LUNENBURG — Middlesex Knight Riders 4-H Club Leader Jen Tibbetts reported that their showing at the annual Middlesex County 4-H Fair last month was their biggest to date.
They had 21 members who participated in the event held Aug. 28-30 at the Middlesex County 4-H Fairgrounds in Westford along with 18 riders and handlers representing the club, including five club alumni, and Middlesex Knight Riders 4-H Club Assistant Leader Maryrae Holman was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony.
“Our club had an outstanding fair,” Tibbets said. “I am proud of the ribbons and accomplishments our members earned, but what stood out most was the incredible sportsmanship, teamwork and support they showed one another throughout the weekend. Watching our members recognize when someone needed support and then simply jumping in to help was one of the highlights of the fair for me as a leader.”
The Lunenburg based horse-focused 4-H Club was awarded the Middlesex County 4-H Fair Stable Award, which is judged on their club campsite and stable area and adherence to fair rules — 30 percent on safety, 25 percent on management, 25 percent on courtesy, and 20 percent on display. In addition, the club earned reserve champion in the fitting and showmanship division and several other honors.
Middlesex Knight Riders 4-H Club members Aleyna, Ethan, Hannah, Madison and Savannah took home reserve champion in the walk-trot division and Ethan, Katherine, Lydia and Lyla helped them win champion in the in-hand division.
“Lucy earned the Western division reserve championship, and she was the high point Western rider,” Tibbetts said. “Kylie was the high point English rider, Amanda King was the ridden alumni division champion, and Kailey was the reserve champion in the ridden alumni division.”
She disclosed that she herself was the fair’s alumni in-hand division champion for the weekend, “a very competitive division,” and many club members received awards for their static, aka non-animal, department exhibits.
“Our members also did a wonderful job sharing their love of 4-H, their horses and the fair with the public,” Tibbetts conveyed. “They welcomed visitors into our stable camp, gave tours of the horses, invited people to meet and pet the horses, and happily answered questions about their animals and what they were doing at the fair.”
She said the youth “spoke with excitement about their club and what being a 4-H member means to them.”
“Hearing them share their experiences and appreciation for 4-H with anyone who stopped by was a reminder that they weren’t just competing at the fair, they were serving as advocates for 4-H and for the local youth equestrian community,” Tibbetts said.
Overall, she is incredibly proud of the hardworking club members and said they all had a wonderful time at the fair.
“The ribbons and awards are exciting but the moments that mean the most to me are the ones where our members put aside competition and came together to help, encourage, and celebrate one another,” Tibbetts imparted. “They demonstrated exactly what 4-H is about — learning, responsibility, perseverance, service, and supporting the people and animals around them. That spirit of teamwork, sportsmanship, service, and community is always the highlight of the fair for me. Can’t wait for next year!”
Middlesex Knight Riders 4-H Club is accepting new members ages five through 18 who are from Lunenburg and the surrounding communities. For more information email Jen Tibbetts at [email protected], visit 4hmiddlesexhac.org/middlesex-knight-riders and follow Middlesex Knight Riders 4-H Club on Facebook and Instagram.
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