Yellowstone Reining Horse Association 2008 Year-End Awards Banquet
Author: Wendy Deans
Date published: Mar 17 2009
The Yellowstone Reining Horse Association held its annual awards banquet and fundraising auction at the Holiday Inn in Bozeman, Montana, on March 7. It was so good to get together after a long winter to relax, visit and get psyched up for the upcoming season.
Before the festivities started, YRHA held the general membership meeting. Longtime board member, Kurt Stabenau, was leaving the board. He has been a huge asset to the board, lending his common sense approach to business decisions. He always kept the membership at the forefront of all his thinking. The board will miss his presence.
Lanette Frye, Lawrence Martin, Jean Keffeler and John Morris were re-elected to the board. YRHA welcomes new board member, Kim Alberda. Kim is from the Amsterdam/Churchill area. She is married to Scott Alberda and they have two children, Andrew and Katie. Kim is employed by First Interstate Bank in Bozeman. She shows a Twister Eighty Six gelding. She has scribed at many YRHA shows and taken numerous judging classes. We look forward to having Kim on the board.
After a delicious supper of pork loin, turkey and all the trimmings we got down to the business of the fundraising auction. Jay Dee Anderson officiated as auctioneer with help from spotters Dave Leithead and JR Winter. Sonja Leithead and Jessica Woodring toured the room with auction items, enticing our bidders to give up their hard earned cash. The legendary YRHA saddlebags were temporarily misplaced so last years' purchaser of the saddlebags, Nanette Till, improvised with a makeshift and duct-taped cantle pack. The bag of goodies and some not-so-goodies was purchased by Cameron Meissner and JR Winter. 
The tradition with the saddlebags is that whoever purchases them must bring them back to next year’s awards banquet filled with whatever they choose. You may find a brand new Balding bit or a rusty draft horse snaffle that the plow dug up. It’s always an adventure, that’s for sure.
Youth and Rookie Champions
The 2008 Two-Handed Youth 13 & Under champion was Mary Dunkel owner/rider of Phenomenal Blonde. Reserve champion was Secora Richardson owner/rider of Makinbucksinhollywood. The Two-Handed Youth 14 -18 champion was Hailey Hagan owner/rider of Extra Pep N Chex. The NRHA Youth 13 & Under champion was Mary Dunkel owner/rider of Phenomenal Blonde. Reserve champion was Secora Richardson owner/rider of Makinbucksinhollywood. The NRHA Youth 14 - 18 champion was Hailey Hagan owner/rider of Extra Pep N Chex. Reserve champion was Erin Skaj owner/rider of Derby Tivio. The 2008 graduates of the Green Rookie class were Doug Robinson riding Pesos Little Spark and Quinn Sutherland riding St. Patricks Rey. Thank you to Elise Donohue for sponsoring the Green Rookie buckles! The Two-Handed Rookie champion was Lorra Mitzkus owner/rider of All Reddy Ribbon. Reserve champion was Chandra Morris owner/rider of Boggies Gun Phire. The NRHA Rookie champion was Shawna Bauder owner/rider of Pokeys Lena Whiz. Reserve champion was Jessica Woodring owner/rider of Pepn To Hollywood. The NRHA Prime Time Rookie champion was Chandra Morris owner/rider of Boggies Gun Phire. Reserve champion was Doug Robinson owner/rider of Pesos Little Spark.
Non Pro Champions
The 60 Years and Older champion was Russ Vinger owner/rider of Daisy May Dun It. Reserve champion was Wayne Peterson owner/rider of It Reinsin Hollywood. The NRHA Limited Non Pro champion was Linda Hahn owner/rider of Wright On Broadway. Reserve champion was Carol Chudy owner/rider of Ritzy Red Pine. NRHA Intermediate Non Pro champion was Sharlene Stone owner/rider of Mr Jacs Enterprise. Reserve champion was Carol Chudy owner/rider of Ritzy Red Pine. NRHA Non Pro champion was Carol Chudy owner/rider of Ritzy Red Pine. Reserve champion was Sharlene Stone owner/rider of Mr Jacs Enterprise. NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro champion was Billi Grace Heigh owner/rider of Count The Numbers. Reserve champion was Lori Waters owner/rider of This Whiz It. NRHA Prime Time Non Pro champion was Jackie Sorenson owner/rider of Roosters Toddy. Reserve champion was Janis Anderson riding Rowdy Sailor owned by Jay Dee and Janis Anderson.
