Goddard wins Master 4-H'er title at State Congress
By REBECCA LEFTWICH
rebecca@newnan.com
Amy Goddard of Newnan has loved horses all her life, and a personal encounter with a horse-laming disease and nearly four years of work culminated in a coveted Master 4-H'er title at the annual 4-H State Congress last month.
More than 250 Georgia 4-H’ers earned the right to compete for Georgia 4-H’s Master 4-H’er titles, winning first place in their regional competitions before traveling to Atlanta for the state competition.
Goddards project was titled "Code: WLD," and she presented it as though she were leading a secret agent briefing preparing to face the notorious enemy "WLD."
" A few years ago my horse was infected with White Line Disease, which is what the 'WLD' stands for," Goddard said. "White Line Disease is bacteria and fungi working together to eat away the white line of the hoof. The wall of the hoof will begin to separate away and eventually the whole hoof will fall apart. If not treated, it can permanently lame the horse and force one to euthanize it.
"It is a little-known disease which is commonly mistaken for other things, such as seedy toe," Goddard said. "I decided to do my presentation on it because people needed to know about it. It is quite common in our area which is warm and wet, a great habitat for this anaerobic bacteria and fungi."
Michael Woods, first place winner in the vocal competition, credits his 4-H mentors and advisers for honing his talents and creating in him “a sense of acceptance in a judgmental world.”
“4-H has taught me to start from the bottom of the ladder of success and climb slowly to the top,” he said.
First place winner Jaime Webb, a home-schooled student from Elbert County, says 4-H has taught her things she could never learn in a classroom.
“Becoming a Master 4-H’er takes a lot of responsibility and discipline,” she said. “What better way to learn these life skills than getting up at the same time every morning to feed, run and always take the best care possible of 11 show animals.”
Goddard, the daughter of Tim and Cathy Goddard, was honored at the recent Coweta County 4-H banquet for her title and was a winner of the Newnan Times-Herald Award. Other outstanding 4-H'ers also were recognized at the banquet, including Goddard's younger brother John, who received the Outstanding Cloverleaf Award.
