Local Youth Excel at Kendall County 4-H Horse Show

Submitted by the Illinois of University Extension

Photo 1: Yorkville’s Nicole Stiegart takes a fence in the Senior class of Equitation over Fences on Saturday, July 18. Stiegart took second in the class, but went on to win Senior English High Point honors.

Photo 2: 2014 recipient Augie Staudacher of Yorkville passes the Sue Kuefler Award to 2015 recipient Anna Merrigan of Minooka on Saturday at Harris Forest Preserve. Merrigan also won the costume class, with her Native American tribute.

Photo 3: Delaney Fisher of Yorkville runs a pattern in the Junior Dressage test on Saturday. Fisher went on to win the class, as well as the Junior Fences class.

Dozens of local 4-H members, and their horses, took to Dr. Howard Koch Arena at Harris Forest Preserve on Wednesday, July 15 and Saturday, July 18 for the annual Kendall County 4-H horse shows.

The two days of exhibition follow a year of learning and preparation for both gaming competitions and pleasure and showmanship classes.

Gaming Show July 15

“4-H Gaming Horse show on Wednesday went off without a hitch, with 29 4-H youth competing in 13 events with perfect 75 degree weather,” said Kim Eisnaugle, 4-H Youth Development Program Coordinator. “It’s the first year in a while we haven’t had to worry about storms or if we should move to another date or cancel the show.”

The High Point Gaming Champion rider, and trophy winner for the day was Thor Hester of Yorkville, taking home three class champion ribbons. Marseille’s Kylie Marko was the Reserve Champion High Point Gaming rider for the Senior division. In the Junior division, Millie Stewart of Sheridan was named High Point Gaming Champion with four class champions, and Millie Stewart of Sheridan earned the Reserve Champion honors with two class champion wins. Full results are as follows:

Senior Poles - Thor Hester, Yorkville, first, with a time of 23.834; Allison Smith, Yorkville, second; Kylie Marko, Marseilles, third; Olivia Merrigan, Minooka, fourth; Rebekah Pinney, Ottawa, fifth; and Emily Gawne, Yorkville, sixth.

Junior Poles - Maggie Stewart, Sheridan, first, with a time of 24.072; Millie Stewart, Sheridan, second; Alyssa Smith, Yorkville, third; Kyotee McNeill, Marseilles, fourth; Jada Hamman, Newark, fifth; and Molly Breen, Yorkville, sixth.

Senior Barrels - Myah Hawley, Seneca, first, with a time of 21.809 seconds; Kylie Marko, second; Olivia Merrigan, third; Emily Gawne, fourth; Ryane Brady, Oswego, fifth; and Allison Smith, sixth.

Junior Barrels - Millie Stewart, first with a time of 16.636; Alyssa Smith, second; Jada Hamman, third; Samantha Merrigan, Minooka, fourth; Maggie Stewart, fifth; and Kyotee McNeill, sixth.

Senior Flags - Kylie Marko, first, with a time of 8.988 seconds; Thor Hester, second; Olivian Merrigan, third; Myah Hawley, fourth; Emily Gawne, fifth; and Faith Thompson, Newark, sixth.

Junior Flags - Millie Stewart, first with a time 8.733 seconds; Maggie Stewart, second; SamanthabMerrigan, third; Maddy Gawne, fourth; Augie Staudacher, Yorkville, fifth; and Molly Breen, sixth.

Senior Plug - Thor Hester, first, with a time of 8.249; Olivia Merrigan, second; Kylie Marko, third;bJada Hamman, fourth; Cody Marko, Marseilles, fifth; and Samantha Merrigan, sixth.

Junior Plug - Maggie Stewart, first, with a time of 8.402; Kyotee McNeill, second, with a time of 8.404; Millie Stewart, third; Jada Hamann, fourth; Cody Marko, fifth, and Samantha Merrigan, sixth.

