Three local girls are competing for the honor to be named the 2010 U.P. Equifest Queen. Meet them each below and cheer for them as they work to promote the U.P. Equifest and compete in its Queen Contest this week-end:

My name is Ashley Alonen. I am 20 years old, a 2008 graduate from the Hurley, Wisconsin K-12 school. I was a member of The National Honor Society and was active in sports, choir, and band throughout my middle and high school years. I was a member, and now am currently a leader, of the Penokee Range 4H Livestock club and also a member of the Bits and Bridle 4-H Horse Club and Spring Valley Ranch Junior Horseman’s Club. While studying to be a licensed Veterinary Technician, I am employed at the Range Animal Hospital in Ironwood, Michigan.

My parents are Ed and Carol Alonen, and I currently live with my Grandmother at Double R Farm in rural Kimball, Wisconsin, across the road from my childhood home. I have been involved with showing and raising cattle all my life, and began riding horses at Spring Valley Ranch in Ironwood, Michigan three years ago. I purchased my mare, An Earlybird Success, “aka Cassie”, in May of 2009 and began schooling for the show ring. Just five weeks after purchasing “Cassie’, she went on to stand grand champion youth mare at the UP Gold Quarter Horse Show in Escanaba, Michigan. We further qualified for the 2009 UP Championship show and earned Grand Champion in Youth Showmanship and a Reserve Champion in Youth Western Pleasure during last year’s U.P. Equifest. This year Cassie and I have qualified and will be showing in halter, showmanship, English pleasure and equitation, and Western pleasure and horsemanship at the U.P. Championship show during Equifest weekend.

Through my experiences and interests, I hope to demonstrate the leadership qualities and skills necessary to the role of U.P. Equifest Queen. I would be honored as the U.P. Equifest Queen to promote equine activities, especially for area youth, if chosen.

Ashley is sponsored by Double R Farm, Kimball, WI.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Howdy, my name is Vanessa Anderson and I am 18 years old. I have been an avid horse and animal lover since the tender age of about 2 ½ years old. From this young age on, my family knew there would be no roping me in as I chased MY horse (my mom’s arab) in diapers, dad’s mud-boots, and a piece of baler twine.
Since then, my life has been immersed with horses and family farm life. “….I could be riding and I’m making hay.” I have been in 4-H since the age of five and have had many wonderful experiences. My most memorable being working with Lynn Palm & Egore, the 17 hand gray at her ranch in Bessemer, Michigan through a 4-H clinic. “I still love those big grays.”

I have also shown at the Gogebic County Fair since I was 2….those tiny tot classes where a blast as we bobbed for apples, did the wheelbarrow race, and don’t forget all those crazy costume classes like, Yum, Yum, Bears love Honey and Sponge Bob. And, yes, candy for prizes instead of trophies and points!

In addition to county fairs, I have shown open shows in the UP and Northern Wisconsin, and in the last 4 years, American Quarter Horse shows in Michigan, Wisconsin, & Minnesota were I have worked hard to earn many grand and reserves in English and Western, as well as All around and runner-up awards. “Thank you, Diane Maccani for taking me to the next level in my horsemanship. I will never forget the show & road-trip memories…..”Is my number straight?”

Lucy & I Winning U.P. Equifest’s very first Super Yooper Horse title in 2008 was a highlight of my show career and I wish the 2010 competitors luck!

I also will be competing in the U.P. Equifest Championship horse show this year as well as the Queen’s Contest. I feel that I have helped make Equifest a memorable experience for many competitors in the UP by promoting Equifest the last 3 years by visiting at least 30 business explaining the mission of Equifest and promoting horsemanship and showing for those both young and old. Through this promotion, I gathered approximately $1,500 in prize money, so many horse competitors could enjoy their experience at the UP Championship horse show.

I have also been a promotional force at local shows and fairs in advertising through elegantly dressing my horse, Lucy, up in roses and the Super Yooper Horse Saddle, and sharing Equifest information with hopes of encouraging others to participate. I would love to continue this kind of promotion next year as U.P. Equifests’ 2010 Queen.

When I am not sharing time with or for my horses, I am working many hours at Stoffel’s Country Store and Dr. Harma’s Vet Clinic. Thank you Lori & Dan Stoffel for supporting me everyday, and sponsoring me in the 2010 U.P. Equifest Queens’ Contest!
______________________________________________________________________________________

Fifteen year old Miah Marchello, from Bessemer, Michigan, is living proof that little girl’s dreams of horses can come true, even when they live in town where horses aren’t allowed. This is her story.

My parents, Mike and Cheri Marchello, didn’t know where my interest in horses came from, but I talked about them, played with model horses, read about them, and galloped around the house playing I was a horse. Finally, when I was nine years old my parents broke down and let me take riding lessons at Spring Valley Ranch in Ironwood. Of course this led to more dreams about horses, and dreams to own Skip, the horse I took lessons on. But buying and boarding Skip didn’t fit into our family budget. However, when I was 11 years old, Skip’s weanling filly was offered for sale and the young filly DID fit in the budget, especially when she could be my Christmas present. No eleven-year-old has ever had a better Christmas gift!

I trained my filly, Im Two Soxy, by myself, with help and pointers from my trainer, Doreen Passuello. To help pay boarding and show expenses I worked cleaning stalls at the stable when needed. Sox and I started showing at county fairs in halter and showmanship when she was a yearling, then progressed to western pleasure and trail when Sox was two. Since then, I have also trained Sox for hunter under saddle, pattern classes, jumping, and speed events. In 2009, we won Grand Champion Youth Trail Horse at the U.P. Championship Show. This past August we were the over-all high point winner, after 3 complete days of showing, at the Gogebic County Fair.

My hard work, dedication, and willingness to do anything to keep my horse (in 2009 I had to half-lease Sox to a young amateur rider to help pay boarding expenses) was recognized when I won the Mary Butler Memorial Sportsmanship Award at the Gogebic County Fair. The winner of this award is chosen by fellow competitors, show personnel, and parents of competitors. I was lucky to be the hands down winner.

Besides my horse and job, (I began working at McDonald’s Restaurant in Ironwood last December, to support my horsey habit), I spend my time reading, playing basketball for the Bessemer Speed Girls’, babysitting my younger sister, and otherwise just being a teenager. I am a member of the Currycomb 4-H Horse and Pony Club, Spring Valley Ranch Junior Horsemen’s Club, and the American Quarter Horse Youth Association.

Miah brings a dedication for her horse to this very first U.P. Equifest Queen Contest that we don’t see often enough in the young horsemen and horsewomen of today’s world. As your 2010 Queen, her hard work and dedication will inspire many young children, who fall asleep each night dreaming about horses, to live their dream. Miah will be sponsored by Stempihar’s BP Station in Bessemer, MI.