Berrien County 4-H Horse Leaders
Berrien County 4-H Horse Leaders Association provides educational opportunities for all youth and volunteers in the horse and pony project. The committee also coordinates various activities and events across the local 4-H program.
Association meetings are the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m., at the Berrien County Youth Memorial Building in Berrien Springs, MI. All meetings are held at this location except for the December meeting. If you would like to be added to the Berrien County 4-H Horse Leaders mailing list, please reach out to the current Secretary. (Please note, membership is only open to screen "Gold" or "Silver" level volunteers in Berrien County 4-H.
Current Officers
Officers are nominated and voted upon at the August or September meeting of each year. Officers & Chairs serve a term of one year in their role. Current Officers are as follows:
| 4-H Leader | Club | Officer Role |
| Chrissy Bradford | High Spirits 4-H Club | President |
| Tami Gear | Tumbleweeds 4-H Club | Vice President |
| Suzette Hendershott | On the Rail 4-H Club | Treasurer |
| Betsy McCray | Double Bridle 4-H Club | Secretary |
Agendas & Minutes
- April 2022 - Minutes
- March 2022 - Minutes
- February 2022
- January 2022 - No Meeting
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021 - Minutes
- August 2021 - Minutes
- July 2021 - Minutes
- June 2021
- May 2021 - Minutes
- April 2021
- March 2021 - Minutes
- February 2021 - Minutes
- January 2021 - No Meeting
- December 2020 - Minutes
- November 2020 - Minutes
- October 2020 - No Meeting
- September 2020 - Minutes
- August 2020 - Minutes
- July 2020 - No Meeting
- June 2020 - Minutes
- May 2020 - No Meeting
- April 2020 - No Meeting
- March 2020 - Minutes
- February 2020 - Minutes
- January 2020 - No Meeting
- December 2019 - Minutes
- November 2019 - Minutes
- October 2019 - Minutes
- September 2019 - Minutes
- August 2019 - Minutes
- July 2019 - Minutes
- June 2019 - Minutes
- May 2019 - Minutes
- April 2019 - Minutes
- March 2019 - Minutes
- February 2019 - Minutes
- January 2019 - No Meeting
- December 2018 - Minutes
- November 2018 - No Meeting
- October 2018 - Minutes
- September 2018 - Minutes
- August 2018 - Minutes
- July 2018 - Minutes
- June 2018 - Minutes
- May 2018 - Minutes
Bylaws
- Current bylaws - Bylaws updated 2019
Committee Organized Events:
4-H Tack Swap
Postponed until 2023
Event Chair: TBA
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Entry Cost: TBD
Downloadable Event Flyer - TBD
4-H Open Fun Show
Event Chair(s): Chrissy Bradford & Tami Gear
Date: TBD
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds - Berrien Springs, MI
Entry Cost: **COMING SOON**
Showbill - 2022 4-H Horse Leaders Association Open Fun Show Showbill - **COMING SOON**
4-H Versatility Scholarship Event
The purpose of the Berrien County 4-H Versatility Scholarship Event is to identify and recognize the most versatile 4-H Teen-member and horse team in the Berrien County 4-H Horse and Pony project. The scholarship recognizes outstanding 4-H horse and rider versatility combination at the Berrien County 4-H Versatility Scholarship Event. Open to any Berrien County 4-H Horse and Pony project member who is 14 - 19 years of age and has completed the ninth grade. Maximum years participating in the event are not to exceed five. Age/grade to be determined as of January 1, of the current year.
Event Chair: Chrissy Bradford & Tami Gear
Date: Sunday, August 14, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds - Berrien Springs, MI
Classes for the Event:
- Showmanship: (Western or English) Riders and horses to be correctly appointed.
2. English Equitation: Riders may ride hunt seat, dressage or saddle seat. Approved ASTM safety helmets are required.
Mandatory Tack Change (4 minutes)
3. Western Horsemanship: Riders and horses to be correctly appointed.
4. Gymkhana: Speed and Action (Western or English) - Tack and apparel to complement one another. Approved ASTM safety helmets are required. Horse and rider must maintain a minimum jog/trot and not lose forward motion.
Applications must be submitted to:
Chrissy Bradford
4-H Versatility Scholarship Event
1202 Madron Lake Road
Buchanan, MI 49107-9384
Photographs must be submitted in jpeg format to:
Chrissy Bradford, 4-H Versatility Scholarship Event Chair
Applications must be postmarked by Friday, July 11, 2022. No late submissions will be accepted.
Applications can be downloaded below:
2022 Berrien County 4-H Versatility Scholarship Event
Volunteer Hours:
It is required for all participants, or a representative, to volunteer for a minimum of two (2) hours. Volunteer service hours need to be related to the horse and pony project. Example of volunteer service hours projects include but are not limited to:
- Assisting at a local Horse Show as a gate attendant or entry office
- Assisting at the We Can Ride 4-H Club
- Assisting cleaning out stalls at the Berrien County Youth Fair
Volunteer service hours must be submitted no later than August 13, 2022, to receive credit. Volunteer service hours must be done between June 1, 2021 – August 13, 2022, to be counted. Volunteer service requirements can be submitted online at: https://bit.ly/4hversatilityvolunteerhours2022 or to Chrissy Bradford, 4-H Versatility Scholarship Event Chair, at canterloper@aol.com.