A Night of Dinner, Dancing, and Dignitaries With OQHA
Photos courtesy of Ashleigh Egan Photography.
By: Brittany Bevis
The 2019 Ohio Quarter Horse Association Awards Banquet was an elaborate affair complete with dinner, dancing, and dignitaries. The banquet room of the Hilton Downtown Columbus was packed to the hilt with more than 480 people eager to celebrate year-end award winners.
The event kicked off with 2019 OQHA Queen, Alexis Taylor, welcoming guests to the red-carpet style affair that promised a tasty meal, time to fellowship with friends, and swanky awards. OQHA Director, Justin Billings, and the 2019 Congress Queen, Mariah Sherer, led an invocation before the three-course meal was served.
While guests mingled, they were invited to participate in the photo booth with fun props, admire the impressive OQHA-themed ice sculpture, and have their caricature drawn. Once the merriment had commenced, 2019 OQHA President, Brent Maxwell, gave a speech reflecting on his year in office and presented President’s awards to Kelli Diaz, Kristine Nagy, and Ron Kendle. Brent’s daughter, Ellexxah Maxwell, gave her own speech as the 2019 OQHYA President. She was recognized with an Outgoing President Award and 2019 OQHYA Sportsmanship Award by the 2020 OQHYA President, Natalie Hilty.
The 2019 OQHA Queen, Alexis Taylor, passed her glittering crown into the hands of the 2020 OQHA Queen, Graceon Ehrman. Then, Congress Queen, Mariah, came back on stage with Justin to present the year-end awards. In addition, Scott Nemeth, the 2019 OAQHA President, recognized a selection of amateurs and praised their involvement with OAQHA.
When the official business was complete, everyone crowded the dance floor, and a few tables, for music and dancing!
Congratulations to the 2019 OQHA Award recipients.
2019 HORSE OF THE YEAR
Champion- Cruize/Stephanie Janis
Reserve- My Only Good Shoes/Emma Gore
2019 HALTER HORSE OF THE YEAR
Champion- Cruize/Stephanie Janis
Reserve- Fearles Defiance/Casey Demott
2019 LEVEL 1 HORSE OF THE YEAR
Champion- Only When Im Invited/Emma Gore
Reserve- KM Taylor Made Best/Sara Oler
2019 AMATEUR OF THE YEAR
Champion- Version Of Goodbar/Sarah Lebsock
Reserve- I Am Batt Man/Jordan Ferguson Baron
3rd- Some Hot Potential/Emma Brown
4th- Party In The Clouds/Kaitlin Riker
5th- KM Taylor Made Best/Sara Oler
6th- Fantasdeck/Kalee Lohr
2019 AMATEUR SELECT OF THE YEAR
Champion- Check This Machine/Kimberly Best
Reserve- Only In My Levis/Terri Bloom Tisch
2019 HIGH POINT L1 AMATEUR
Champion- Icecream/Hanna Jordan Hedderick
Reserve- Looking Willy Good/Jennifer Olds
2019 ALL AROUND YOUTH 13 & UNDER
Champion- My Only Good Shoes/Emma Gore
Reserve- Cowboy Causin Mayhem/Jillian Jefferson
2019 ALL AROUND YOUTH 14-18
Champion- Zips Bossy Chip/Ellexxah Ireland Maxwell
Reserve- Im Too Sleepy/Madison Burlett
2019 HIGH POINT L1 YOUTH
Champion- Cowboy Causin Mayhem/Jillian Jefferson
Reserve- Gotta Lotta Lazy/Allyson Schuster
2019 ALL AROUND SMALL FRY
Champion- Annie Lost Her Socks/Skylar Herrnstein
Reserve- Consider Him Sheik/Adeline P Gabor
If you’d like for your club’s photos and results to appear on EquineChronicle.com, email B.Bevis@EquineChronicle.com.
Scroll below for more photos courtesy of Ashleigh Egan Photography.
