The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published July 4, 2018

Two from lake area participate in Equine Tour

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – Two local residents were part of forty-nine enthusiastic Missouri 4-H teens that embarked upon the eighth annual 4-H Equine Career and Horse Industry Tour in late May.

Camden County had two participants: Macey Brown and Alicyn McNerney.

McNerney was the recipient of this year’s Jonna Kay Witherow Memorial Scholarship. The 4-H Equine Tour was one of Jonna Kay Witherow’s favorite 4-H events and she attended all four trips to different parts of the country.

The group traveled to destinations in Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado.

“The quote from Mary Webb, ‘Saddle your dreams before you ride them’ sums up the focus of this great opportunity for youth who hope to couple their equine passion with a career,” a spokesman said.

The tour explored the ranching and rodeo world at the Nebraska Sand Hills Haythorn Ranch and had a special behind-the-chutes tour at the famous Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.

Participants gained insight into equine and animal science programs at Nebraska Agriculture Technical College and Colorado State, watched morning practices of the famous Westernaires, which are a youth drill and trick-riding troupe.

Equine welfare issues were a focus at the Elm Creek, NE, BLM wild horse facility and a visit at an equine rescue facility.

One highlight for all was a trail ride in the Rocky Mountains near Estes Park with breakfast on the trail.  The tour also included a visit with two celebrity horses, War Paint, the Kansas City Chiefs’ mascot and Thunder, the Denver Bronco’s mascot.

Over the past twelve years, this equine tour has helped over 500 young people make informed, educational decisions about their future with horses.

For more information about 4-H and the 4-H Equine tour, contact your local Extension office or visit: http://mo4h.missouri.edu

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