Horse Show Registration is open - Deadline to Register is 11/14

 

🐴 You’re Invited to the First Pinal County 4-H Horse Show! 🎉November 21, 2026

 

🐴 Pinal County 4-H Horse Show 

Get ready for a day filled with horses, 4-H spirit, learning, and fun!

We are excited to invite you to the first Pinal County 4-H Horse Show! This special event is an opportunity for 4-H members to showcase the hard work, dedication, and horsemanship skills they are developing throughout the year.

📅 Event Details

Date: November 21, 2026
Location: Apache Junction Rodeo Event Center
1590 E. Lost Dutchman Blvd, Apache Junction, AZ
Start Time: 9:00 AM

Classes Offered: Beginner, Intermediate, Junior, and Senior Advanced

Western: Showmanship, Western Equitation/Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Ranch Horse Riding, and Ranch Horse Trail

Gymkhana: Barrels and Poles

Leadline Classes: Western Showmanship and Gymkhana (Barrels and Poles). Please refer to the Horse Project Rulebook for leadline requirements.

⚠️ Important: Riding Evaluations Before Registration

Please do not register for the horse show until you have confirmed your riding division with your Horse Project Leader!

All 4-H members must complete a riding evaluation with their Horse Project Leader before the first show. Your leader will evaluate your current skills and experience to determine the appropriate division for you in each discipline.

Evaluations apply to Western, English, and Gymkhana. Please connect with your leader to confirm your assigned division before selecting your classes and submitting your registration.

Riding evaluations must be completed and submitted to HAC before the November 21 show. Please plan ahead so you are ready to register for the correct classes!

🐎 Register to Participate

Once you have confirmed your riding division with your Horse Project Leader, you can complete your registration here:

👉 Register for the Pinal County 4-H Horse Show

Registration Deadline: November 14, 2026, at 11:45 PM.

Please don't wait until the last minute to complete your registration!

🙋 Volunteer With Us!

A successful horse show takes a great team, and every family has an important role to play!

Each family must provide a volunteer for every discipline in which their child participates. For example, if your child participates in English and Western, a family volunteer must sign up for each of those disciplines.

Your support helps ensure the show runs smoothly and gives our 4-H members the best experience possible.

👉 Sign Up to Volunteer

Come support our 4-H youth as they demonstrate their horsemanship, responsibility, confidence, and sportsmanship in the arena.

Bring your family and friends and help us make the first Pinal County 4-H Horse Show a day to remember!

🐴 We’ll see you in the arena! 💚

Horse Members - Sponorship Reminder

 Sharing on behalf of the Horse Advisory Committee 

 Hi! 🐴 Just a friendly reminder that horse sponsorships are due by November 15, 2026.

 Sponsorship fees are as follows: This is due for all those who wish to be eligible for year end awards, and attend 2 out of 3 shows, and both sorting events. 

• Western and/or Gymkhana: $60 for the first discipline; $50 for 2nd discipline

• English: $40

• Sorting: $60

Payment is due in full by November 15, 2025. 

Alternatively, you may choose the two-installment option:  

• Half due by November 15th

• Remaining balance due by February 1st

Thank you so much for your support of the horses! We truly appreciate your sponsorship and everything you do to help them. 💕

If you have questions please contact pinalcounty4hhorse@gmail.com

Sponorship Packet

Meeting Agenda for October Community Club Meeting

 Here is a link to the agenda for tomrrrow's meeting. 

10.22.2026 Agenda

See you all then!.  

📣 🚨 LAST CALL, COUNTRY KICKERS! 4-H SWAG ORDERS CLOSE 10/31! 🚨

 Have you ordered your Country Kickers 4-H shirts and hoodies yet? 👕💚 If not, now is the time! Don't miss out on representing our club in style! 🐴🍀

📅 Orders close October 31st!

⚠️ PLEASE READ:

• 🍀 The club will cover ONE shirt and ONE hoodie for each enrolled youth member.

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Want swag for yourself, parents, grandparents, or siblings? We have a separate order link where you can purchase additional items at your own expense.

• 🚫 There will be NO other reminders!

• 📦 This is the ONLY swag order we will place this year, so don't wait until it's too late!

