Currituck County 4-H members made an impressive showing at the State 4-H Horse Judging Competition, held on April 11, 2026 at the campus of Martin Community College in Williamston. Competing alongside approximately 110 youth ages 5–18 from across the state, Currituck County participants demonstrated exceptional skill, knowledge, and confidence in a challenging, multi-part contest.

Youth competitors evaluated horse conformation across three classes before advancing to five performance-based classes, where they assessed movement, precision, and overall execution. The competition culminated in the demanding oral reasons portion, where participants delivered four sets of two-minute presentations from memory—defending their placings with clarity and poise to contest officials.

Currituck County was proudly represented by Dakota Kovacs, Gracie Moody, Kiersten Poirrier, Karleigh Meads, Abigail Poirrier, and Emerson Page. Currituck 4-H members Sophia Haislop, Kendall Young and Emily Harris competed in the FFA division. Their hard work paid off with outstanding results:

• Dakota Kovacs earned 2nd place overall in the 8–10-year-old division
• Gracie Moody captured 1st place overall in the junior rookie division
• The senior team of Emerson Page, Abigail Poirrier and Karleigh Meads secured an impressive 3rd place overall
• Sophia Haislop was 8th overall in the FFA Division while Emily Harris was 10th overall

These achievements highlight the dedication and preparation of Currituck County 4-H youth, as well as the strength of the local program in developing knowledgeable and confident young leaders.

For more information about 4-H horse programs available to Currituck County youth, contact Tom Harrell at tom_harrell@ncsu.edu.