4-H Horse judge Ashley Zutz, who has been in that role for eight years, and has been involved with 4-H since third grade, said the Horse Project is the showcase piece of the year for the riders.

“This is the qualifying show for the 4-H Horse Project,” Zutz said. “So anybody who gets a blue in any of these classes, as long as they’re grade six and above, qualify for the state 4-H horse show.”

Zutz said the state 4-H show will be held in Cannon Falls this year the weekend after Labor Day. She said the show is usually held at the Minnesota State Fair Coliseum but due to renovations there, it was moved to Cannon Falls.

In addition, Zutz said, “The Horse Project is really cool because for 4-H they also have a horseless horse project. So even if you don’t own your horse, you can still be a part of the 4-H horse project in the horseless horse portion of it. Otherwise you can also lease if you’re interested in leasing for the fair and then of course you can own a horse.”

Kenadi Wersal preparing for her next event in the show.

Top honors in the Pleasure Class events and Game Class events went to D’Lyla Todd, who is going into eighth grade at Springfield High School.

“I just have had a lot of practice and I just get used to the riding,” she said. In one of her first place, blue ribbon finishes, called the English Equitation, she said, “We get judged on how our horse moves and how we control how they move.”

Blue ribbon finishers also included Kenadi Wersal, Leah Kucera, Mia Walter, and Sydney Zarn.

Millie Lax and Mia Walter fly the 4-H flags at the beginning of the show.

2025 Brown County 4-H Horse Show Participants from left to right: Valentina Walter, Leah Kucera, Cora Mathiowetz, Kenadi Wersal, Jaxon Janni, Sydney Zarn, Millie Lax, Mia Walter, D'Lyla Todd, Avery Steffl, Brooklyn Walter, Lane Dow, Rose Pietig, Monica Halbur and Sophia Halbur.