Mowrey endowment established to support 4-H horse program

After 30 years of service to the N.C. 4-H Horse Program, Dr. Bob Mowrey retired in January and established an endowment that will continue to provide support for the program and young people he nurtured for many years.

Mowrey had provided leadership to the North Carolina 4-H Horse Program and Adult Horse Extension Educational Programs since 1981. The Dr. Bob Mowrey Extension 4-H Horse Program Endowment, when fully funded, will provide funds to help youth succeed in horse programs.

The endowment will provide support for the 4-H horse programs in the broadest sense. The 4-H Horse Advisory Board will annually submit requests on use of the income funds when the endowment is fully funded.

As a professor and Extension horse commodity coordinator in the Animal Science Department, Mowrey had tremendous success, said Dr. Todd See, Animal Science Department head. Under his tenure, youth in 4-H horse programs won 204 championships or reserve championships in horse events.

“Bob had an incredible record in educating young people. He trained statewide teams that have had unprecedented success in world, regional and national competitions in the areas of judging, horse bowl, hippology, presentations and public speaking,” See said.

“The former program members who spoke at Bob’s retirement event truly credit him as being a teacher and role model,” he said.

Mowrey earned a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture and a master’s degree and doctorate in animal industries from Pennsylvania State University. He is a recognized specialist in horse nutrition and farm management. At N.C. State, he published more than 700 Extension bulletins, popular press articles and news articles.

Mowrey and his wife, Peggy, have two children and reside in Chatham County. They own and operate Hickory Mountain Antiques, a wholesale antique business that sells to dealers for resale.

Gifts to the Dr. Bob Mowrey Extension 4-H Horse Program Endowment may be made to the N.C. 4-H Development Fund, Box 7645, N.C. State University, Raleigh, N.C. 27695-7645. Checks should be payable to N.C. 4-H Development Fund, with the note “Mowrey 4-H Endowment” on the memo line.

— Natalie Hampton