The 2025 Clay-Union-Yankton Horse Show, held at Donnelly arena in Burbank on June 24, showcased 26 dedicated 4-H youth from Clay, Union, and Yankton counties competing in 235 entries across diverse equestrian events such as showmanship, horsemanship, trail, and speed classes. The event highlighted the participants’ hard work and skill development over months of training, with evaluations focusing on control, posture, communication with the horse, and overall presentation.

Supported enthusiastically by families, community members, 4-H volunteers, and South Dakota State University Extension personnel, the horse show was both a competition and a celebration of growth in responsibility, patience, and teamwork. Laurie Fritsch, 4-H Educator, emphasized the confidence and ability gained by the youth, noting that while all participants benefited from the experience, several earned top honors for their outstanding showmanship performances.