| story by Doreen Passuello July 1, 2011
The United Ag Services Charity Horse Show was held
Saturday, June 25th at the Gogebic County Fairgrounds
under perfect sunny skies. Horses and riders from across
the western Upper Peninsula and from numerous Wisconsin
counties came to compete.
The contestants competed in 49 different clases. Many
of the classes, especially the youth classes, had 9 to
11 contestants per class. Class winners received prizes
sponsored by Tracy Olson-Damm and Brain Damm, B & T
Farms of Bessemer, MI and Beloit, WI. Second thru 6th
place ribbons were awarded in each class and contestants
showing registered American Quarter Horses could also
compete for national points. At least one contestant
earned enough AQHA points at this show to qualify her
horse and herself to show at the AQHA Select World Show,
which will be held in Amarillo, TX.
The Amateur all around winner for the entire show was
Laura Molter of Iron River, WI. This award was sponsored
by Lynn Palm and Cyril Pittion-Rosillon, Royal Palm
Ranch of Bessemer, MI and Fox Grove Farm, Ocala, FL. The
youth all around winner was Sophia Hoskins of Pelkie,
MI. The youth award was co-sponsored by Doreen Passuello,
Spring Valley Ranch, Ironwood, MI, along with Lynn Palm.
The charity horse show was produced by the Spring Valley
Ranch Junior Horsemen's Club with assistance from
numerous other volunteers. The major sponsor was United
Ag Services of Ashland, WI. The Junior Horsemen's Club
also gathered sponsorships from numerous other
businesses and individuals, all of which helped to make
this event extremely successful. The official judge for
the day's competition was Mr. Larry Kasten, of River
Falls, WI. Mr. Kasten is an accredited AQHA and NRHA
judge and was head of the University of Wisconsin's
Equine Program at River Falls until his recent
retirement.
All profits from the day's show will be donated to
the Gogebic Community College Scholarship Foundation and
the U.P,. Equifest Horse Expo. Although all of the
events income and expenses have not yet been tallied,
each charity should be receiving over $500! The Spring
Valley Ranch Junior Horseman's Club will announce the
final amounts donated soon. |
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