YRHA 25th Anniversary Celebration
Author: Wendy Deans
Date published: Jan 22 2010
The Yellowstone Reining Horse Association celebrated 25 years of reining January 16th at the GranTree Inn in Bozeman. Folks came from Wyoming, North Dakota and all over Montana to enjoy this gala event. The dining room was gorgeous with two tables covered with the most beautiful year end awards: show headstalls, Nettles stirrups, tons of belt buckles, show pads and two big bouquets of flowers to accent the awards. The dining tables were decorated with a trio of NRHA pewters mixed with red silk flowers and a 25th anniversary balloon floating above each table. At the front of the dining room was a large screen with Dan Browning running non-stop video and still shots of past YRHA events.
The silent auction was held in the foyer where everyone met to visit before the evening festivities. They enjoyed a host of scrumptious appetizers and listened to the delightful music of the band "Open Range." Supper was the diner's choice of mouth watering prime rib, salmon or chicken. The chef did an outstanding job! We topped off the meal with a choice of four different kinds of anniversary decorated cakes. Thank goodness we didn't have to ride after this meal.
As we enjoyed supper and Dan's video, YRHA President Jan Anderson told stories from the past and gave away lots of door prizes. There were ball caps, sweatshirts from the Wrangler Horse and Rodeo News and subscriptions to the Quarter Horse News. YRHA did a drawing for a gift basket filled with goodies including a bottle of fine Cabernet wine. To be eligible you had to have sent in your 2010 membership form and your dinner reservation by Dec. 31st. Susie Melchert was the lucky winner!
We went right into the live auction after supper with auctioneer Reece Burns of Manhattan officiating. He kept the audience hopping with their bids and entertained us with his humor as he sold item after item. There were breedings to two stallions, Mr Boomerjac and Lil Ruf Rider, lessons with trainers, a private ski lesson with Mike Carlson, a Tom Balding bit, the famous YRHA saddlebags and much more. A big hit of the auction was a hand-crafted ice chest for beer and pop made by Dave Leithead.
Before we got started with the awards, Wendy Deans took a moment to tell a story about riding in a clinic that Jay Dee Anderson taught back in January of 1986. She shared a few humorous moments from the clinic then gave a special thank you to Jay Dee and Jan for their 25 years of devotion to the YRHA. They were there in the beginning to form the club and for 25 years they have promoted YRHA, taught the riders, hosted the shows, have been board members as directors, president, vice president and executive director. 
The list goes on and on. They are the only two members to have been with the YRHA the entire 25 years. Wendy thanked them for their service, presented them with a gift certificate for supper at Montana's Rib and Chop House and the audience gave them a big round of applause.
It was time for the YRHA 2009 Year-End Awards presentation.
Youth Classes: The YRHA Two-Handed Youth 13 & Under Champion was Quinn Sutherland owner/rider of St Patricks Rey. Reserve Champion was Secora Richardson owner/rider of Cutters Smart Chic. The YRHA Two-Handed Youth 14-18 Champion was Vanessa Rogers riding The Dudes A Pistol owned by Dave Rogers. Reserve Champion was Meghan Stewart owner/rider of CJ Tanner. The NRHA Youth 13 & Under Champion was Quinn Sutherland owner/rider of St Patricks Rey. The NRHA Youth 14-18 Champion was Meghan Stewart owner/rider of CJ Tanner.
Rookie Classes: YRHA Two-Handed Rookie Champion was Mira Williams owner/rider of Lucky River Charm. Reserve Champion was Salena Dunbar owner/rider of Whiz Banged. The NRHA Rookie Level 1 Champion was Robin Aaker owner/rider of Spark Me Again. Reserve Champion was Lorra Mitzkus owner/rider of All Reddy Ribbon. The NRHA Rookie Level 2 Champion was Lorra Mitzkus owner/rider of All Reddy Ribbon. Reserve Champion was Robin Aaker owner/rider of Spark Me Again. The NRHA Prime-Time Rookie Champion was Lorra Mitzkus owner/rider of All Reddy Ribbon. Reserve Champion was Polly Cooke owner/rider of Montanas Shy Twister.
