TAMPA - It was their time to shine. It was also time to trot, canter and jump. The State 4-H Horse Show at the Florida State Fairgrounds this month highlighted the cream of this year's youth equestrian crop. Months of hard work and determination earned 285 youth the right to compete in the show. Youth from 45 counties competed in hunter-jumper, dressage, halter, western pleasure and calf-roping events, as well as scholarship and public speaking contests.

The state competition includes only the top competitors, and for many young people, the competition is the climax of a year's hard work. "The bottom line is these kinds of activities are competitive, but they create a situation where the kids make lifelong friends, and learn sportsmanship and responsibility," said event coordinator Ed Johnson, associate professor in the department of Animal Science at the University of Florida. More than 3,390 young people participated in 4-H horse projects last year.

The high point exhibitor was Mandy Yanez, Marion County. She also received the versatility award for placing in three or more divisions and was the top senior competitor. Yanez was presented the high point registered quarter horse award for the competition, riding the Stroker.

Horseman of the Year went to Alanna Foley of Brevard County. First runner-up was Jennifer Baggs of Volusia County and Jessica Scott of Polk County. The Dallas C. Osborne Horsemanship Scholarship went to Danny Glover of Taylor County.

The reserve high point exhibitor was Alicia Rapp, Duval County. In the western division, the high point award went to Erinn Berkelhammer, Marion County and the reserve went to Amy Elmore, Palm Beach. In the hunter division, the high point award went to Alicia Rapp, Duval County and the reserve went to Erin Young, Clay. In the saddle type division, Alexis Maar of Volusia County was the high point exhibitor and Ashley Vanselow of Sarasota County was the reserve exhibitor. In timed events, Donielle Diem of Brevard County was the high point exhibitor and the reserve exhibitor was Blakely Stein of Duval County.

The county high point award for a large county went to Marion County (338 points) and the reserve went to Brevard County (234 points). For small counties, the high point award went to Duval County (123 points) and the reserve went to Osceola County (110 points).

The high point Florida-bred appaloosa awards went in the western division to Kathylee King of Marion County on J.B.'s Bright Chick and in the English division the award went to Christina Canada of Palm Beach County on Aries of Wild Palms. The Florida bred high point award went in the western division to Nichole Pogue of Osceola County on Zip's Cracker Jack and in the hunter division the award went to Erin Young of Clay County on Dream Chaser. While in the saddle seat division Alexis Maar of Volusia County on Baskin Aray Shaz and Donielle Diem of Brevard County on Redimir received the Florida bred high point awards.

The top 42 winners in the state show represent Florida 4-H at the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships in Memphis, Tennessee July 31-August 4. This year's regional qualifiers were (listed in qualifying order): (1)Mandy Yanez-Marion, (2)Alicia Rapp-Duval, (3)Erin Young-Clay, (4)Jennifer Seton-Indian River, (5)Shannon Doherty-Marion, (6)Tasha Parkhurst-Brevard, (7)Leah Rohan-St. Lucie, (8)Lauren Kellar-Seminole, (9)Nichole Pogue-Osceola, (10)Donielle Diem-Brevard, (11)Emma Davies-Osceola, (12)Katrina Leonard-Hillsborough, (13)Danny Glover-Taylor, (14)Ashley Meischeid-Brevard, (15)Corie Bieniek-Manatee, (16)Alex Mager-Marion, (17)Jonathon Wagner-Palm Beach, (18)Charlotte Barbaree-Taylor, (19)Sarah Williams-Orange, (20)Stephanie Tortora-Marion, (21)Deanne Nichols-Lee, (22)Serissa Thompson-Sarasota, (23)Krystle Pridgeon-Citrus, (24)Jennifer Kilgore-Seminole, (25)Elyssa Hall-Duval, (26)Jessica Scott-Polk, (27)Amanda Elston-Orange, (28)Ashley Allen-Polk, (29)Maggie Moore-Marion, (30)Kathryn Mittauer-Duval, (31)Kim Johnson-Lake, (32)Whitney Whidden-Manatee, (33)Sandy Bass-Indian River, (34)Caitlin Holmes-Alachua, (35)Allanah Howley-Volusia, (36)Stacey Saltzman-Palm Beach, (37)Sarah Scott-Polk, (38)Kelly Regnier-Pinellas, (39)Jodi Albert-Lee, (40)Stacy Hurn-Orange, (41)Cierra Nicole Bacon-Sumter, (42)Desirae' Schaff-Broward. Alternates are: Tia Schafer-Palm Beach, Katie Clanton-Polk, Jackie Burk-Palm Beach and Brittany Wade-Sumter.

