Local Residents Received High Honors at the Morris County 4-H Fair

Local residents received high honors at the Morris County 4-H Fair.

Morris County 4-H recently held their annual Morris County 4-H Fair at Chubb Park, Chester from July 20th -24th. 4-Hers and youth from around the county had been invited to compete in the many Divisions spanning from Fine Art to Childcare to Models. Kids in grades kindergarten to 3rd grade received beautiful rainbow flat ribbons while children from grade 4 to grade 13 (one year past high school) were eligible for Excellent blue ribbons, Very Good red ribbons, Good yellow ribbons and Fair white ribbons.

The Fair is not limited to just Divisions; it also caters to other Events such as the Dog Show, the Poultry Show, Goat Showmanship and the Rabbit, Cavy (guinea pig) and Small Animal Shows. Judged Events such as the Dog Quiz Bowl, Small Animal Bowl, Goat Quiz Bowl, Poultry Quiz Bowl and Horse Quiz Bowl also took place.

Paws & Claws, Furry Friends and Buckanears 4-H Small Animal Clubs members were very excited to compete in the Rabbit, Cavy and Small Animal Shows that took place on Saturday. The Shows are like ‘beauty shows’ animals; animals must be judged against a Standard of Perfection. Rabbits are judged against ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) Standards of Perfection while Cavies are judged against ACBA (American Cavy Breeders Association) Standards of Perfection.

Hackettstown resident Cameron Cruger of Furry Friends 4-H Club competed in the Rabbit Show with his project animals. He won a Best of Breed New Zealand with is White Intermediate Buck New Zealand Rabbit. A Best of Breed is only awarded to the animal that best matches the description set for it by the ARBA Standards of Perfection. Animals are judged on such things are body type, coat, conditioning and variety (color). All Best of Show animals are judged together towards the end of the show, the ‘final’ round so to speak. The best out of all of the Best of Breeds is awarded the Best in Show. The second place animal in this final round takes home the honor of Best Reserved in Show Rabbit. This award was given to Cameron’s New Zealand earning him a large red Best Reserved in Show rosette.

His New Zealand Rabbit had also competed against his other rabbit, a Polish Black Senior Buck which had already been awarded a Best of Breed.

Many 4-Hers participated in the different Animal Quiz Bowls that took place on Friday.

Feathered Friends 4-H Poultry Club and Just Kid N Around 4-H Goat Club member Sammy Oblen of Hackettstown competed in both the Poultry and Goat Quiz Bowls where his knowledge of animal care, health, showing, breeds and handling was tested. In the Poultry Quiz Bowl he placed 1st while in the Goat Quiz Bowl he took home 3rd place.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program uses a learn by doing approach to enable youth to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to become competent, caring and contributing citizens of the world.

For more information about 4-H clubs or becoming a 4-H volunteer, visit the 4-H website at http://morris.njaes.rutgers.edu or contact the 4-H office (973) 285-8301 or email 4hmorris@njaes.rutgers.edu. The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades K-13, on an age appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status, and any other category protected by law.