🔗 Remember, there are TWO separate order links:
1️⃣ Club Members: For enrolled youth to order their club-paid shirt and hoodie.
2️⃣ Family & Additional Orders: For parents, grandparents, siblings, and anyone wanting extra swag.

Please make sure you use the correct link and get your orders submitted before the deadline!

💚 Let's show our Country Kickers pride! 🍀🐴 October 31st will be here before you know it!

🐴📣 HORSE PROJECT FAMILIES — HAC CALL REMINDER! 📣🐴

 Mark your calendars! 🗓️ Our next couty Horse Advisory Committee (HAC) call is October 27th @ 6:30pm via zoom! Zoom Link 

We highly recommend that TWO volunteers from our horse project attend each monthly call. Why? Because staying informed helps our entire horse family! 💚

🐎 Why should you attend?
✅ Stay in the know about upcoming horse shows, clinics, events, and important updates.
✅ Bring information back to share with the rest of our horse project families.
✅ Have a voice in decisions that affect our horse program.
✅ Have voting rights when the board needs to vote! 🗳️

You don't have to know everything about the HAC to participate! Just bring your willingness to listen, learn, and help keep our horse project moving forward. The more involved we are, the stronger our horse community becomes! 🤝🐴

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️ Who can volunteer to represent our horse project on the October 27th call? Let's make sure our families stay informed and our voices are heard!

If you have questions reach out to HAC at pinalcounty4hhorse@gmail.com. 

👕💚 Country Kickers Club T-Shirts & Hoodies Are HERE! 💚👕

 Country Kickers families, it’s time to show off your 4-H pride! 🐴🍀

Orders are officially OPEN for our Country Kickers club T-shirts and hoodies! Whether you're headed to a 4-H meeting, horse show, county event, or just out and about, we want everyone to proudly represent Country Kickers!

🎉 CLUB MEMBERS — YOUR SHIRT & HOODIE ARE COVERED!

Every enrolled Country Kickers youth member is eligible to receive:

👕 1 Club T-Shirt
🧥 1 Club Hoodie

The club will cover the cost of one shirt and one hoodie for each enrolled youth member.

👉 CLUB MEMBER ORDER LINK:
CLUB MEMBER ORDER

Please use this link only for the enrolled youth member's complimentary shirt and hoodie.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WANT MORE? ORDER FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Want Mom, Dad, grandparents, siblings, or even another family member to have Country Kickers gear too? ❤️

Additional shirts and hoodies are available for purchase!

👉 ADDITIONAL/FAMILY ORDER LINK:
FAMILY ORDER

Items ordered through this link will be paid for by the person placing the order.

⏰ DON'T MISS THE DEADLINE!

ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BY OCTOBER 31, 2026.

We will not be able to accept orders after the deadline, so be sure to get yours in!

Let's fill the barns, arenas, shows, and 4-H events with Country Kickers pride! 🐴🍀💚

Country Kickers — where we learn, lead, serve, and have a whole lot of fun along the way!

October Community Club Meeting

 Our October community club meeting will be on October 22, 2026 from 6pm to 8pm at the AJ Rec Center.

This will be the meeting where the kids who would like to run for a club officer position will give a speech as to why they are running and then the youth members will submit their ballots for who they are voting for. The term is for the year for all positions. 

President - The president leads the club meetings, ensures that officers give reports on club business, and strives to engage all members in club committees and activities. The president's leadership directly affects the involvement of the 4-H member in the club!

Vice President - The vice president is the president’s assistant and greets members and guests at the meetings. It is also the Vice President’s role to help in developing and carrying out the activities of the club‘s program calendar, and provide leadership and direction for the club‘s educational programs.

Treasurer - Duties include helping plan the club‘s budget for the year, plus providing financial records to members, the public and the University.

Secretary - The secretary keeps a record of what the club does, keeps accurate records, and handles its correspondence.

Historian - The Historian maintains the club‘s scrap-book to document important events. Adding names, dates and short descriptions to scrapbook entries helps future members know what took place. The historian uses creativity to record memories for the group! Helps take photos at project meetings to share on our FaceBook page.

Recreation Leader - The recreation leader plans and leads fun activities at meetings that involve all members. This may also include helping to plan larger social events throughout the year.

We look forward hearing all the great speeches! 

