Members of the Creston Valley 4-H Horse Club celebrated the 100th anniversary of 4-H in Canada with some very special commemorative belt buckles and spoons on their achievement day in June.
Members participated in their showmanship and equitation classes and then joined up for a drill team routine that they had worked on throughout the year. Both beginner and seasoned riders rode to Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys.
Just a few days later, all members, together with horses, campers and assorted family members, headed out to Nelson to take part in a special four-day 4-H clinic with the Nelson and District 4-H Club and the Kootenay Cinch and Saddle 4-H Club. It was a busy time with members participating in equitation classes with clinicians, as well as showmanship classes, vaulting lessons with the Kootneigh Vaulters, driving classes, judging classes and ground school. It was certainly a wonderful way to wrap up a wonderful year!
Members would like to thank 4-H alumni members Pat Hunt and Lillian Leslie for accompanying the club on this trip and for sharing their camping expertise, as well as Steven Van der Merwe for the countless hours spent cooking by the fire pit.
Members would also like to thank club leaders Meagan Leslie, Karen Van der Merwe and Patricia Hayes for making our year a huge success, as well as Columbia Basin Trust, John Kettle and the Regional District of Central Kootenay, Creston and District Community Complex staff for setting up our meeting room, SAFCAN Electric, Sunset Seed, Safeway Alberta, Goat River Residents Association, Canyon Community Association for the use of the Canyon Park Arena, Joanne Peters for the use of the Creston Flat Stables.
The Creston Valley 4-H Horse Club meets on the second Tuesday of every month, September through June, at the community complex from 6:30-8 p.m. We welcome any new members and we would love to hear from any Creston Valley 4-H Horse Club alumni who might still reside in the valley. Drop by and share your 4-H horse stories and pictures with us as we get ready to celebrate 100 years of 4-H in B.C. in 2014!
—BY ALEXANDRA HAYES