The 2023 NC State 4-H Horsebowl Contest was held on March 11, 2023, in conjunction with the State Hippology Contests. One hundred and thirty-three youths competed on a total of 30 teams in the Junior, Senior, and Mixed divisions. In addition, 16 Cloverbud youth, ages 5-7, completed four rounds of play.
Sponsors for this year’s contest were the North Central and Southeast District 4-H Horse Councils, and the Wake County 4-H Horse Program.
In the junior division, the Onslow county team consisting of Ryan Ljunggren, Lily Reyer, Kendall Kilian, and Brinley Raynor captured the champion team title. The team was coached by volunteer leader Connie Johnson and Onslow county 4-H Agent Tara Taylor. Ryan was also named the high-scoring junior individual.
Alamance county went through bracket play undefeated to take the Mixed division team title. Team members were MaKennah Allred, Aubrey Gilliam, Madison Sharpsteen, Allee Coble, and Shelby Bittner. Lindsay Riddell, volunteer leader, was the coach of the Alamance team. High-scoring individual honors in the Mixed division went to Jones county 4-H’er Melody Mauney. Melody was coached by Jones county 4-H agent Samantha Bennett.
Senior team honors went to the undefeated team from Chatham county. Team members Kyra Worth, Austen Stinson-Miller, Victoria Smith, Caleigh Gantt, and Lily Webster combined to score 136 points throughout the day. Chatham county volunteer leader Ruth Vorder Bruegge coached the team. Kyra Worth repeated as the high-scoring individual in the Senior Division.Junior Team Results
1 Onslow
2 Burke
3 Chatham
4 Wake
5 Rutherford
6 Johnston