Senior Keyhole - Thor Hester, first, with a time of 9.757; Kylie Marko, second; Myah Hawley, third;bRyane Brady, fourth; Emily Gawne, fifth; and Kiley Granat, Yorkville, sixth. Junior Keyhole - Millie Stewart, first, with a time of 10.229; Molly Breen, second; Augie Staudacher, third; Jada Hamman, fourth; Cody Marko, fifth; and Maddy Gawne, sixth.

The youth also ran the Texas 8 for an exhibition.

Pleasure Show July 18

“The Pleasure Show was much warmer than the Gaming Show on Wednesday,” said Eisnaugle. “Many of the 4-H youth are warming up at these two shows to compete at the State Junior Horse Show, which begins July 21 and runs through July 26.”

Nicole Stiegart of Yorkville earned the Senior English High Point trophy and rosette, with Reserve Champion honors to Olivia Merrigan. The Junior English High Point trophy and rosette went to Augie Staudacher, and Samantha Merrigan earned the Reserve spot.

The Senior Western High Point rider was Olivia Merrigan, with Thor Hester earning the Reserve rider position. Molly Breen was named Junior Western High Point rider. The Reserve Rosette went to Samantha Merrigan.

Ryane Brady earned the Novice High Point trophy and rosette, with Audrey Breen in the Reserve Champion spot.

The Senior Horse Conference Test was won by Olivia Merrigan, with reserve honors to Kylie Granat.

In the Junior Horse Conference Test, Augie Staudacher and Macy Krempski, both of Yorkville, tied for top honors.

The break-down of winners for the 33 classes of the day are as follows:

Senior English Conformation - Olivia Merrigan, first; Kiley Granat, second; Ryane Brady, third; Nicole Stiegart, fourth; and Thor Hester, fifth. Junior English Conformation - Anna Merrigan, first; Augie Staudacher, second; Audrey Breen, third; Samantha Merrigan, fourth; Macy Krempski, fifth; and Maddy Gawne, sixth.

Senior English Showmanship - Nicole Stiegart, first; Thor Hester, second, Olivia Merrigan, third; Kiley Granat, fourth; and Ryane Brady, fifth. Junior English Showmanship - Macy Krempski, first; Augie Staudacher, second; Samantha Merrigan, third; Olivia Woods, Yorkville, fourth; Delaney Fisher, Yorkville, fifth; and Maddy Gawne, sixth. Novice Showmanship English - Ryane Brady, first; Olivia Woods, second; Audrey Breen, third; and Anna Merrigan, fourth.

Senior English Pleasure - Olivia Merrigan, first; Thor Hester, second; Kiley Granat, third; Nicole Stiegart, fourth; and Ryane Brady, fifth. Junior English Pleasure - Augie Staudacher, first; Samantha Merrigan, second; Audrey Breen, third; Delaney Fisher, fourth; Macy Krempski, fifth; and Olivia Woods, sixth. Novice English Pleasure - Olivia Woods, first; Ryane Brady, second; Maddy Gawne, third; Audrey Breen, fourth; and Anna Merrigan, fifth.

Senior English Equitation - Olivia Merrigan, first; Nicole Stiegart, second; Kiley Granat, third; Thor Hester, fourth; and Ryane Brady, fifth. Junior English Equitation - Samantha Merrigan, first; Macy Krempski, second; Delaney Fisher, third; Augie Staudacher, fourth; Olivia Woods, fifthp; and Maddy Gawne, sixth.

Novice English Equitation - Ryane Brady, first; Anna Merrigan, second; Audrey Breen, third; and Olivia Woods, fourth.

Senior Hunter Hack - Ryane Brady, first, and Nicole Stiegart, second; Junior Hunter Hack - Maddy Gawne, first; Delaney Fisher, second; Augie Staudacher, third; and Macy Krempski, fourth.

Senior Equitation over fences - Ryane Brady, first, and Nicole Stiegart second.

Junior Equitation over fences - Delaney Fisher, first; Maddy Gawne, second; Augie Staudacher, third; Olivia Woods, fourth; and Macy Krempski, fifth.

Dressage Intro B Test - Kiley Granat, first; Ryane Brady, second.

Senior Dressage Training test #3 - Nicole Stiegart, first; Olivia Merrigan, second; and Thor Hester, third.

