The 2007 Horse Awards Night was held October 4. The evening recognized top achievements at the Lancaster County Fair and other events throughout the past year.

2007 4-H Horse Awards Night - October 4

Horse Incentive Awards

4-H'ers logged the hours they spent working with or learning about their horses. The more hours invested, the more valuable the reward!

Bronze Level (61 to 182 hours) -- Jesse Adams, Brooke Bennett, Chloe Brinson, Morgan Chipps, Alexis Christen, Maura Christen, Elli Dearmont, Ivy Dearmont, Lynsey Erickson, Kahdijah Green, Mattison Merritt, McKenzie Merritt, Jordan Nelson, Lena Ostransky, Shane Ostransky, Cory Peters, Spencer Peters, Rachael Pflug, Garrett Prey, Sydney Scow, Elizabeth Snyder, Sadie Tunberg, Bailey Vogler, Gabby Warner and Jenna Wilson. PHOTO

Silver Level (183 to 365 hours) -- Josie Ang, Ashley Anderson, Michael Anderson, Chelsea Beach, McKenzie Beach, Vanessa Butterfield, Allison Densberger, Elizabeth Frobish, Courtney Goering, Aiden Graybill, Elizabeth Gregg, Abbie Heusinger, Alyssa Heusinger, Anna Heusinger, Audrey Heusinger, Cailyn Heye, Kaitlyn Kimmen, Lee Kreimer, Megan Latture, Maria Luedtke, Megan Luedtke, Andrea McCain, Maggie Moore, Sammy Moore, Sierra Nelson, Bailey Peterson, Blake Preston, Brooke Preston, Hannah Ronnau, Camille Sass, Hannah Sass, Hannah Scow, Jess Smith, Bailee Sobotka, Erica Warner, Heather Welch and Ashley Wiegand. PHOTO

Gold Level (366 or more hours and completed horse record book) -- Samantha Cajka, Ashley Densberger, Chelsea Gray and Jessica Harris. PHOTO

4-H Horse Project Advancement Levels

Walk-Trot Level -- Michael Anderson, Mikaela Ashenbach, Morgan Chipps, Jordan Damkroger, Kendra Haight, Audrey Heusinger, Kelsie Koch, Klesey Lange, Ben Luedtke, Genevieve Moyer, Sierra Nelson, Mary Nold, Nicole Oestman and Jordan Patt. PHOTO

Level I -- Emilie Ashenbach, Katlin Bauer, Brooke Bennett, Ellie Blake, Elizabeth Boender, Ashley Bradbury, Maura Christen, Danae Christiansen, Elli Dearmont, Anna Dilley, Becca Duncan, Ashley Duran, Lauren Eilers, Chelsea Gray, Cailyn Heye, Elsa Hines, Candace Lahners, Lena Ostransky, Shane Ostransky, McKenzie Merritt, Jordan Nelson, Faith Prange, Hannah Prange, Mary Prange, Michelle Ring, Hannah Ronnau, Becca Rose, Jessica Schumacher, Stephanie Spar, Bailey Vogler, Baxter Whitla, Alexis Wolfe, Kenzie Wolfe, Coryn Woodward and Austin Wubbles. PHOTO

Level II -- Kaitlyn Chubbuck, Elizabeth Frobish, Chelsea Gray, Abbie Huesinger, Candace Lahners, Maggie Moore, Sammy Moore, Blake Preston and Laura VanMouwerik. PHOTO

Level III -- Maria Cammack, Alyssa Heusinger, and Ben Leach. PHOTO

Placing Top Ten at State

• Ryan Hagan -- 4th Sr. Barrels
• Hannah Scow -- 3rd, 2yr old gelding
• Sam Cajka -- 5th Sr. Reining
• Wyconda Walstrom -- 5th Hunter Hack
• Blake Preston -- 7th Jr. Western Horsemanship
• Alyssa Heusinger -- 5th in Jr. English Pleasure and 9th in Jr. Western Horsemanship
• Becky Hutchins -- 6th in Jr. English Pleasure and 6th in Jr. English Horsemanship
• Morgan Marshall -- 8th in Sr. English Equitation and 4th in Sr. Western Pleasure
• Alex Scheideler -- 5th in Jr. Reining, 5th in Dressage, 9th in Jr. English, Reserve Champion in English Equitation
• Josh Krueger -- Champion Break -Away Roping
• Amanda Essink -- Champion in Sr. Barrels
• Cory Peters -- Champion in Junior individual demonstration contest

PHOTO

Special Awards

"Ask Me About 4-H Award" was awarded to Keith Dey for being an outstanding volunteer for 14 years. He is now stepping down. PHOTO

"Taking Pride in Your Work" was awarded to Alyssa Heusinger for outstanding presentation of advancement level requirements.

"Helping Hand Award" was awarded to Anna DeNell for outstanding effort at the Lancaster County Fair helping younger 4-H members. PHOTO

Herdsmanship Awards

At the Lancaster County Fair, all 4-H horse clubs are judged on how well they keep their stall areas clean, neat and attractive and how well they take care of their horses.

• Top Herdsmanship - Large Club was awarded to Western Pride. PHOTO
• Top Herdsmanship - Small Club was awarded to The Viken Riders. PHOTO
• Best Decorations - Large Club was awarded to Rough Riders. PHOTO
• Best Decorations - Small Club was awarded to The Viken Riders
• Best Decorations - Honorable Mention was awarded to Equi-Riders. PHOTO

Judging Awards

The Horse Judging Contest at the Lancaster County Fair emphasizes how much 4-H members know about horses as they judge four or more classes of horses. Senior division participants also give oral reasons.

Top Ten Judging Elementary Division -- Lynsey Erickson (1st place), Nicole Oestman, Anna Heusinger, Bailee Sobotka, Sydney Scow, Bailey Peterson, Sierra Nelson, Ashley Bradbury, Bailey Peters, McKenzie Beach and Lena Ostransky. PHOTO

Top Ten Judging Junior Division -- Alyssa Heusinger (1st place), Blake Preston, Becky Hutchins, Madison Lee, Hannah Coffman, Abby Heusinger, Sammy Moore, Ashley Densberger, Brittany Albers and Alex Scheideler.

Top Eight Judging Senior Division -- Hannah Scow (1st place), Morgan Marshall, Brooke Preston, Cara Peters, Will Scheideler, Lindsay Damkroger, Ben Leach and Chelsea Gray. PHOTO

Top Trail Award

Dick and Cookie Confer Top Trail Award for all-around champion of the Lancaster County Fair 4-H Trail obstacle class was awarded to Gabby Warner.
PHOTO - Description: Gabby Warner received the Confer Top Trail Award presented by Dick Confer.

Top Barrels Award

Franklyn Manning Family Trophy for fastest time in the Lancaster County Fair 4-H Barrel racing competition was awarded to Madison Lee.
Photo - Description: Madison Lee received the Franklyn Manning Top Barrels Award presented by Franklyn Manning.

Wittstruck Award

Wilhelmina Wittstruck Memorial Award for Lancaster County Fair All-Around 4-H Champion Individual was very close this year -- tied in points were Morgan Marshall, Ben Leach, Alex Scheideler and Kelsey Wolfe. The 2007 winner was determined by tie breakers. Alex Scheideler placed Grand Champion in five of the six classes he designated for the award and was first purple in the sixth class. Alex is one of the handful of current riders who have achieved a Level IV in Nebraska.
PHOTO - Description: Alex Scheideler received the Wittstruck All-Around Champion Award presented by Dwayne Wittstruck