Our Crowdfunding Groups
To contribute to the Madagan endowment, checks may be written to
VA 4-H Foundation with memo Madagan endowment
and mail it to
VA 4-H Foundation
902 Prices Fork Road
Attn: Gift Acct.
Blacksburg, VA 24061
The endowment funds scholarships annually to applicants active on the current VA 4-H Horse Program State Educational Teams competing at the regional and national contests. The larger the endowment, the greater funds available for scholarships. Thank you for your continued support!
Thank you for your donation! We are thrilled to report that we have reached 91% of our goal to complete the required $25K minimum to establish the 4-H Horse Program's educational team Madagan endowment fund account, which includes funds that were collected since Melissa's passing last December. We anticipate a few more additional gifts to help us meet our goal. As soon as the account is fully funded we will be begin distributing funds into perpetuity to eligible 4-H state educational team winners through scholarships, with Melissa's daughter, Camryn, serving on the selection committee.
On behalf of our 4-H horse program family, I cannot express to you how much this means to us and the youth that this Endowment will support! Melissa's heart was so full for the youth learning all about horses and practicing their skills through healthy and robust educational contests! We stand behind what Melissa's passion was for the program and are thrilled to see this opportunity being created while honoring her, an outstanding and caring 4-H adult volunteer, for all youth who desire to learn about horses.
To read about the latest great wins at Nationals check out our Update Page at https://crowdfund.vt.edu/project/27194/updates/1. We are so proud of the continued successes that Virginia 4-Hers achieve, with many thanks to our 4-H family of volunteers and supporters!
We hope you will enjoy this video collection of Melissa, and once again we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Sincerely,
Sandy Arnold & Camryn Madagan
Thank you for your continued support!
Sandy Arnold, Youth Animal Science Extension Associate
Thank you to those who have given to support funding this endowment honoring our valued 4-H leader and volunteer, Melissa Madagan! Pictured below is one of the teams she coached at Eastern Nationals for Horse Bowl.
The Virginia teams have had a great competition season with a study session in mid-July, Southern Regionals in late July, and the All American Quarter Horse Congress just concluding. Now the top placing VA teams are preparing in their final weeks for Eastern National 4-H Roundup to be held Nov. 5-7, in Louisville, KY!
The experiences these youth have had will provide them memories and life skills that will last them a lifetime. We hope you can spread the word about this fantastic opportunity for all youth!
2016 Eastern National 4-H Round Up Horse Bowl TeamResults at the 2021 Southern Regionals - https://ext.vt.edu/content/dam/ext_vt_edu/topics/4h-youth/horse/events/southern-regionals/results/2021/2021%20Southern%20Regionals%20VA%20Results.pdf
Results at the 2021 All American Quarter Horse Congress
Individual Presentation - Samantha W., 1st place
Hippology - Mattie D. 7th place individual horse judging (team of Carrie, Mary, Carolyn, & Mattie)
Horse Judging - Team of Quinna, Kimberly, and Mary B. won 10th place team reasons and 10th place team performance
Thank you for your support!
Sandy Arnold, Youth Animal Science Extension Associate
4-Hers begin their journey to Nationals through the local 4-H clubs. This is where Melissa made the greatest impact as a volunteer, teaching 4-Hers about the horse through horse bowl and hippology!
As 4-Hers learn more about the horse, they have opportunities at the District level to compete and earn awards, by demonstrating what they know about the horse. Melissa ensured that her 4-Her's experienced this level of competition, to open opportunity for a bigger world beyond their community.
After qualifying at the District level, all 4-Her's have the opportunity to compete at EquiSmartz in the spring. This is the state level educational contest where top winners move on to Regionals and Nationals. Melissa enjoyed seeing her youth compete and win at the State level! Little did they know what amazing opportunities abound beyond State!
4-Hers travel to Perry, GA at the end of July every year to be a part of the Virginia Delegation, representing the best of the best competing with 13 Southern states which come together at the Southern Regional 4-H Championships. Melissa coached her highly competitive teams in both Horse Bowl, Hippology, and in the Communications Contest. Traveling to Georgia gives many youth a chance of a lifetime to meet other like-minded, horse-loving 4-Hers, creating opportunities and friendships that they would never have otherwise.
Senior 4-Hers grow in their knowledge of the horse from their early roots at the local level, paving their way to Nationals by working hard at being the best that they can be! Melissa coached her National teams with weekly study sessions! Today, 4-Hers study weekly with their state team coaches and travel to Louisville, KY to compete against 25 states every year in early November with great hopes and an excellent chance at bringing home home a National Championship!