September Community Club - Update

 Hello, 

Thanks to everyone who attended tonight. We have added the agenda to the tab on our blog for those that could not make it to review. We also sent an email earlier today with a link to the club by laws, and the reimbursement opportunities. 

If there are any questions do not hesitate to reach out! 

We voted on a new T-Shirt design! Thank you to those who participated. We will be working with the graphic designer now and watch soon for an order form.

Thank you, 

Michelle 

🐴 Saddle Up for Horse Skill-a-thon! 🏆

Think you know your horses? 🤔🐴

Ready to put your horse knowledge to the test? Then Horse Skill-a-thon is the place to be! 🎉

The Horse Advisory Committee is excited to host TWO Horse Skill-a-thon contests this year! That means you have TWO chances to show off what you know, earn points, and compete for the top spot! 🏆

📚 Junior • Intermediate • Senior

We will combine your scores from both contests, and at the second contest we’ll crown the Top Two in each division! 🥇🥈

📅 Save the Dates!

🐎 January 30 – Maricopa, AZ
🐎 April 3 – Apache Junction, AZ

Registration is now open in ZSuites, so don’t wait until the last minute! Registration will close one week before each contest.

This is a great way to learn more about horses, challenge yourself, and have some fun with your fellow 4-H horse friends! Whether you’re a Skill-a-thon pro or this is your first time, come test your knowledge! 💪🐴

So grab those study guides, dust off your horse knowledge, and SADDLE UP! 🤠

Will you be one of our Skill-a-thon champions? 🏆

👉 Register in ZSuites today!

#PinalCounty4H #4HHorse #HorseSkillAThon #4HStrong #SaddleUp #TestYourHorseKnowledge 🐴

4-H Ranch Riding Clinic - Save The Date!

 

4-H Ranch Riding Clinic - Save The Date!

Attention 4-H Horse Project Members! 

Please see the attached flyer for information about an upcoming Ranch Riding Clinic open to all Pinal County 4-H Horse Project members!

📅 Date: November 7, 2026
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
📍 Location: Apache Junction Rodeo Grounds - 

     1590 E. Lost Dutchman Blvd. Apache Junction, AZ 85210

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Registration opens October 1, 2026, and space will be limited to ensure an individualized learning environment for all participants.

We hope to see you there! 🐎

🐴🌟 A NEW 4-H YEAR IS HERE! 🌟🐴

 amilies, it’s time to saddle up and get registered for the new 4-H year! 🤠🎉

If you haven’t already, please log into ZSuite and complete your enrollment as soon as possible. 📲✅

Why is this so important? As our project meetings start getting underway, we need every member to be officially enrolled so we have the appropriate 4-H insurance coverage while participating in 4-H activities and project meetings.

Whether you’re working with horses, small and large livestock or another project, please don’t wait! 🐴🐷🐰🐶

👉 Log into ZSuite today and get your enrollment completed!

Let’s kick off another AMAZING 4-H year filled with learning, friendship, teamwork, and lots of fun! 💙🍀

See you at the next project meeting! 🎉

Come test your horse knowledge!

 

🎉 Country Kickers 4-H: Let’s Kick Off a New Year!

 

🤠 Our first Community Club Meeting is September 17th at 6:00 PM! 🤠

We are SO excited to get this new 4-H year rolling! 🐴🐷🐑🐶 We are expecting around 30 members this year, and we can’t wait to see all the fun, learning, friendships, and adventures ahead!

At our September meeting, you’ll get to:
✨ Meet your project leaders
✨ Meet new and returning club members
✨ Learn more about our club and what to expect this year
✨ Get important information for the year ahead
🎨 AND tackle a fun little art project!

📖 Important Club Information

We also want to make sure everyone starts the year on the same page! Our club bylaws are an important part of how our club operates. Please take some time to read through them, especially the meeting and volunteer requirements.

We’ll share the bylaws link here and will also provide everyone with a copy at our September meeting.

👕 Calling All Creative 4-H’ers!

We’re having a 4-H Club T-Shirt Design Contest! 🎨👚

Have your kiddos put their creativity to work and come up with some fun ideas for this year’s club shirt! They can draw their design ideas and bring them to the September meeting.

The kids will get to share their ideas, vote on their favorite design, and then we’ll work with our shirt designer to turn the winning idea into an official Country Kickers 4-H shirt! 🤩

We can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!