Open Champions
The NRHA Rookie Professional champion was JR Winter riding Pay Chex Gold owned by Kristy Wheeler. Reserve champion was Cameron Meissner riding Breezin Wright On owned by Anne Kent. NRHA Novice Horse champion was Jay Dee Anderson riding Pleasorima owned by Becky Melzer. NRHA Limited Open champion was JR Winter riding Pay Chex Gold owned by Kristy Wheeler. Reserve champion was Dave Leithead riding I Wish I Were A Chic owned by Sonja Myrstol Leithead. NRHA Intermediate Open champion was Ryan Anderson riding Montanas Shy Twister owned by Meredith Brokaw. Reserve champion was Cheryl Ashe owner/rider of Great Turk N Pine. NRHA Open champion was Jarvis Anderson riding Hercs Midnite Roost owned by Brackett Creek Quarter Horses. Reserve champion was Jay Dee Anderson riding SJ Twist N Chex owned by Julia Sullivan. NRHA Freestyle champion was Erin Skaj owner/rider of Derby Tivio.
Broadbent Trophy
It was difficult to keep a dry eye when Jan Anderson and Joanie Broadbent gave out the Bob Broadbent Memorial Trophy. It is awarded to the highest placing YRHA or CSRHA member of the 60 Years and Older class. This years' winner was Joanie’s ‘very significant other,’ Wayne Peterson. Congratulations to Wayne!
Thanks to the YRHA awards committee, Lanette Frye and Nicole Mather. Thanks to Three Forks Saddlery for working with Lanette and Nicole. The awards were fantastic!
That’s a wrap on 2008. We are now officially ready to hit her hard for 2009. It starts with Jarvis Anderson’s clinic on April 25 & 26. There are spots still open in this clinic. You can contact Mike Carlson at billmancreekranch@wildblue.net to reserve your spot. Cost is $325 and that includes lunch both days. The next clinic is with Shawn Flarida. It will be held May 15 & 16. This clinic is booked for riders, but there is no limit on the number of spectators. The cost to spectate is $50/day or $90 for both days. Then it’s on to the three Yellowstone Slides to be held May 28-30, July 9-11 and July 30 - August 1. All events will be held at Anderson Training Stables in Wilsall, Montana.
An extra special thank you to the many hard working individuals that made this banquet a success. Thanks to Jan Anderson, Mike Carlson, Chandra Morris, John Morris, Wendy Deans, Lawrence Martin, Lanette Frye, Nicole Mather, Elise Donohue, Jay Dee Anderson, Mira Williams, Jess Woodring, Sonja Leithead, Dave Leithead and JR Winter.
Thank you to our very generous auction donors: Montana’s Rib & Chop House, Way Out West, Brackett Creek Quarter Horses, Tom McLaughlin, Sandie DePaso, Anderson Training Stables, Wendy and Gill Deans, Billman Creek Ranch, Jean Keffeler, Murdoch’s, Joan Broadbent, Dick Perry, Lanette Frye, Jan Lukenbill, Rob Brooks, Bozeman Saddle Outlet, Sharon Neal, Becky Melzer, Montana Gift Cabin, Jackie Sorenson, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Yellowstone Gateway Sports, Rocky Mountain Hat Company, Lawrence and Roberta Martin, Linda Hahn, Kristy Wheeler and Big Sky Western Bank.
We’ll see you at the shows!
Pictured are (top) Mary Dunkel receiving her Youth 13 & Under championship buckle from Awards Chair Lanette Frye and Joan Broadbent and Wayne Peterson with the Bob Broadbent Trophy, which was awarded to Wayne this year.
See more photos from the banquet in the Photo Album!