Orleans 4-Hers well represented at State Fair
Photos courtesy of 4-H program in Orleans County: Projects made by Orleans County 4-H youth in the 4-H Youth Building at The Great New York State Fair. Projects were chosen from those exhibited in the Trolley Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fair in July.
By Kristina Gabalski, Orleans County 4-H program coordinator
SYRACUSE – Orleans County 4-Hers have been busy at The Great New York State Fair.
Over 70 projects made by local youth are on display in the 4-H Youth Building and include baked goods, garments and other sewing projects, photographs, lamps, fine arts items and a model of a longhouse. All projects were chosen for State Fair during the Orleans County 4-H Fair in July.
“State Fair projects had been evaluated by Monday, August 25,” said Kristina Gabalski, CCE Orleans 4-H Program Coordinator. “Our 4-Hers did very well with many blue and red ribbons. As of the end of the first week of fair, two projects had received special recognition – a purple rosette ribbon which recognizes outstanding effort on behalf of the exhibitor.”
A model of an Iroquois Longhouse received a special purple rosette ribbon. Flat Orly is very proud of the Orleans projects on display.
Ten-year-old Urvi Cornell of Holley received a purple rosette for her model of an Iroquois Longhouse. “Evaluators were very impressed by her attention to detail and the overall appearance of the exhibit,” Gabalski said.
Alysa Murray, 16, of Albion holds her Horse Project Record Book, which received a purple rosette ribbon. She said she was excited when her mom told her she had received special recognition for the project. Project records, “help me to backtrack on the year and help me with my goals and staying organized,” Alysa said.
Alysa Murray, 16, of Albion received a rosette for her Horse Project Record Book. “The evaluator was thrilled with this project,” Gabalski said, “she was wowed by Alysa’s written responses on her entry form and by the Cover Sheet we use in Orleans County to help 4-Hers reflect on their project goals and what they have learned from their 4-H project work.”
Orleans County 4-H Senior Horse Hippology Team – (from left) Grace Goodrich, Lauren Zwifka, Jann Davis (coach), Kenley Fenton and Christina Zaidel. (Photo courtesy of Julie Fenton).
2025 marks the first year in decades that Orleans County 4-H has had a Horse Program Hippology Team. The team competed at the regional level earlier this year and at the State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 23. Coached by horse program volunteer Jann Davis, the four-member team placed 5th out of nine senior teams from across the state.
“I am so proud of the girls for stepping out of their comfort zone,” Davis noted. “I am grateful for all they have taught me, and I will continue to work with them and anyone else who is interested. They had to overcome their fear of the unknown,” Davis observed, “no one knew what to expect.”
Coach Jann Davis (middle) sits with Grace Goodrich (left) and Christina Zaidel (right) as they get a quick break during the Horse Judging portion of the competition. Christina said the event was challenging, especially learning horse-related terminology. Grace said she was pacing herself to get through the day-long event.
The team consisted of 15-year-old Kenley Fenton of Medina, 16-year-old Lauren Zwifka of Albion, 16-year-old Grace Goodrich of Medina and 15-year-old Christina Zaidel of Middleport. The team met frequently prior to State Fair to prepare and practice for the event. Horse Program volunteer Nicole Goodrich also assisted the team at State Fair.
According to the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, NYS 4-H Animal Sciences Program website, Hippology tests knowledge of equine science and application of this knowledge in a competitive setting.
Orleans County 4-H Horse Hippology Team members concentrate on the written exam part of the competition.
The day-long event consists of a written exam; horse judging where participants place at least four conformation or performance classes and give oral reasons for the placing of those classes; a series of interactive or reactive 10-question matching stations asking for identification of horse-related objects or pictures; and team problems which involve the team giving a presentation applying their knowledge of real-world situations.
Lauren Zwifka wears the team’s T-shirt during the horse judging part of the event.
The Great New York State Fair continues until Labor Day. You can view projects on display in the 4-H Youth Building in the Western District Booth through the end of the fair.
4-H youth will be competing in beef, horse, goat, dog and rabbit/cavy shows through the end of fair. Orleans will also have participants in the NYS 4-H Fashion/Textile Revue set for Sunday, Aug. 31, in the 4-H Youth Building.
Grace Goodrich (in light green t-shirt) makes her way around the ring during the horse judging portion of the Hippology competition at The Great New York State Fair on Aug. 23.
