MARE Center Recognizes 2009 Holiday Card Design Winner
Submitted by: Donna McDonald
Phone: 540-687-3521 ext 22
Email Address: dmcdo05(at)vt.edu
Date Added: 1/26/2010
Educational event takes place at MARE Center
By: Donna McDonald
Middleburg, Va., - January 25, 2010 – The Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MARE Center) hosted its 2nd annual holiday card recognition and recruitment event on Saturday, January 23, 2010 with approximately 60 people attending. Carrie Gilboy of Giles County, Virginia, submitted the winning artwork for the center’s 2009-holiday card. Gilboy, 13, is a member of the 4-H Horsin’ Around Club in Giles County and attends Blacksburg New School, in Blacksburg, Virginia. She loves to draw and is saving her money to buy her own horse.
Dr. Shea Porr opened the event by welcoming everyone. She then spoke about the Virginia Tech Equine Studies program at Middleburg and Equine Science program in Blacksburg. Porr then introduce Dr. Rebecca Splan who talked more about the programs to the attentive 4-Her’s. Splan explained how the design of equine programs is to prepare students to be successful members of the horse industry. Splan was a very active member of 4-H as a youth and continues to support the efforts of 4-H equine programs across the state. She then introduced undergraduate students, Kelly Barber, Stephanie Feinberg, Kelsay Johns and Kaylee Kohlhaas, who shared enthusiastically about being equine students at the MARE Center.
This year we were fortunate to have with us two 4-H Ambassadors who have backgrounds in working with horses. Brooke Lampert and Zach McCann told the audience about their experiences in 4-H as members, then Ambassadors. Lampert and McCann explained that to be an Ambassador you must complete two years as a 4-H member then two more years preparing and completing the Ambassador requirements. The audience asked several questions and was very excited to learn more about being a 4-H Ambassador.
Cathy Sutphin, Associate Director of 4-H Youth Development for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, gave an overview of her journey as a 4-Her and how being raised on a farm confirmed her love of agriculture and inspired her to further her degree in agricultural arenas. Sutphin shared how being a 4-H member made her responsible and taught her how to care for animals. As director of 4-H Youth Development, Sutphin still has her hands in the pie with young folks as they too experience the numerous opportunities available through 4-H programs.
The day ended with Tim Parmly, Animal Care Technician for the MARE Center, giving hands on equine dental demonstration. Tim explained all the equipment needed to float a horses teeth and how the equipment is used to complete the job. The group enjoyed the demonstration immensely as was evident when all the children lined up to put their hand in the horse’s mouth to see the rough tooth that Tim described. Some were a little skittish at first, but it was easy to see we have some future equine dentists in the crowd!
Virginia Tech’s Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center’s mission is to advance the health and well-being of the horse through undergraduate and graduate education for equine professionals, nutritional and pasture management research, and community educational programs. Located in Middleburg, Va., the center is one of 12 Agricultural Research and Extension Centers located across the state that serves the commonwealth's agricultural needs.
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