Nebraska 4-H Profile

Katie Hupka

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

In the southeast corner of Nebraska, one can find the small town of Cook, which is where Katie Hupka has grown up riding, working with, and loving horses.

Hupka is eighteen years old and graduated in May of 2009 from Johnson County Central. While in high school, she tried out all the different sports the school offered. She was also involved in FFA, 3D, and concert and marching band. At the time, Hupka worked as a CNA. She is currently attending Southeast Community College in Lincoln focusing on nursing as her major.

Hupka grew up on a farm and has been around horses ever since she was born. She first started riding with her mom when she was four. Before she was old enough to be in 4-H, her parents would take her sister and her to open shows in the area. Hupka has been in 4-H for nine years now.

Hupka started off in 4-H showing cows, baking cookies, doing crochet, and growing produce, but for the last five years she has focused solely on horses. She has always had quarter horses or palominos. Right now, she is working with a palomino she calls Danny. In open shows, Hupka participates only in speed events. “I used to participate in all the events but as I got older, I became more interested in the speed events and so that’s what I put my focus on now,” commented Hupka. For 4-H shows, she participates in the one required pleasure event, trail courses, speed events, dummy roping, and goat roping.

Hupka stated that the only time when her horses go to a trainer is when they are being broke. After they are broke, Hupka and her sister are the only ones that ride them and get them ready for shows. They ride the horses around the family farm and do run-throughs in a sectioned off field where their dad has set up barrels and poles. On the morning of shows, Hupka and her sister wake up early to bathe the horses and ensure everything is ready to go.

Two years ago, Hupka competed in district and state horse shows. At
districts, she competed in the barrels and poles and got a blue and a
purple. At state she also did barrels and poles, and there she got a red and a blue.

Hupka plans on someday getting a few horses of her own. She stated that if she ever has kids, she wants them to be raised around horses like she was, but doesn’t plan on that happening for some time. She is very thankful for the help and support that she has received from her parents. Without them, she would not have been able to be in 4-H or have gotten the chance to have a horse. Hupka is a great example of a dedicated Nebraska 4-H’er who truly has a passion for horses.

Tags: 4-H, profile

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 at 3:37 pm and is filed under NCTA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.