. Lebrun

Seniors

– 3rd Place Team: Merck and Wipf

– Champion Individual: Wipf

– 5th Place Individual: Merck

Juniors

– 3rd Place Team: R. and T. Albert, Bloms, Carpenter, Holt, S. Lebrun, N. and S. Lemer, Rockwell, and H. Schauer

– 4th Place Individual: Bloms

– 6th Place Individual: H. Schauer

– 8th Place Individual: N. Lemer

Hippology is split into three age groups: seniors (ages 14-18), intermediates (ages 12-13), and juniors (ages 8-11). Hippology includes four phases: (1) judging, (2) written exam, (3) team problem, and (4) station identification. Juniors and intermediates are scored as a team at the state contest. Seniors are recorded both individually and as a team. The results are as follows:

Seniors

– Champion Team: Fannik, O. Lebrun, A. Schauer, and Woodruff

– 5th Place Team: Merck and Wipf

– Champion Individual: Woodruff

– 3rd Place Individual: Fannik

– 4th Place Individual: A. Schauer

– 5th Place Individual: Wipf

– 7th Place Individual: O. Lebrun

Intermediates

– 4th Place Team: Bloms, S. Lemer, and H. Schauer

– 7th Place Team: Carpenter, S. Lebrun, and Rockwell

Juniors

– 6th Place Team: R. and T. Albert, Holt, and N. Lemer