September 17th • 6:00 PM • AJ Multi Gen Center Room B118

🐴 Let’s make this a GREAT 4-H year! 🐴

As always, please reach out if you have any questions. We’re excited to have you all along for the ride! 

Pinal County - Shooting Sports

 Lock, Load, and Join Us!

The University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal County

4-H Youth Development Program

 

Pinal County Shooting Sports Committee Meeting

Got an interest in Shooting Sports?  Then we want YOU in the room.

Come hang out, meet the crew, and help shape what our program looks like this year.

Snacks, good people, and a say in how things run, what's not to love?

 

Mark Your Calendar:               Thursday, September 3 at 5:30 PM

 

Location:                                         4-H Office – 820 E Cottonwood Lane, Suite C, Casa Grande, AZ

 

What's on Deck:                        We're electing a new committee board and mapping out our county qualifying shoot. Big decisions, real impact, and we want your fingerprints on it.

 

Who Should Show Up:           Anyone already knee-deep in Shooting Sports, and anyone curious about jumping in and serving on the committee. All experience levels welcome. Bring a friend!

 

RSVP by September 2^nd:       Maria Melendez, Administrative Assistant

mmelende@cals.arizona.edu

 

Questions/Concerns:            Esther Turner, Associate Agent, 4-H YD Program

eturner@cals.arizona.edu   ǀ   (520) 340-4815

 

Can't wait to see you there!

 

	Maria Melendez Administrative Assistant Pinal County Office THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA   Pinal County Cooperative Extension 820 East Cottonwood Lane, Bldg C Casa Grande AZ 85122-2758 (520) 836-5221 mmelende@cals.arizona.edu Land Acknowledgment extension.arizona.edu/pinal Facebook |  X (formerly twitter) |  Instagram |

 

Time to enroll!

 Annual Enrollment is now OPEN 

Keep in mind that our club will be offering the following projects: 

Horse, Market Swine, Market Lamb or Goat 

Poultry and Rabbit - we are going to get some assistance on this one 

Cloverbuds

We hope to add soon : Outdoor Adventures, Cake Decorating and Welding (parents are in the process of getting certified) Meetings can be held as long as another certified volunteer is in attendance!  

We love growing our club so if you want to volunteer and we add more projects let us know! 

Good Morning,

 

Pinal County 4-H enrollment is now open for the 2026–27 program year!

 

All youth member and volunteer leader enrollments must be completed online.  To enroll, please visit https://4h.zsuite.org.

 

Youth members must be between the ages of 5 and 19 as of January 1, 2027, to participate.  A $25 Program Management Fee is required for each youth member and can be paid online using a credit or debit card.

 

If you have any questions or need assistance with the enrollment process, please feel free to contact Maria Melendez at mmelende@cals.arizona.edu.

 

We look forward to another great 4-H year!

Annual Enrollment is now OPEN for 2026-2027

Annual Enrollment is now OPEN 

Keep in mind that our club will be offering the following projects: 

Horse, Market Swine, Market Lamb or Goat 

Poultry and Rabbit - we are going to get some assistance on this one 

Cloverbuds

We hope to add soon : Outdoor Adventures, Cake Decorating and Welding (parents are in the process of getting certified) Meetings can be held as long as another certified volunteer is in attendance!  

We love growing our club so if you want to volunteer and we add more projects let us know! 

Good Morning,

 

Pinal County 4-H enrollment is now open for the 2026–27 program year!

 

All youth member and volunteer leader enrollments must be completed online.  To enroll, please visit https://4h.zsuite.org.

 

Youth members must be between the ages of 5 and 19 as of January 1, 2027, to participate.  A $25 Program Management Fee is required for each youth member and can be paid online using a credit or debit card.

 

If you have any questions or need assistance with the enrollment process, please feel free to contact Maria Melendez at mmelende@cals.arizona.edu.

 

We look forward to another great 4-H year!

August - Returning Members meeting

 Hello 4-H Families, 

For those of you that will be planning to return for the new 4-H year 2026-2027 that new year will begin October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Open enrollment will begin in ZSuites during the week of August 7th. 

This meeting we will be reviewing our budget and what the youth members want to put their dollars towards from volunteering at the LDD rodeo.

