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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 17. 2016 — PAGE 13A
The Madison County 4-H Equestrian team competed at the Southeastern Arena Nov. 4-6. Pictured are Rhianna Adams on Easy, Taylor Lester on Gracie, Lindley Hawks
on Kota, Giles Stratton on Moose, Josiah Noriega on Ruger, McKinsey Seagraves on Cowboy, Katherine Bone on Cricket, Caleb Sims on Jet, Anabelle Chapman on Hero,
Caroline Chapman on Angel, Jase Jachimski on Moon, Delana Jachimski on Curio, and Haley Dixon on Gracie.
Madison county 4-H equestrian drill team back in action
By Janie Smith
Equestrian team treasurer
Madison County's Novice
National Champion and
Green Regional Champion
4-H Equestrian Drill Team,
Cowboys and Angels, are
back in action for a new
season.
The 13-member team
and its entourage spent the
weekend in Unadilla at
Southeastern Arena partic
ipating in SEMDTA’s first
competition of the year.
Last year’s riders have
moved up to new levels
of competition and more
opportunities to show expe
rience and maturity. Last
year's Green champs are
now competing at the novice
level on the road to their own
National title. The riders suc
cessfully completed three
rides on Saturday consisting
of quad freestyle and theme
and a seven-rider theme ride.
The quad theme ride was a
new-wave Red Riding Hood
to Duran Duran’s “Hungry
Like a Wolf,” and the
seven riders, decked out in
authentic-looking Mexican
costumes, did a beautiful
Mariachi ride complete with
sparkling sombreros. The
boys wore handmade shirts
sent especially from Mexico
for the event.
The Novice National
champs are now compet
ing at the youth level and
decided to participate in
the competitive 4-H/FFA
category. The level move
required the team to ride at
a faster pace and carry a
flag while controlling the
horse with one hand on the
reins. Flag protocol raises
the level of difficulty score,
but can cause deductions in
the ride's overall score if not
executed correcdy. The flag
has to be held with the riders
forearm at 90-degree angle
to the flag and parallel to
the ground. The flag is only
allowed minimal movement
and can’t be dropped or
come in contact with another
rider's flag.
The youth team partici
pated in two freestyle quad
rides and two quad theme
“ladies of the 80s,” rides
before riding with the big
six member team in the
debut of the team’s much
anticipated “Pirates of the
Caribbean” ride. The team
was undefeated in theme
last season and received the
novice theme national title
in June and knew the other
teams participating would
be expecting more from the
team this year.
Anticipation of a new sea
son had many of the old
riders anxious about what
the competition would bring
to the table and the three
new team riders had no idea
of what to expect. With all
the support the family atmo
sphere of the Cowboys and
Angels offer, the new girls
blended right in with the
competition, festivities and
family time offered during
the busy weekend. Work and
play together they do.
The whirlwind weekend
with 12 rides in total proved
a success for the drill team.
There were some mishaps
and stumbles, but the team
proves strong to the end. The
Cowboys and Angels came
home to Madison County
with nine first-place ribbons,
two second-place and one
fourth-place finish. After
getting their feet wet the
team plans to raise the diffi
culty level and speed before
returning to the Southeastern
Arena in February.
There are always plans
being made, fundraising
being done and practicing
going on when it comes to
a competitive drill team.
With all that being said, it is
good to know that Madison
County is always represent
ed well by the Cowboys and
Angels. Good sportsman
ship, teamwork and family
atmosphere is felt and appre
ciated by other teams that
compete at SEMDTA.
Jackson EMC, Maggie’s
Menagerie, Dancing Tree
Farms, and Water Oak Farm
are a few of the sponsors
that keep the team in the
road and looking good. Not
to mention Dusty at “My
Shirt on Your Back.” always
keeps the teams’ logo T’s
looking fresh. Thank you to
all our small town sponsors
that never fail us and always
let the team know that they
are being cheered on all the
way from home.
Janie Smith is the trea
surer and a team mom for
the Madison County 4-H
Equestrian team.
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FIREFIGHTERS VISIT MIRACLE YEARS
Firefighters Adam Arnold and Patrick Stewart of the Neese-Sanford Fire Departemnt promoted the concept that “Firefighters are our friends” recently at Miracle
Years of learning. Students learned fire safety skills such as stop, drop, and roll, and to never play with matches or lighters. They also learned the importance of “Get
out, stay out” if there is a fire in their home. “We want to say thank you to all our firefighters, police officers, and other community helpers this Thanksgiving season,”
said Miracle Years staff members.
Berman graduates
from basic training
4-H
• • •
continLied from page 12A
plus Alexis Gross booth was
recognized for the People’s
Choice Award out of 81
booths at the conference.
In addition to service
projects, 4-H'ers contin
ued their yearly tradition
of collecting pop tabs to
benefit the Ronald McDon
ald Houses of Georgia. This
year, the 4-H’ers collection
was just short of $100,000
worth of pop tabs through
4-H years. The county
donated 18 pounds of Pop
Tabs towards this goal this
year. Madison County’s
Northeast District board
member, Sophie Merka
stated that they very pleased
with this year’s pop tab
results: “The only appropri
ate word is wow! Can you
help us continue this Pop
Tab effort. We can still turn
them in until Oct. 17 at
the 4-H Office in Madison
County.”
4-H leaders say the organi
zation "provides fun, excit
ing, and educational events
year round” for all youth
ages 9 through 19. Call
706-795-2281 or visit the
following website to learn
how to become involved
with 4-H: http://ugaexten-
sion.org/county-offices/
madison/4-h-youth-devel-
opment.html
U.S. Air Force Airman
Suzanne L. Berman graduat
ed from basic military train
ing at Joint Base San Antonio-
Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an
intensive, eight-week program
that included training in mili
tary discipline and studies, Air
Force core values, physical fit
ness, and basic warfare princi
ples and skills.
Airmen who complete basic
training also earn four credits
toward an associate in applied
science degree through the
Community College of the Air
Force. Berman is the daughter
of Judith And Robert Berman
of Comer. She is a 2015 grad
uate of Madison County High
School, Danielsville.
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THANKSGIVING
CLOSURE
The Madison County
Transfer Station will be closed
on Thursday, November 24
and Friday, November 25 for
the Thanksgiving holiday.