2025

Two rows of youth holding T-shirts, belt buckles or other items

The 2025 4-H Horse Awards Night, held Oct. 23, recognized top achievements at the Lancaster County Super Fair and other accomplishments throughout the past year. The theme was “Saddle up for the Beyond.” The evening's event was emceed by Tim Higgins. 

4-H youth member Ava Schepers, who won the Wittstruck Memorial All-Around Champion award said, “The 4-H motto, 'To Make the Best Better,' shows the program's focus is on continual improvement. Through the 4-H horse program, I’ve learned to set goals for myself and my horse. I worked through the Level testing and now I am practicing working live cattle with my horse. The Lancaster County Horse 4-H program is incredibly strong, and it is an honor to have won the Wittstruck award."

Congratulations to all Lancaster 4-H equestrians for your outstanding accomplishments!

2025 Horse Awards Photos on Flickr

HORSEMANSHIP ADVANCEMENT LEVELS

The Nebraska 4-H Horsemanship Advancement Levels program is designed to serve as a guide for instruction and evaluation of each member’s progress. The correct handling of horses is emphasized from the beginning level to the most advanced level. Each level is a huge accomplishment.

  • Level I Ground — Aurora Norris
  • Level I Walk/Trot — Teresa LaPlante, Layne McCoy, Emma Smith
  • Level I — Harper Anderson, Cayle Callahan, Samantha Combs, Saylor Desautels, Renly Ellenberger, RaeLynn Keller, MacKenzie McCoy, Uriah Nichols, Ava Rathje, Lilyana Schuette, Maggie Zimmerman, Kathryn Weaver
  • Level II — Arianna Behrend, Saylor Bontrager, Cayle Callahan, Addyson Carl, Thomas Chevalier, Brogen Frink, Annie Illian, Aleese Jurgens, Camilla Macdissi, MacKenzie McCoy, Stanley Newby, Olivia Thompson, Kathryn Weaver
  • Level III — Lena Barnes, Liz Boshart, Corrine Byrne, Gracen Byrne, Cayle Callahan, John Chevalier, Claira Heinzle, Meg LaPlante

INCENTIVE AWARDS

4-H’ers logged the hours they spent working with or learning about horses. The more hours invested, the more valuable the reward! The Horse Incentive Awards are sponsored by the Lancaster County 4-H Horse Volunteers in Program Service (VIPS) Committee.

  • Bronze Level (minimum of 100 hours or points) — Layne McCoy, Emma Smith
  • Silver Level (minimum of 225 hours or points) — Saylor Desautels, Brogen Frink, Aleese Jurgens, MacKenzie McCoy, Camilla Macdissi, Amelia Proffitt, Christina Zade
  • Gold Level (minimum of 390 hours or points, and completed horse record book) — Lena Barnes, Liz Boshart, Corrine Byrne, Easton Byrne, Gracen Byrne, Hannah Chevalier, Kiara Eppenbach, Shea Frink, Lyra Krutak, Meg LaPlante, Gracie Mittan-DeBuhr, Natalie Plautz, Avery Stohs

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

  • Top Incentive Stories — Saylor Desautels, Gracen Byrne, Kiara Eppenbach, Corrine Byrne, Gracie Mittan-DeBuhr, MacKenzie McCoy, Natalie Plautz, Liz Boshart, Avery Stohs, Shea Frink, Hannah Chevalier
  • Top Incentive Notebooks — Saylor Desautels, Hannah Chevalier, Liz Boshart, Corrine Byrne, Gracen Byrne, Easton Byrne