Here are some examples of what has been this past year: (requirment was to volounteer to LDD)

YQCA - Club covered cost $13 each member for annual certification 

Horse Project Members  - $50 HAC spoonsorship, Vaccines Fall/Spring (certain amt)

Animal Clinic/Camps - $150 

Summer Camp Pinal Co - $250 

Horse Project Meeting- $150 to a trainer

Small Stock- $50 guest speaker

Small Stock- $50 towards project (feed, supplies) 

Large Livestock - $100 towards project (feed, supplies)

Club TShirt- one per new member 

State Horse Show Qualifer- $50 toward entry fee 

 Start talking to them now about what this might look like and what they would like to suggest to be voted upon. Once you have spoken with them please take a moment and send your feed back to us at countrykickers4h@gmail.com so that we can compile their request to be prepared for the August meeting. 

Thank you! 

Reminder: Clinic Reimbursement - Deadline

 Hello, 

This is a remind that all club members who volounteered at the Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo are eligible to receive $150 towards a summer show camp/clinic for the current projects they are enrolled in for the 2025-2026 4-H year. 

This benefit will expire on 9.30.2026 as that is when the current 4-H year will end. 

If you have attended a summer show camp/clinic please provide the receipt to our club email at countrykickers4h@gmail.com. You will be required to provide a presentatation at our August 20, 2026 community club meeting about what you learned at that camp/clinic. 

If you have any questions please let us know. 

Thank you. 

Reminder: Submissin on by law changes are due by July 15th

 

Coming Together to Strengthen Our 4-H Club

 Dear 4-H Families,

I hope you are all doing well. I wanted to take a moment to reach out about something important for the future of our club.

First, I want to say thank you to all of the families, volunteers, and especially our project leaders who dedicate so much of their personal time to our members. Our leaders spend countless hours preparing lessons, organizing trainings, planning meetings, and creating hands-on learning opportunities so our youth can grow, learn, and succeed. Their commitment to our club does not go unnoticed.

Over the past several months, it has been discouraging and frustrating to see low attendance numbers at both project meetings and club meetings. We understand that families are busy and schedules can be challenging, but participation is an important part of what makes a 4-H club successful and meaningful for everyone involved.

I also want to acknowledge my part in this. At the beginning of the year, I should have done a better job communicating and reviewing our club bylaws and attendance expectations with all families. Moving forward, I believe it is important that we revisit our club constitution and bylaws together as a club community. We need to have open discussions regarding attendance requirements, member expectations, and any amendments that may need to be made so that our bylaws continue to reflect the needs and goals of our club.

A 4-H club should be about much more than simply attending fair or exhibiting projects. It should be about learning responsibility, leadership, teamwork, service, commitment, and building relationships within our community. It is about showing up, supporting one another, participating in projects, and helping create a positive experience for all members — especially our younger youth who look up to the older members as role models.

Our club is strongest when families, members, volunteers, and leaders work together toward a common goal. I truly believe we can continue building a positive and successful club environment, but it will take communication, participation, and commitment from all of us.

Here is a link to our current bylaws: Current By Laws

Please review the bylaws and submit any recommended changes or amendments to countrykickers4h@gmail.com no later than July 15th. All proposed changes will be reviewed and voted on during our August 20th Community Club Meeting.

Thank you for your continued support of our club and our youth. I look forward to having these conversations together and working as a team to strengthen our 4-H community.

Sincerely,

Michelle Weese 

Community Club Leader

Horse Project Members - HAC is looking for youth reps

  We need YOU to help represent our youth members by serving as a Youth Representative on the Horse Advisory Board! 🤠💚

This is your chance to:
✨ Share ideas and help make decisions for the horse program
✨ Build leadership and teamwork skills
✨ Help volunteer at horse shows, clinics, and events
✨ Be a voice for youth in our county horse program
✨ Meet and work alongside other passionate horse members

📅 Position Details:
✔ One-year term
✔ Must attend the Fall Meeting in person
✔ Participate in monthly Zoom meetings
✔ Be willing to volunteer and help throughout the year

If you love the horse program and want to get more involved, we would love to have you apply!

📋 Application Link: Link Here
📧 Email completed applications to: pinalcounty4hhorse@gmail.com
⏰ Applications are due by July 15th!

Step up, get involved, and help make this an amazing year for our 4-H horse community! 🐎💚