POCATELLO - The Pony Express 4-H club is chance for Bryant Wickham to hang out with his friends, and become a more skilled horseman.

Wickham, 14, a freshman at Highland High School, owns three Quarterhorses and a Shetland pony.

During three categories of competition, he takes the horse through a designated course driving a two-wheel cart. The horse and driver who make the least mistakes during the course will earn a spot at the state finals during the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot next month.

Sunday Wickham, who's been involved in 4-H for five years, spent the afternoon preparing the animal barns at the North Bannock County Fair, which starts Monday. He and most of the club members will camp out at the fairgrounds during the upcoming week-long competitions.

"It's just fun, you get to hang with friends and you get a chance to go to state," Wickham said.

Wickham also competes in dog and cow training in the 4-H club.

His mother, Cindy Wickham said feed, tack and wagon repairs can get expensive, but the benefits are well worth it.

"He's made really good friends, he's learned to care for his animals and it keeps him out of trouble," said Cindy Wickham, who started serving as a 4-H leader more than a decade ago.

However, it doesn't sound like Bryant Wickham has time to get into trouble. An honor student - his GPA is 4.0, he also plays violin, cello, viola and piano, and he just completed a music camp at Idaho State University.

4-H members can compete in just only county fair each year. Wickham earned a shot at the state competition last year during the North Bannock County Fair, and he hopes to return in 2008.

This year he plans to practice more in order to perform better at the state fair.

"It's just like anything else, it takes practice," Wickham said.

The Pony Express Club practices twice a week and members trains on their own as well.

Wickham said there are no entry fees at the county or state level, and occasionally, he even wins a little cash.

"I think I get $5 for this fair," he said.

But that's all right, camping out with the life-long friends he's made in 4-H and turning in a good score during the competition is enough of a payoff for Wickham, who plans to study sports medicine and music when he graduates.

Competing at local fair Competing at local fair Competing at local fair Competing at local fair Text Idaho State Journal ->