The 38th National 4-Hoe Games was concluded impressively. Khon Kaen University was honored to host the games this year, which were held from May 1 to May 5, 2023. The opening ceremony was a big event that began in the evening of May 1 at the Agricultural Technology Park of Khon Kaen University, where Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, presided over and delivered the opening speech and Assoc. Prof. Darunee Jotishyangkoon, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture welcomed the guests and participants. Mr. Pakeen Suamchaiyaphum, Chairman of the National 4-Hoe Games this year gave the reporting speech. There were over 1,500 students from 12 universities all over Thailand joining the games.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, said that the 38th National 4-Hoe Games or “the 38th On-Son 4-Job Phakee Tum Hong Nong Pee”, the traditional games of agricultural students this time was a good occasion, for it took place in parallel with the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Khon Kaen University and also of the Faculty of Agriculture, one of the 4 allies of 4-Hoe members that co-founded the National Tradition 4-Hoe Games. The KKU President wished all participants to gain experiences and good memories as well as succeeding the good tradition towards the long future.
Assoc. Prof. Darunee Jotishyangkoon, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture explained about the beginning of the traditional 4-hoe games that dated back to 1983. At that time, there were 4 institutions offering programs in agriculture: Faculty of Agriculture, Chiangmai University; Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University; Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkhla University; and Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University. These four institutions co-established the event. At present, there are 12 institutions in all 4 regions of Thailand. The games, all through the past 37 years, have been alternately hosted by the 12 institutions.
“Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Games were not organized in 2020 until 2022. This year, the event resume as a great event on May 1-5, 2023. The common goals of the 4-Hoe Games are to build unity and relationship, to exchange knowledge in agriculture, science, and agricultural technologies, to open a chance for lecturers and students to learn outside classroom and carry out different activities together in order to publicize the 12 institutions to the society.”
Mr. Pakeen Suamchaiyaphum, Chairman of the National 4-Hoe Games revealed that the meaning of “4-hoe” at the first start was the four co-founders of the games, including Chiangmai University, Khon Kaen University, Prince of Songkhla University, and Kasetsart University. Then it was agreed that 4-hoe means the 4 regions of Thailand, namely the North, the Center, the Northeast and the South so that it denoted the event that is organized by agricultural students all over Thailand.
“The event features 3 types of activities: 1) sports contests that are related to agricultural skills such as pig castration, milking of artificial breast bags, cutting poultry carcasses, analyzing animal feeds, agricultural business innovation plan competition, net casting, and insect photographing; 2) international sports competition including volley ball and football; 3) folk sports competition, cultural exchanges, and seminars of administrators, lecturers, officers involved in student activities and student leaders of the 12 institutions.”
The results of the38th National 4-Hoe Games are as follows:
The first 3 winners of the agricultural skill competitions: Khon Kaen University and Kasetsart University (21 medals each); Chiangmai University (20 medals), King Mongkut Institute of Technology Lad Krabung (19 medals).
Football: Winner: Khon Kaen University, First Runner-up: Mae Jo University; Second Runner-up: Ubon Ratchathani University
Female Volley Ball: Winner: Khon Kaen University, First Runner-up: Chiangmai University; Second Runner-up: Mae Jo University
Winner for overall scores of agricultural skill competitions: Kasetsart Univesity
Winner for overall scores of international sports competitions: Khon Kaen Univesity
Winner of Spirit Cheering: Prince of Songkhla University
The 39th National 4-Hoe Games will be hosted by Silpakorn University Petchaburi Campus under the concept: “Kaset Silpa Thin Prippree”.
News: Rawiporn Saisaenthong
