The 2007 MRHA Banquet was held February 9, 2008, at the beautiful Valley Plaza Resort in Midland, Mi. It was the largest turnout to date with a total of 131 members in attendance. It was great to see so many members take the weekend, not only for the banquet and the general membership meeting but, to enjoy the company of their fellow reiners.

 

The banquet was held in the elegant Great Hall in the Valley Plaza Conference Center.

 

Your nominees for the 2008 MRHA Board of Directors were voted on and here are your results: President Chuck Ohlfs, Vice President Marilyn Cargill, 2nd Vice President Keith Crawford, and Elected members Ruth Wentz & Connie Ludwig.

 

Banquet committee Lori Lantz, and Marilyn Cargill are to be commended for putting together the best banquet ever!  The awards included buckles, custom headstalls, sheets, bell boots saddle pad bags, and halters & leads.

 

Tim Katona was our emcee for the evening and kept things rolling with his humor and professionalism. No one was safe from his witty style of announcing.

 

Mark Plante of ImageWorks in Midland, MI prepared a video presentation from the 2007 show season of various MRHA riders performing reining maneuvers beautifully choreographed to music.  The video played throughout the evening and was enjoyed by all.  Each family went home with a copy of the video presentation compliments of Munger Ranch and Performance Horse Network. Mark will be on hand for the 2008 show season as our new videographer.

 

Kevin Gaines was commandeered as our official photographer for the evening.

 

The MRHA Affiliate awards were first on the agenda and were presented by Affiliate Chairperson, Connie Ludwig. Connie congratulated and presented pewter trophies for the champion Michigan winners and plaques for the reserve winners. Connie also presented handsome embroidered jackets to those that attended and represented Michigan at the 2007 NRHA Affiliate qualifying show in Springfield, Ohio. A very special thank you, once again, to our anonymous benefactor, and to Ruth Wentz for these jackets!  Congratulations to all of our MRHA Affiliate Circuit Champions, Reserve Champions, Regional Finalists and North American Affiliate Championships qualifiers!

 

The deliciously prepared buffet style dinner followed the affiliate awards. Dinner began with a special prayer given by MRHA member Chuck Wentz.

 

The MRHA awards were presented next.  Let me preface the awards by explaining the MRHA saddle contest. All the names of the 1^st place champions are put into a bowl. Then all the names of the reserve winners are placed in another bowl. As the winners came up to receive their awards, they drew a name out of their corresponding bowl to eliminate a saddle winner contestant. The same held true of the reserve winners.

 

As the evening drew to a close the remaining names left were Barb Barror who won the championship saddle and Kaitlyn Brichske who won the reserve saddle. Congratulations to the both of you.

 

The 2007 High money earning "horse" award went to Saint Pine owned by Pat and Mary McLean and shown by Billy Thomas Jr.   Saint Pine was awarded an MRHA embroidered winter horse blanket and summer sheet!

 

Once again the MRHA high money earning rider went home with a custom saddle crafted by one of our own members, Danielle Cole. Danielle has been working leather with Jim Rice since 1997 in Hudson, Michigan.  Saint Pine, along with Smart Remedy owned by Susan Bailo, contributed to Billy Thomas Jr. winning the high money earning rider saddle for the second year in a row.  Billy’s 2007 MRHA earnings totaled over $4,800.00!

 

A silent auction fundraiser was held with a bevy of wonderful items the dinner guests could bid on. Auction items included home made beef jerky, southwest picture frames, two gorgeous show headstalls, hand crafted belts, a revolving bridle rack, a work saddle pad, set of 8 buckets and hangers, a beautifully crafted end table with a reiner etched on the top and two horse paintings, and lots more. Very special thanks to everyone who donated items to make our silent auction a huge success!

 

"Linda Weibe’s Famous Cookies" were bid on in a live auction conducted by emcee, Tim Katona. There was a fierce battle for the first batch of the "5 dozen" variety pack in striking tins, between Chuck Ohlfs and the "Cookie Monster" Darrell Bromely. Chuck won the first set, with Keith Crawford scooping up the second set with the help of partners Butch and Cindy Voss.

 

The recipient of the 2007 MRHA Brock Haywood Youth Sportsmanship award was Erin Grandchamp. The committee who selected the winner consisted of the youth team who submitted nominations and voted, along with three MRHA adults who do not have children competing in MRHA. This great award was donated by Carrie Haywood in memory of her son Brock, who many of us knew, rode with, and miss. This award is presented to a MRHA Youth member who shows the best sportsmanship throughout the entire year. The award also includes a $500 savings bond. Congratulations to Erin our 2007 recipient. Keep up the good work!

 

President Chuck Ohlfs presented the prestigious 2007 Presidents Award to a very well deserved member Chuck Wentz. Congratulations, Chuck!

 

MRHA would like to thank our 2007 MRHA Sponsors for giving us a great year! Heritage Custom Saddlery, Danielle Cole, Dr. Brad Crumper of Saginaw Valley Equine, MBBO Futurity Buckles by Barb Berry ¨C Buyers Guide, Greg & Sharon Matcovitch- Green Reiner I & II Trophies, and numerous others!

Congratulations to our 2007 MRHA Award Champions. 

Open Champion	BILL THOMAS JR & SAINT PINE
Intermediate Open Champion	BILL THOMAS JR & SAINT PINE
Limited Open Champion	LESLIE GILLESPIE & HOLLYWOOD HEADLINER
Rookie Professional Champion	LESLIE GILLESPIE & HOLLYWOOD HEADLINER
Novice Horse Open	MATT LANTZ & DARLIN LITTLE PINE
Novice Horse Non Pro Champion	DEBBIE MOSHER & MUCHO BUENO CHEX
Non Pro Champion	IAN BARNARD & GOT IT DUN
Intermediate Non Pro Champion	IAN BARNARD & GOT IT DUN
Limited Non Pro Champion	DR RON KANTNER & SHEEZE MY KINDA REIN
Youth 13 and under Champion	BRIGETTE ST JOHN & COLONEL TOMBOY
Youth 14-18 Champion	MORGAN FLADEBOE & GYRATORS POCO BOY
Rookie Champion	BARB BARROR & KODACIOUS
Green Reiner I Champion	AMY RAPPUHN & FLASHY ON DECK
Green Reiner II Champion	BRIDGETTE ST JOHN & COLONEL TOMBOY

 

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