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Thirty 4-H’ers matched wits on everything equine at the 2025 Northeast Regional 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl and Hippology Contest, held February 2 in Derby.

Poulin Grain generously offered the use of its facility for the event, which was open to 4-H members from Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille and Orleans Counties. It was sponsored by University of Vermont Extension 4-H in those counties.

Rosette ribbons were awarded to the six highest individual scorers in each age group in each competition. Others received a blue Danish ribbon.

The event got underway with the hippology contest. In this competition, 4-H’ers, ages 8 to 18, tested their equine knowledge with a written exam and rotation through stations. The stations varied according to age group and tested a wide range of knowledge including identification of tack, horse breeds, anatomy, saddle types, gaits, feeds and equine careers, among other topics.

Results were as follows:

• 8- and 9-year-olds: Alina Phillips, Newport (first); Quinn Charest, Derby Line (second)
• 10- and 11-year-olds: Eva Lamothe, Barnet (first); Adriana Holbrook, Hardwick, and Addie Webster, Coventry (tie for second); Leigh Ann Judd, Wolcott (third);  Rowan Ingram, Derby (fourth); Maggie Guyer, Morgan (fifth); Claira Coltart, Barton (sixth)
• 12- and 13-year-olds: Natalie Taylor, Danville (first); Averill Scott, Lyndonville (second); Jayde Hopkins, Newport (third); Jillyann Normand, North Concord; (fourth); Kaylee Demars, St. Johnsbury (fifth); Taylor Peck, Sheffield (sixth). Receiving blue ribbons were Breeana Garcia, Woodsville, New Hampshire (seventh); Devin Davidson, Barnet (eighth); Maddie Cotter, Concord (ninth); Piper Parsons, Derby (tenth); and Jaida Jenkin, Wheelock (eleventh).
• 14- to 18-year-olds: Carlie Rondeau, Coventry (first); Molly Larrabee, West Danville (second); Abby Shelp, Derby (third);  Kassie Koehler, Derby (fourth);  Jenesy Zwart, Danville (fifth); Jaqueline Lear, Bath, New Hampshire (sixth)

For the quiz bowl competition, participants competed in three rounds of 20 questions each. Placings were as follows:

• 8- and 9-year-olds: Quinn Charest, Derby Line (first); Alina Phillips, Newport (second)
• 10- and 11-year-olds: Leigh Ann Judd, Wolcott (first); Adriana Holbrook, Hardwick (second); Eva Lamothe, Barnet (third);  Addie Webster, Coventry (fourth); Rowan Ingram, Derby (fifth); Maggie Guyer, Morgan (sixth). Claira Coltart, Barton, placed seventh, which earned her a blue ribbon.
• 12- and 13-year-olds: Jayde Hopkins, Newport (first); Averill Scott, Lyndonville (second); Natalie Taylor, Danville (third); Maddie Cotter, Concord (fourth); Jaida Jenkin, Wheelock (fifth); Kaylee Demars, St. Johnsbury (sixth)
• Blue ribbon winners in this age group were Taylor Peck, Sheffield (seventh); Piper Parsons, Derby (eighth); Jillyan Normand, North Concord (ninth); Breeana Garcia, Woodsville, New Hampshire (tenth); and Devin Davidson, Barnet (eleventh).
• 14- to 18-year-olds: Kassie Koehler, Derby (first); Molly Larrabee, West Danville (second); Carlie Rondeau, Coventry (third);  Jaqueline Lear, Bath, New Hampshire (fourth);  Abby Shelp, Derby (fifth); Jenesy Zwart, Danville (sixth)

Four 4-H Cloverbuds, ages 5 to 7, also took part in the hippology and quiz bowl contests although just as a fun learning experience. Earning participation ribbons were Zayne Franko, Wheelock; Kenna Kendrick, Barnet; Gabriella Morin, Hyde Park; and Autumn Pavlick, West Burke.

The event was organized by ÈÕº«ÎÞÂë Extension 4-H Educators Lindy Birch and Holly Ferris. Parents and other volunteers who assisted at the event were Miranda Achilles, Waterford; Kealey Daigle, Derby Line; Kari Demars, Kate Stone and Amanda Turgeon, all from St. Johnsbury; Michelle Girouard, Derby; Sonia Koehler, Derby, Barb Kristoff, Waterford, Melissa Morin, Wolcott; Stephanie Rondeau, Newport; and Megan Webster, Coventry.

To learn more about the 4-H horse program in Essex and Orleans Counties, contact Lindy Birch at melinda.birch@uvm.edu. For Caledonia and Lamoille Counties, contact Holly Ferris at holly.ferris@uvm.edu.