TOP AWARDS

  • Top Trail Award — for the all-around champion with the highest score of the Lancaster County Super Fair 4-H Trail obstacle competition, sponsored by the late Dick and Cookie Confer — Scarlett Battles
  • All-Around Cowboy/Cowgirl Awards — all-around champions in three age divisions for most total points scored from specified classes at the Lancaster County Super Fair, sponsored by the Lancaster County Horse VIPS Committee — Senior: Scarlett Battles; Intermediate: Violet Green; Junior: Ava Schepers
  • All-Around Ranch Horse Awards — age division awards for the horse/rider combination with the most points scored demonstrating the versatility of the working ranch horse in three categories at the Lancaster County Super Fair, sponsored by Olive Creek Acres Performance Horses (Brian & Shannon Vogler) — Senior: Scarlett Battles (horse “Baby Step Up Your Whiz”); Intermediate: Violet Green (horse “Ghost Pepper”); Junior: Ava Schepers (horse “Color Me On Ice”)
  • Franklyn Manning All-Around Barrels Award — for the fastest time across all age groups in the Lancaster County Super Fair 4-H Barrel Racing competition, sponsored by Brad & Susan Frink, given in honor of the late Franklin Manning — Shea Frink
  • Bluestem All-Around Miniature Horse Awards — for high point 4-H miniature horse and 4-H member combination in two age divisions at the Lancaster County Super Fair, sponsored by Bluestem Miniature Horse Club — Senior: Claira Heinzle (horse “Countryview Majestic Cavalier”); Junior: Gracie Mittan-DeBuhr (horse “D.M. King Chipette”)
  • Nebraska Dressage Association High Score Dressage Rider and High Score Western Dressage Rider Awards — for the champion and reserve champion All-Around High Score Riders in the Dressage Show's dressage and western dressage classes at the Lancaster County Super Fair, sponsored by the Nebraska Dressage Association. Champion award winners will not be eligible for the same award in future years — Maggie Zimmerman (champion) and Gracie Mittan-DeBuhr (reserve champion); high score western riders: Ava Schepers (champion) and Samson Zade (reserve champion)
  • Lowell Boomer High Point Jumping Award — for the all-around champion in the 4-H jumping classes at the Lancaster County Super Fair, sponsored by Hunters Pride 4-H Club — Gracie Mittan-DeBuhr
  • Dr. Kelly Stitch Top NRHA Reining Awards — for highest NRHA pattern score in each age division of the 4-H Reining competition at the Lancaster County Super Fair, sponsored by Dr. Kelly Stich — Senior: Scarlett Battles (horse “Baby Step Up Your Whiz”); Intermediate: Evelynn Smith (horse “Whizkeys Hot Jewell”); Junior: John Chevalier (horse “Need A Star”)
  • All-Around Versatility Horse Award — for the most versatile horse/rider combination in the intermediate or senior age divisions at the Lancaster County Super Fair, sponsored by Brad & Susan Frink and Pam Schaaf. During the online entry process, 4-H members must indicate which four qualifying classes and which horse they will designate for the award. The 4-H member must use the same horse in these four categories listed: speed, hunter/equitation over fences, cattle classes and ranch horse pleasure — Natalie Plautz (horse “Pocos Lucky Kandi”)
  • Wilhelmina Wittstruck Memorial All-Around Champion Award — for the Lancaster County Super Fair all-around 4-H champion individual, sponsored by Joan & the late Dwayne Wittstruck. The Wilhelmina Wittstruck Memorial award is the highest honor a Lancaster County 4-H equestrian can receive! Points are calculated from several categories, and exhibitors must indicate during the fair entry process which classes they designate for this award. A member may only win this award once in their 4-H career — Ava Schepers

JUDGING CONTEST

The Lancaster County Super Fair Horse Judging Contest emphasizes how much 4-H members know about horse conformation as they judge four or more classes of horses, along with the opportunity to give oral reasons. The champion of each division receives a belt buckle.

  • Senior Division: Elizabeth Funk (champion), Shea Frink (reserve champion), Amelia Proffitt (3rd), Avery Stohs (4th), Savannah Nordmeyer (5th)
  • Intermediate Division: Paige Schepers (champion), Kathryn Weaver (reserve champion), MacKenzie McCoy (3rd), Christina Zade (4th)
  • Junior Division: Ava Schepers (champion), Gracen Byrne (reserve champion), Corrine Byrne (3rd), Samson Zade (4th)

HERDSMANSHIP

The Herdsmanship Contest during the Lancaster County Super Fair evaluates five areas: condition of the animals, stalls, alleyways, storage and teamwork or conduct of those participating in the contest. Good herdsmanship shows that they are taking pride in their projects, themselves and their clubs.

  • Large Clubs: Mighty Lopers 4-H Club (champion), Salt Valley 4-H Club (reserve champion)
  • Small Clubs: Hunters Pride 4-H Club (champion), The Hay Burners 4-H Club (reserve champion)
  • Independent: Elizabeth Funk (champion), Khilynne Dieken (reserve champion)

STALL DECORATIONS

At the Lancaster County Super Fair, clubs and independent members take pride in decorating their horse stall areas.

  • Large Clubs: Salt Valley 4-H Club (champion), Tails N Trails 4-H Club (reserve champion)
  • Small Clubs: Boots N’ Hooves (champion), Rusty Spurs 4-H Club (reserve champion)

4-H Horse Awards Night Results