By Linda Scrivner
LEWISBURG, Tenn. – The Tennessee Walking horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association held its annual awards banquet on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the TWHBEA Headquarters in Lewisburg, Tennessee. Following a welcome, the invocation and a delicious meal, the evening’s presentations began.
Distinguished guests were recognized and appreciation was expressed for the 2016 sponsors.
The 2017 Executive Committee was recognized for their service. Outgoing President David Williams was recognized and presented a gift.
TWHBEA also recognized the 2017 Tennessee Walking Horse Youth Association officers: President Kyle Majors, Vice President Andy Hill, Parliamentarian Trista Majors and Treasurer Rachel Artman.
The 2017 TWHBEA National Futurity Horizon Awards honorees showed at the National Futurity each year they were eligible. They accumulated the best record at the show among all horses of their age group that showed those years. The National Futurity Graduate Award winner was A Jazzy Gen, owned by Dexter Roberts. The Two-Year-Old Horizon Award winner was I Am Lolita’, owned by Bobby Joe Jones. The Yearling Filly Horizon Award Champion was Singin’ The Blues CF, owned by Carl Gleghorn and Gay Dempsey and the Yearling Colt Horizon Award Champion was Rocky Top Lineman, owned by Lisa Teel and Lisa Washburn.
The International High Point Awards program included awards given to the first place horse in three categories: performance, pleasure and halter. Each had a winner from the open, amateur and youth divisions.
The Outstanding Sire of the Year went to Walk Time Charlie, owned by John Callicutt. This award is based on 50 percent combination of actual points and percentage points as well as several other statistical categories presented each year in TWHBEA’s Sire Summary.
The TWHBEA Outstanding Youth Member of the Year was Adam Hopper. Several years ago an award was named in honor of the late Lizzie Umberger. The recipient of the Lizzie Umberger Sportsmanship Award was voted on by TWHYA members and was Trista Majors.
The Ambassador awards honor those whose respective levels of dedication make them role models as they work for the betterment of our breed. Terri Mosley was awarded the 2017 Youth Ambassador for her contributions to the youth in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.
The 2017 Pleasure Horse Ambassador is Scot MacGregor. This year’s Performance Horse Ambassador went to Jean Baum.
The TWHBEA Jeff Givens Friendship Award went to Jo Ann Dowell and the Member of the Year Award’s recipient was Bob Roach for their many contributions to TWHBEA and the industry.
The TWHBEA Master Breeder Award, the highest and most prestigious recognition given to a breeder, recognizes those breeders whose work over an extended period of time has had a significant and long-lasting impact on the breed. One award went to a deceased breeder, Carroll Benedict. Other Master Breeders Awards went to Gus King, Steve Beech, Connie Bryant and David Landrum.
The final award of the evening went to Jeffrey Howard. He was awarded the Reese L. Smith, Jr., Distinguished Service Award for his support and efforts for the Tennessee Walking Horse.
2017 TWHBEA HONORS
NATIONAL FUTURITY HORIZON AWARDS
Graduate Award – A Jazzy Gen, owned by Dexter Roberts
Two-Year-Old Horizon Award – I Am Lolita’, owned by Bobby Joe Jones
Yearling Filly Horizon Award – Singin’ The Blues CF, owned by Carl Dempsey and Gay Dempsey
Yearling Colt Horizon Award – Rocky Top Lineman, owned by Lisa Teel and Lisa Washburn
WORLD VERSATILITY SHOW OVERALL HIGH POINT CHAMPION
Dancing Spirit
Exhibitor: Dr. Martha Ann Huck Miller
Owner: Martha Ann Huck Miller
INTERNATIONAL HIGH POINT AWARDS
2017 TWHBEA Open Performance Horse High Point Champion – I Am Lolita’, owner Bobby Joe Jones
2017 TWHBEA Amateur Performance Horse High Point Champion – Walk With Me WTC, owner Kyle Bush
2017 TWHBEA Youth Performance Horse High Point Champion – Inception, owner Beth Beasley
2017 TWHBEA Open Pleasure Horse High Point Champion – Granted Parole, owner Howard Roberts
2017 TWHBEA Amateur Pleasure Horse Champion – Etta James By TJB, owners, Steve & Kathy Zeis
2017 TWHBEA Youth Pleasure Horse High Point Champion – Gi Gi’s Finally Friday, owners Claire Hankins & Claire Vaughn
2017 TWHBEA Open Halter Horse High Point Champion – Exeter, owner Jack Heffington
2017 TWHBEA Amateur Halter Horse High Point Champion – Side Effects, owners The Wright Family
2017 TWHBEA Youth Halter Horse High Point Champion – Victory Trip, owner Daniel Starnes
TWHBEA Tennessee Walking Horse Hall of Fame
Prides Generator #753925 (Linda Crowley)
Bred by Harlin Hayes
The Pusher C.G. #725575 (Tommy Grider)
Bred by Charles E. Gavin, III
Prides Gold Coin #742472 (Rocky Jones)
Bred by Harlinsdale Farm
Delight Of Pride #795892 (Dr. Andrew Sisk)
Bred by Ronald C. Inman & Donald Stanley
Pride’s Royal Master #760511 (Amy Cross Nance)
Bred by Tom F. Jones
Magic’s Fame D. #601285 (Ken Wulff)
Bred by Roland Dickerson
Talk Of The Town #360155 (Steve Hill’s Daughter)
Bred by Dr. R.M. Nock
Sire & Dam of the Year Awards
TWHBEA Dam of the Year, Total Points
Travlin Victory Ann #802415
Linda A. Starnes, Brownsville, KY
TWHBEA Dam of the Year, Percentage
Travlin Victory Ann #902415
Linda A. Starnes, Brownsville, KY
TWHBEA Sire of the Year, Total Points
Jose’ Jose’ #969202
Five Star Stallions, Wartrace, TN
TWHBEA Sire of the Year, Percentage
A Greater Generator #981788
Jerry & Jason Myatt, Alvaton, KY
TWHBEA Outstanding Sire of the Year
Walk Time Charlie #20700871
John Callicutt, Seagrove, NC
World Grand Champion
Gen’s Black Maverick
Owners: Keith & Lorraine Rosbury
Trainer: Callaway Stables
Breeder: Joe Barnes
Outstanding Youth Member of the Year
Adam Hopper
Lizzie Umberger Sportsmanship Award
Trista Majors
Youth Ambassador – Terri Mosley
Pleasure Horse Ambassador – Scot MacGregor
Performance Horse Ambassador – Jean Baum
TWHBEA Jeff Givens Friendship Award – Jo Ann Dowell
Member of the Year – Bob Roach
Master Breeder Award – Deceased
Carroll Benedict, Glasgow, KY
Master Breeder Awards – Living
Gus King, Arab, AL
Steve Beech, Belfast, TN
Connie Bryant, Tupelo, MS
David Landrum, Franklin, TN
Reese L. Smith, Jr., Distinguished Service Award
Jeffrey Howard