What do you get when you combine a “passel” of horse lovers, some down home barbecue and a beautiful Texas sunset on the Pedernales River?

Well, you get a yearend celebration for the Travis County 4-H Club.
Girls from all over Travis County met at the ranch of Holly Carson, the Director for the Travis County 4-H, for their end of year final “get together.” The evening’s festivities were packed with a full agenda.
The cuisine was a wonderful collection of homemade dishes from some tireless working moms and some “finger licking” good barbecue. Many awards were handed out to the girls and the new officers were elected for the upcoming year. The youth members elected the following officers to represent them in this upcoming year:
• President (Over all duties of the club) — Hannah McVaney;
• 1st Vice President (Programs Education) — Helenna Snowden;
• 2nd Vice President (Field Trips) — Elyse Runkle;
• 3rd Vice president (Recreation and member enrollment) — Stevi Skinner;
• 4th Vice President (Community Service) — Lucy Ryan;
• Secretary — Wendy Snowden;
• Treasurer — Brooke Rigby;
• Chairman — Kylie Husta;
• Reporter (eventing)- Kaitlyn Shaheen;
• Reporter (House Judging) — Kaitlin Petras;
• Reporter (Vet Science) — Jacqi Schellenberg;
• Reporter (Cow Eventing) — Hannah Shirley;
• Reporter (Signal Hill) — Lillana Lutz;
• Reporter (Donation Horses) — Mary Grace Horne;
• Reporter (Trail Riding) — Elena Enno; and
• Reporter (Junior Horse riding) — Allie Gretzinger.
The group was blessed to have a guest speaker this year in none other than, Rupert Isaacson.
Isaacson is the proud father of a wonderfully curious son that suffered from a rare form of autism.
Isaacson began on a journey of discovery that ultimately lead to a major breakthrough in his child’s development using “Equine Therapy.”
Isaacson provided the group with his heartwarming experiences and that of his son, all of which can be viewed on his web site: www.horseboymovie.com.
The Travis County 4-H girls could not let their year end without a “blow out” worthy of their mettle, so they braved the mosquito’s and Texas heat and slept out under the stars, next to their trusty “steeds” for one last “hoorah!” They got got up early to put kayaks in the water, provided by Hannah’s devoted parents Rawney and Dena McVaney from Mud Outdoor Center located at 401 RR 620 N. in Lakeway. Kayaking on the Pedernales in the early morning air seemed fitting for these spunky gals ranging from age 7 to 17.
“Although my 2 little sisters Abby and Cami are here with me, I feel like all these girls are my sisters,” said President-elect Hannah McVaney. “I guess the reason we all get along so well is our love for horses and all of God’s beauty.”
“Holly Carson has been a tireless worker for these girls,” saod Dena McVaney, proud mother to three of these girls. “She has opened her home and her heart and has given an enormous amount of herself for the benefit of this program. My husband Rawney and I marvel at her boundless energy, she’s a gift to Travis County 4-H.”
In addition to Holly’s extraordinary efforts, the 4-H program would not have been anywhere near as successful, had it not been for Kathy Slack and the Bee Cave Riding Center.
Kathy loves working with kids and her horses were always well behaved and available for use by the 4-H. Additionally, not only is Shannon Lee a great 3rd grade teacher at Serene Hills Elementary school but Shannon was gracious enough to attend the various 4-H events and photograph the kids and their mounts. Shannon’s excellent work can be viewed at: www.leesphotography.net
When the 2009-2010 school year begins, we can be sure there will be a great group of kids out there doing what they love, with the animals that they love and with friends that they love.
The Travis County 4-H Horses’ Rock program is one that epitomizes all things good about our youth today. As a parent if you have not investigated the Travis County 4-H program, give Carson a call and see how this program can impact your child in a positive way. Carson can be reached by accessing: www.horsesrock.org.