Junior Dressage Training Test - Delaney Fisher, first; Augie Staudacher, second; and Macy Krempski, third.

Senior Western Conformation - Olivia Merrigan, first; Kiley Granat, second; Megan O’Neill, third; Thor Hester, fourth; and Emily Gawne, fifth.

Junior Western Confirmation - Anna Merrigan, first; Hannah O’Neill, Sandwich, second; Samantha Merrigan, third; Molly Breen, fourth; Augie Staudacher, fifth, and Audrey Breen, sixth.

Senior Western Showmanship - Olivia Merrigan, first; Thor Hester, second; and Kiley Granat, third.

Junior Western Showmanship - Molly Breen, first; Macy Krempski, second; Augie Staudacher, third; Samantha Merrigan, fourth; Audrey Breen, fifth; and Delaney Fisher, sixth.

Novice Western Showmanship - Molly Breen, first; Audrey Breen, second; and Anna Merrigan, third.

Senior Western Pleasure - Olivia Merrigan, first; Thor Hester, second; Kiley Grant, third; and Emily Gawne, fourth.

Junior Western Pleasure - Samantha Merrigan, first; Augie Staudacher, second; Molly Breen, third; Audrey Breen, fourth; Maddy Gawne, fifth; and Macy Krempski, sixth.

Novice Western Pleasure - Molly Breen, first; Audrey Breen, second; and Anna Merrigan, third.

Senior Western Horsemanship - Olivia Merrigan, first; Thor Hester, second; and Kiley Granat, third.

Junior Western Horsemanship - Samantha Merrigan, first; Macy Krempski, second; Augie Staudacher, third; Anna Merrigan, fourth; Audrey Breen, fifth; and Molly Breen, sixth.

Senior Trail - Thor Hester, first; Nicole Stiegart, second; Emily Gawne, third; Kiley Granat, fourth; Ryane Brady, fifth; and Olivia Merrigan, sixth.

Junior Trail - Samantha Merrigan, first; Molly Breen, second; Macy Krempski, third; Augie Staudacher, fourth; Anna Merrigan, fifth; and Maddy Gawne, sixth.

Senior Conference Test - Olivia Merrigan, first; Kiley Granat, second; Kylie Marko, third; and Nicole Stiegart, fourth.

Junior Conference Test - Macy Krempski and Augie Staudacher, first place tie; Maddy Gawne second; Delaney Fisher, Anna Merrigan and Samantha Merrigan, tie for third; Maggie and Millie Stewart, tie for fourth; Cody Marko, fifth; and Kyotee McNeill, sixth.

Senior Pattern Riding - Nicole Stiegart, first; Olivia Merrigan, second; Thor Hester, third; and Kiley Granat, fourth.

Junior Pattern Riding - Molly Breen, first; Samantha Merrigan, second; Augie Staudacher, third; Macy Krempski, fourth; and Audrey Breen, fifth.

The show wrapped up with Ride a Buck and a Costume Class. Anna Merrigan won with her Native American-themed costume, and Samantha Merrigan placed second with her sledding costume.

Maddy Gawne placed third with her Tinkerbell and Peter Pan costume.

“Thanks to all the wonderful help we had to make the shows successful again this year,” said Eisnaugle.

Appreciation to: Rich and Alli Hester, John Stewart, Dean Bundy, Jessica Brigel, Gina Modica, Leah Rende, Becca Brigel, Ron and Tammy Brigel and Superintendents Tammy Brigel, Wendy Emma, Deb Granat, Debbie Murray, Shelly Mroz, and Karol and Dean Bundy. The Bundy family also provided much of the food, along with John and Michelle Stewart who supplied the snow cone machine. The money made on the food items will help pay for the ribbons for the next year’s show.

4-H offers positive youth development programs that provide the opportunity for youth to feel a sense of belonging, develop independence, practice generosity, and experience mastery. If you are interested in learning more about 4-H in Kendall County, contact Eisnaugle at 630-553-5823 or at keisnaug@illinois.edu.