On Saturday, July 20, Kirsten Jeansson, sophomore at Seneca High School, was named 2013–2014 Burlington County Senior Equestrian of the Year at the Burlington County Farm Fair.
Kirsten was the 2011–2012 Junior Equestrian of the Year. The Equestrian of the Year contest is a countywide 4-H competition in which candidates are judged on their community and 4-H involvement, essay submission, interview skills and public speech presentation. Kirsten has been a member of 4-H for four years and is a member of Tri-Boro 4-H Riders club, equine science team, teen council club, and girl scouts. She has held numerous leadership positions in her 4-H club, and has won multiple sportsmanship awards.
At Seneca, Kirsten participates in student government and newspaper, among other activities. She is an honor roll Student and recently was one of several 4-Hers chosen to represent New Jersey in Washington, D.C. at a citizenship and leadership weeklong workshop. She works and rides at Gleneayre Farm in Lumberton, where she rides her assigned horse, Virgil. She trains with Alison and Jason Newman.
Later this summer, Kirsten will ride Virgil in the New Jersey State 4-H Horse Show in Monmouth County. As Equestrian of the Year, she will hold a voting seat on the Horse Advisory Board, alongside adult members, speak at multiple events over the course of the year, and represent New Jersey at the New Jersey Equestrian of the Year contest next August.
