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Lani Hall's goal is for Payson 4-H to become the popular youth group it was when she was a member from 1979 to 1986.
"For some reason it kind of died out in Payson," she said. "But we're working to bring it back."
As a Gila County Youth Development Agent, Hall is teaming with Payson 4-H volunteer sponsor Susie Belcher to increase membership and interest in the local youth group.
Among the first challenges the pair faced was to host one of two 4-H horse shows to be held in Gila County this summer. The first show was July 29 and 30 at the Payson Event Center. The other will be Aug. 13 at the Gila County Fairgrounds in Globe.
At the Payson competition, about 15 4-H members, ages 9 to 19, representing both the Payson and Young chapters, showed up to showcase their skills.
"When the show came out in the (Payson Roundup) paper, I had some people call wanting to enter," Hall said. "But you needed to be a (4-H) member."
Among those in the audience during the two-day show was Payson High School agriculture teacher and Future Farmers of America sponsor Wendell Stevens.
"4-H is important, it feeds into our FFA program," he said. "This is where I get my kids."
Also on hand to do the all important judging were Lori Brown, Jessica Brown, Media Hunsaker and Sue Hunsaker.
On the first day, entrants were put through their paces in the timed events which included barrel racing, pole bending and goat tying.
The following day, the equestrians performed English and Western show events. For the competition, 4-H members were grouped into three divisions -- novice, junior (9-14 years) and senior (15-19 years).
The top three point producers in each division at the Globe and Payson shows are eligible to participate in the Arizona State 4-H horse show to be held in October in Scottsdale.
Although the horse show was the focus of the weekend, Hall is quick to point out that 4-H is about much more than equestrian competition and skills.
"There are so many things 4-H does -- raising farm animals, agriculture, cooking, after-school projects, health and wellness, preparation for the workforce," she said. "In Young, we even have a scrapbooking club."
According to a 4-H website, the organization's programs are intended to "further the development of social, emotional, physical and academic skills among our nation's youth."
Hall said by becoming a member of 4-H, youngsters can participate in trips both in and out of state, learn leadership skills and earn grants and scholarships.
Also, she added, children and youth who become involved in 4-H are better prepared to become contributing members of society.
For more information, call Hall at (928) 474-4160.
2005 Gila County 4-H Horse Show Results
Pole Bending
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Amanda Haworth
2nd- Jordan Hunt
3rd- Sarah Scott
4th- Scout Harper
5th- Noble Tanenhaus
6th- Noelle Gordon
Novice Class
1st- Lexi Cline
2nd- Franchesca Brooks
3rd- Jesse Moore
Goat Tying
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Jordan Hunt
2nd- Amanda Haworth
3rd- Destiny Wagenknecht
4th- Noble Tanenhaus
5th- Scout Harper
6th- Carly Haworth
Novice Class
1st- Jesse Moore
Barrel Racing
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Amanda Haworth
2nd- Shea Nelson
3rd- Jordan Hunt
4th- Noelle Gordon
5th- Noble Tanenhaus
6th- Sarah Scott
Novice Class
1st- Franchesca Brooks
2nd- Michaela Perry
English Bareback Equitation
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Jordan Hunt
2nd- Amanda Haworth
3rd- Rachel Weatherly
4th- Scout Harper
Working Hunter
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Scout Harper
2nd- Rachel Weatherly
3rd- Jordan Hunt
Hunt Seat Equitation (over fences)
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Jordan Hunt
2nd- Scout Harper
3rd- Rachel Weatherly
Hunter Hack
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Scout Harper
2nd- Rachel Weatherly
3rd- Jordan Hunt
Hunt Seat Equitation (flat)
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Rachel Weatherly
2nd- Scout Harper
3rd- Jordan Hunt
English Pleasure
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Scout Harper
2nd- Amanda Haworth
3rd- Jordan Hunt
4th- Rachel Weatherly
English Showmanship
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Rachel Weatherly
2nd- Jordan Hunt
3rd- Amanda Haworth
4th- Scout Harper
Western Showmanship
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Shea Nelson
2nd- Noble Tanenhaus
3rd- Noelle Gordon
4th- Amanda Haworth
5th- Jordan Hunt
6th- Carly Haworth
Novice
1st- Lexi Cline
2nd- Jesse Moore
3rd- Michaela Perry
4th- Franchesca Brooks
Western Pleasure
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Amanda Haworth
2nd- Sarah Scott
3rd- Noble Tanenhaus
4th- Carly Haworth
5th- Noelle Gordon
6th- Jordon Hunt
Novice Class
1st- Franchesca Brooks
2nd- Lexi Cline
3rd- Michaela Perry
Western Equitation
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Sarah Scott
2nd- Amanda Haworth
3rd- Jordon Hunt
4th- Carly Haworth
5th- Noble Tanenhaus
6th- Destiny Wagenknecht
Novice Class
1st Franchesca Brooks
2nd- Lexi Cline
3rd- Michaela Perry
Western Riding
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Shea Nelson
2nd- Sarah Scott
3rd- Destiny Wagenknecht
4th- Noelle Gordon
5th- Noble Tanenhaus
Novice Class
1st- Michaela Perry
2nd- Franchesca Brooks
3rd - Lexi Cline
Trail Class
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Amanda Haworth
2nd- Sarah Scott
3rd- Carly Haworth
4th- Destiny Wagenknecht
5th- Jordon Hunt
6th- Noelle Gordon
Novice Class
1st- Michaela Perry
2nd- Lexi Cline
3rd- Franchesca Brooks
Reining
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Amanda Haworth
2nd- Noelle Gordon
3rd- Sarah Scott
4th- Carly Haworth
Novice Class
1st- Franchesca Brooks
2nd- Michaela Perry
3rd- Lexi Cline
Western Bareback Equitation
Junior Class (ages 9-14)
1st- Shea Nelson
2nd- Jordan Hunt
3rd- Amanda Haworth
4th- Destiny Wagenknecht
5th- Noelle Gordon
6th- Sarah Scott
Novice Class
1st- Lexi Cline
2nd- Franchesca Brooks
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