By Julie Graham

LEWISBURG, Tenn.- The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association held its annual awards banquet on Friday, Nov. 30 at the TWHBEA Headquarters in Lewisburg, Tennessee. Following a welcome, the invocation and a delicious meal, the evening’s awards presentation began. 

TWHBEA recognized the 2018 Tennessee Walking Horse Youth Association officers. President Kyle Majors, Vice President Svanah Martin, Secretary Mei Li S Straka, Parliamentarian Morgan Norris and Treasurer Adam Hopper.  

The 2018 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 I Am Lolita and Bobby Joe Jones. 
The International High Point Awards program included awards given to the first-place horses in three different divisions: Flat Shod, Performance and Halter. High Point winners were also awarded in the youth, amateur and open divisions. 

The TWHBEA Overall Sire of the Year went to Lined With Cash, owned by Five Star Stallions. This award is based on a combination of 50 percent of actual points and percentage points as well as several other statistical categories presented each year in the TWHBEA’s Sire Summary. 

The TWHBEA Outstanding Youth Member of the Year was Morgan Norris. 

Several years ago, an award was named in honor of the late Lizzie Umberger. The recipient of the Lizzie Umberger Sportsmanship Award went to Keaton Thompson. 

Ambassador awards honor those whose respective levels of dedication make them role models as they work for the betterment of our breed. Kevin Gilliam was awarded the 2018 Youth Ambassador for his commitment and dedication to the youth in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. 

The 2018 Pleasure Horse Ambassador was Keegan Meadows. The Performance award went to Bill and Dee Cantrell. 

The TWHBEA Jeff Givens Friendship Award once again went to Jo Ann Dowell and TWHBEA Member of the Year Award went to Jerry Harris. 

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 our breed. Ray Beech and the Tommy Grider Family both received an award. Also, awards were given posthumous to two breeders: Kenneth “Pete” Banks and A.E. Rock McEwen.  

The final award of the evening went to Jai Templeton. He was awarded the Reese L. Smith Distinguished Service Award for his efforts and support of the Tennessee Walking Horse. 

2018 TWHBEA Honors


National Futurity Graduate
I Am Lolita #21500203
Owned by Bobby Joe Jones

World Versatility Show Overall High Point Champion 
Victory Trip
Owner: Dr. Daniel Starnes

Versatility Awards
Elite Superior
Blue Eyed And Blonde 
Owner: Connie Graves

Adult Supreme
Victory Trip 
Owner: Dr. Daniel Starnes
 
Youth Superior
El’s A Poppin 
Owner: Rachel Cowles

Here Comes The Thunder 
Owner: Keaton Thompson

Distance Award:
Winner: Kim Nobel


GO! Gelding Super Performance Gelding
The Dixie Label and Brad Beard

GO! Gelding Super Flat Shod Gelding
Spotted Allen’s Patches ES and Jennifer Lambert

Motivated Mare Super Performance Mare
Lined Royal Cash, owned by CCJK Enterprises

Motivated Mare Super Flat Shod Mare
Victory Trip and Dr. Daniel Starnes and Linda Starnes


International High Point Awards
TWHBEA International High Point Youth Pleasure Horse Champion
Holy Jose!, owner Sara Ostrum

TWHBEA International High Point Amateur Pleasure Horse Champion
Holy Jose!, owner Sara Ostrum

TWHBEA International High Point Open Pleasure Horse Champion
They Call Me Mr. Williams, owner Kristin Van Zomeren

TWHBEA International High Point Youth Performance Horse Champion
Generated by Folsom, owner Brad Gregory

TWHBEA International High Point Amateur Performance Horse Champion
Gen’s Not Kid’N, owner Sister Milligan

TWHBEA International High Point Open Performance Horse Champion
Savage, owner Jack Heffington

TWHBEA International High Point Youth Halter Horse Champion
Obey My Command, owner Corbin Parker

TWHBEA International High Point Open Halter Horse Champion
Oh Susannah, owner John Callicutt

European International High Point Awards
TWHBEA European International High Point Amateur Champion
Blue Eyed Heartbreaker #20503711, owner Gerhard Grabher

TWHBEA European International High Point Open Champion
Bailey’s Princess Ronja #20706569, owner Katrin Marg

Tennessee Walking Horse Hall of Fame
Coin’s Hard Cash
Ebony’s Sun Lady
Gen’s Armed And Dangerous
Gen’s Major General
Go Boy’s Shadow
Triple Threat

Sire and Dam of the Year Awards
TWHBEA Total Point Dam of the Year
Shakin’, owned by the Estate of Howard Buckner
 
TWHBEA Percentage Points Dam of the Year
Travlin Victory Ann, owned by Linda Starnes
 
TWHBEA Ascending Sire of the Year
Walk Time Charlie, owned by John Callicutt
            
TWHBEA Total Point Sire of the Year
Jose’ Jose’, owned by Five Star Stallions
 
TWHBEA Total Percentage Point Sire of the Year 
Allen All Around, owned by Leland Ritter, Sr.
 
TWHBEA Overall Sire of the Year (Combo-Percentage & Points)
Lined With Cash, owned by Five Star Stallions

World Grand Champion
Gen A’ Mighty
Mike Floyd, owner
Jimmy McConnell, trainer
Gary Higgins, breeder

TWHYA Outstanding Youth Member of the Year
Morgan Norris

Lizzie Umberger Sportsmanship Award
Keaton Thompson

Youth Ambassador
Kevin Gilliam

Pleasure Horse Ambassador
Keegan Meadows

Performance Horse Ambassador
Bill and Dee Cantrell

TWHBEA Jeff Givens Friendship Award
Jo Ann Dowell

TWHBEA Member of the Year
Jerry Harris

Master Breeder Awards (Living)
Ray Beech
The Tommy Grider Family

Master Breeder Awards (Deceased)
Kenneth “Pete” Banks
A.E. Rock McEwen

Reese L. Smith Jr. Distinguished Service Award
Jai Templeton