Non Pro Classes: The YRHA 60 Years & Older Non Pro Champion was Iola Mason owner/rider of Slick Bobby Bo. Reserve Champion was Jean Keffeler owner/rider of Rooster Jack. The NRHA Limited Non Pro Champion was Lorra Mitzkus owner/rider of All Reddy Ribbon. Reserve Champion was Becky Melzer owner/rider of Pleasorima. The NRHA Intermediate Non Pro Champion was Sharon Gelhaus riding Hercs Midnite Roost owned by Jim and Sharon Gelhaus of Brackett Creek Quarter Horses. Reserve Champion was Carol Chudy owner/rider of Ritzy Red Pine. NRHA Non Pro Champion was Sharon Gelhaus riding Hercs Midnite Roost owned by Jim and Sharon Gelhaus of Brackett Creek Quarter Horses. Reserve Champion was Carol Chudy owner/rider of Ritzy Red Pine. The NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 Champion was Billi Grace Heigh owner/rider of Count The Numbers. Reserve Champion was Janis Anderson riding Ziggy Zee Chex owned by Jay Dee and Janis Anderson. The NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 Champion was Billi Grace Heigh owner/rider of Count The Numbers. Reserve Champion was Jackie Sorenson owner/rider of Roosters Toddy. The NRHA Prime Time Non Pro Champion was Sharon Gelhaus riding Hercs Midnite Roost owned by Jim and Sharon Gelhaus of Brackett Creek Quarter Horses. Reserve Champion was Billi Grace Heigh owner/rider of Count The Numbers.
Open Classes: NRHA Rookie Professional Champion was Valerie Siegel riding Taris Whiz Key owned by Brackett Creek Quarter Horses. The Reserve Champion was Samuel Hobley riding Playguns Lil Badger owned by A+ Quarter Horses. The NRHA Novice Horse Open Level 1 and Level 2 Champion was Ryan Anderson riding Top Whiz Bang owned by Jay Dee and Janis Anderson. The Reserve Champion was Ryan Anderson riding JuJu Dot Chex owned by Pete Muri and Tom Mostoller. The NRHA Limited Open Champion was Cody Halford riding Little Chex 499 owned by Rodney Westrum. The NRHA Intermediate Open Champion was Theresa Manzella owner/rider of Whizdom. Reserve Champion was Ryan Anderson riding JuJu Dot Chex owned by Pete Muri Tom Mostoller. The NRHA Open Champion was Jarvis Anderson riding Dun Its Legacy owned by Katherine Baker. Reserve Champion was Theresa Manzella owner/rider of Whizdom.
The winner of the Bob Broadbent Trophy was Iola Mason owner/rider of Slick Bobby Bo.
The 2009 YRHA Green Reiner Graduates are Kimberly Alberda riding Twisted Brother, Salena Dunbar riding Whiz Banged, Anne Dunnam riding Marked Down, Lori Filippini riding Listen Up Mister, Pat Gervais riding Mighty Mega Jac, Susie Melchert riding Okie Dry Doc, Dona Oliver riding Miss Royal Pretender, Valerie Robinett riding RV Lena Badger, Julia Sullivan riding SJ Twist N Chex, Mira Williams riding Lucky River Charm.
We would like to give our sincere thanks to the YRHA Banquet committee for putting on such a grand evening. Thanks to Mike Carlson, Jan Anderson, Chandra Morris and Wendy Deans, to Lanette Frye for the fantastic job of doing the awards, to Jim and Sharon Gelhaus and Jan and Jay Dee Anderson for the table center pieces, to Dan Browning for the fantastic video highlights, to Mira Williams and Jess Woodring for being our front desk gals, to Elise Donohue for sponsoring the Green Rookie buckles, to Reece Burns our auctioneer, to Jay Dee Anderson, Dave and Sonja Leithead and Jess Woodring for being our auction assistants. Most of all we would like to thank the many generous donors to this auction and the willing buyers that made this fundraising event such a huge success!
Don't forget the MRHA banquet in Helena on Feb. 20 and the CSRHA banquet on March 13 in Cody. See you at the shows!
Pictured: Iola Mason (middle) receiving the Robert Broadbent Memorial Trophy from Joan Broadbent (right) and YRHA President Janis Anderson (left).
2009 Green Reiner Class Graduates (from left): Kimberly Alberda, Pat Gervais, Susie Melchert, Anne Dunnam and Mira Williams. Not pictured: Salena Dunbar, Lori Filippini, Dona Oliver, Valerie Robinette and Julia Sullivan.