Seniors in the top 42 who could not attend regionals were: Amy Elmore-Palm Beach (4th), Alexis Maar-Volusia (5th), Ashley Vanselow-Sarasota (6th), Christina Canada-Palm Beach (14th), Blakely Stein-Duval (15th), Samantha Altheide-Sarasota (17th), Alanna Foley-Brevard (19th), Julia Bennett-Clay (20th), Brittany Hanes-Seminole (24th), Heather Demby-Brevard (30th), Sara Neuenschwander-Brevard (32nd), Carolyn Hoskin-Brevard (33rd), Bridget Parker-Gulf (37th) and Ashley Flood-Nassau (39th). 

The top seniors were: (1)Mandy Yanez-Marion (42 points), (2)Alicia Rapp-Duval(41 pts), (3)Erin Young-Clay(39 pts), (4)Amy Elmore-Palm Beach (38 points), (5)Alexis Maar-Volusia (37 pts), (6)Ashley Vanselow-Sarasota (34 pts), (7)Jennifer Seton-Indian River (32 pts), (8)Shannon Doherty-Marion (32 pts, tie broken on performance points), (9) Trisha Parkhurst-Brevard (30 pts), and (10)Leah Rohan-St. Lucie (30 pts, tie broken on performance points).

The top juniors were: (1)Erin Berkelhammer-Marion (42 points), (2)Ashton Paisley-Marion (33 pts), (3)Jennifer Wagner-Palm Beach (31 pts), (4)Amy Bohan-Highlands (29 pts), (5)Erica Crupar-Palm Beach (28 pts, tied on performance points, tie broken on number of classes placed), (6)Carli Brown-Osceola (28 pts), (7)Bethany Kiel-Palm Beach (28 points, tie broken on number of horses beaten), (8)Kathylee King-Marion (26 pts), (9)Kelsey Munyan-St. Lucie (25 pts), and (10)Marissa Marchena-Orange (24 pts).

The emerald award for the best decorated barn area at the show for a large county went to Broward County 4-H for their display themed, "Have a Blast with 4-H." The reserve was Marion County with "Catching the 4-H Horse Fever" and in third place was Polk County with "Polk County Outlaws Are Stealing." For the smaller counties, the emerald award went to Okaloosa County for "Follow the 4-H Clues to the Treasure Chest." Reserve was "4-H is United" from Indian River County and third went to "Celebrate 4-H Like Mardi Gras" from Clay County.

The golden shovel award for the cleanest and safest barn area went in the large county division to Brevard County, followed by Marion County in reserve and Polk County in third. In the small county division, the golden shovel award went to Okaloosa County, with Indian River County in reserve and Sarasota County in third.

Youth competitors were from: Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lake, Lee, Leon, Marion, Manatee, martin, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Osceola, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, Taylor, Volusia, Wakulla and Washington counties.

Popular with young people whether they live in the city or the country, 4-H is living proof that a youth organization can adapt to changing times. The organization began in 1902 to teach youth new agricultural techniques and celebrates its centennial this year. Known for its hands-on education, the 4-H program expanded into the cities and today serves more than 287,000 youth ages 5-18 in all of Florida's 67 counties. The program is based at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and is administered through the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. For more information about Florida 4-H, visit www.florida4h.org http://www.florida4h.org.  

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