September 16, 2021

News Release

For Immediate Release

EDITOR'S NOTE: Members of the media may contact Jeannette Rea Keywood, Rutgers 4‑H Youth Development by phone at 848-932-3597 or by email at nj4h@njaes.rutgers.edu.

State 4-H Equestrian of the Year Contest Winners Announced

New Jersey 4‑H horse club members representing fivecounties competed in the 2021 State 4‑H Equestrian of the Year Contest held August 10–11. Contestants included: Skylar Cooper (Gloucester County), Robbie Elwell (Cape May County), Mackenzie Esposito (Atlantic County), Ashley Presgraves (Cumberland County), and Olive Scaff (Monmouth County). The winners were announced on August 22 during the NJ State 4‑H Horse Show Clinic held at the Dream Park in Gloucester County.

The New Jersey 4‑H Equestrian of the Year Contest is part of the 4‑H Horse Program.The contest is an ambassador program which encourages 4‑H’ers to become well-rounded individuals with a comprehensive background in the horse field. Emphasis is placed on participation in the educational equine events such as Horse Bowl, Horse Judging and Hippology; public speaking skills through county, state, and the Equine Presentation contests; county-level teen leadership programs; community service projects; and other equine related activities. Contestants complete anapplication, participate in personals interviews, respond to an on-stage horse related question during the contest, and prepare and deliver a stage presentationon an equine related topic.

The 2021 NJ 4‑H Equestrian of the Year Contest winners include:

  • Skylar Cooper, 2021 State 4‑H Equestrian of the Year
  • Mackenzie Esposito, 1st Runner-Up
  • Olive Scaff, 2nd Runner-Up
  • Robbie Elwell, 3rd Runner-Up

For information on how to becomeinvolved in the 4‑H Horse Project send an email to Carol Ward, State 4‑H HorseProgram Coordinator (ward@njaes.rutgers.edu).

The 4‑H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension. 4‑H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades K–13 (one year out of high school), on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular orblood trait, marital status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status and any other category protected by law. For more information about the New Jersey 4‑H Program visit the website at: nj4h.rutgers.edu.

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Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Boards of County Commissioners. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an qual opportunity program provider and employer.

Rutgers New Jersey 4-H Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station