^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


GEORGIA DRAFT HORSE ASSOCIATION


NEWSLETTER

_________________________________________________________________________________________

No. 5 ______________ November, 2009

FROM THE PRESIDENT:


Leaves are turning, weather is getting cooler, and you can tell fall is in the air. This is an exciting time of year, as broodmares are now showing their next year folds. The Perry show was a great success. I would like to thank all the people behind the scenes for the hard work that was put into the show, and believe me there is a lot of work that we do not realize.
I would also like to send a special thanks to all the members and friends for the prayers, cards, and gifts we have received in the last few months. All of you really showed the true meaning of friendship.

Hope everybody has a happy fall. We will see everyone, hopefully, at the Christmas party.

John Ayers
Work: (706) 354-0037
Cell: (706) 248-1141

************************************

THE PERRY SHOW:


What a wonderful show we had at Perry this year. If you weren’t there you missed out! There was an excellent turn out in exhibitors and horses. We had 101 horses compared to the 82 we had in 2008. To have a 23% improvement in these lean economic years is I believe exceptional.
Of course, “exceptional” would not be possible without all of the hard work and dedication that our exhibitors bring to the show. Their enthusiasm and loyalty to the show are some of the factors that make this show such a rewarding success. I would like to thank the following people for their service:
Julie Lanning – Julie is not only the barn manager but handles ordering trophies, setting up the award room, and getting those awards to the exhibitors. Julie has worked tirelessly as an unpaid volunteer for years on this show. We all owe Julie a large debt of gratitude for her selfless sacrifice for this show.
Lisey Grisel – Lisey worked last year and this year to take some of the burden off of Julie. She also made a beautiful show queen this year. Next year Lisey, we’ll work on that crown we owe you. Thank you.
Evelyn and Audrey Willmon – more volunteers to help with the ribbons and trophies. These young ladies were first timers but what a difference they made! Now that I know what hard workers they are, I’ll be sure to press them into service next year!
Barbara and Rodney Branch – what a relief for me to have dedicated volunteers like these folks. Barbara and Rodney assumed the obstacle course project for the last two years and succeeded in making it a whole lot of fun for our exhibitors. Thanks also for your help with the barrel racing class. Also my thanks go to Ben Grisel and Jack Beckom for setting up the barrel racing course.
Rebecca Cannon was responsible for the beautiful ribbons the show was able to award. Rebecca is always looking for better quality and value for our awards and it really showed this year. Thanks so much.
Barbara and Ed Hawkins – people this show wouldn’t be possible without these two individuals! Barbara is the lynchpin in the show. Her meticulous record-keeping and people skills while under extreme stress are near miraculous. Ed’s genial personality cannot help but come out in his talented announcing skills. He really keeps our spectators entertained and informed.
I would also like to thank our hospitality committee. These are the people that give our show the warm down-home effect. Rebecca Cannon, Jill Malone, Crystal Mitchell, Candi Morris, Lynn Johnson, Lawana Smith and Julie Lanning provided excellent treats after the show on Friday night. Jill, the double-decker pineapple upside down cake was especially memorable. I’m sure our exhibitors don’t get this kind of treatment at any other show and will be sure to remember it.
The show had the always talented organ skills of Harris Blackwood who adds so much to the in-ring experience. The show was enriched by the fair, experienced, expertise of Crae Eller. His years of experience with running the Indiana draft horse shows and on-farm experience showed in his judging. We were pleased to be able to have again as our ringmaster the very capable Dean Woodward. His calm, knowledgeable personality made for organized showmanship in the arena. Also, our gatekeeper, Paul Watson, is an integral part of the show. The exhibitors could not get in or out of the arena without him. It is a job that gets very little notice but is vitally important. Thanks, Paul.

The show had it’s very touching moments with the presentation of the Youth Showmanship Awards being given in honor of Jonathan Ayers by John & Anna Ayers. Both recipients received very special engraved photo frames. Also Lisey Grisel received the Jonathan Ayers Sportsmanship Award which was presented by Ed and Barbara Hawkins.
My thanks also go to Jill Monroe, the person who very capably photographed the show. Jill did this for the exhibitors who might have wanted to enter the All-American. Please be sure to contact Jill to support her work so that we may continue to have a show photographer.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my show committee members. Rebecca Cannon, Barbara Branch, Julie Lanning, Jill Malone, John Ayers, and Jack Beckom have been so supportive that they have made my job almost easy. Guys, I couldn’t have made it without you. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement.
The show committee and I are already making plans for some changes to the show next year. If you have any constructive suggestions, I would be glad to listen. You can reach me at (770)358-2678 or twindrms@bellsouth.net. This show is made possible by the membership of the GA Draft Horse Association. It is your show and it is an honor to be associated with this organization.
Again, I thank all of you for a great 2009 show.

Carla Beckom, Show Coordinator
GA National Draft Horse Show, Perry, GA

************************************

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE BOARD FOR 2010!

It’s time to send in nominations for Board Member elections! We will have 4 vacancies for 2010 as Julie Lanning, S.R. Stocker, Barbara Branch, & Roxy Janes terms expire at the end of this year. Send or call in your nominations to Roxanne Janes, our club Secretary, by November 15. Please make sure you have discussed this with the person you nominate & that he/she will accept the position if elected. Said nominations will be mailed to the general membership along with ballots on or before December 1st. Votes are to be mailed to the Secretary postmarked on or before January 1st. Please note: votes will be accepted by paid members only, and the member’s signatures are required on mail in ballots.

************************************

SAD NEWS:


A note to let our friends know we lost a friend and loyal companion on Saturday, October 17, 2009. Jake our 20 year old Belgian gelding died quite unexpectedly. We had many good years together and many long drives. He taught us so much about the Belgian horse. He will be missed greatly.

Roc-Ken Acres Belgians
Ken & Roxanne Janes

************************************

************************************

PERRY PHOTOGRAPHER!

Just a reminder to everyone! Jill Monroe, our Perry Show Photographer has the pictures ready online!
The photo’s can be viewed/purchased at

http://jill2285.shutterbugstorefront.com

You can also reach Jill at (770) 310-4585 or by email at jill2285@comcast.net.


Thank you so much Jill!

************************************

CHRISTMAS PARTY!

We have a Christmas Party scheduled!

John & Anna Ayers have graciously volunteered to have our Christmas Party at their home! The date will be Saturday, December 12 @ 5:00 p.m.! Everybody save that date on your calendars! More details to follow in the December newsletter!

************************************


FOR SALE:

Registered Belgian Gelding
4 years old
Well Broke to all farm machinery

Ken Janes

770-479-7110

************************************

VOLUNTEER’S NEEDED!

If you have any suggestions, ideas, or would like to volunteer to host a meeting, please get in touch with an officer or Board Member.

2009 Officers:
President: John Ayers (678) 753-0737
Vice President: Julie Lanning (770) 513-4760
Sec./Treasurer: Roxanne Janes (770) 479-7110

Board Members:
Carla Beckom: (770) 358-2678
Jack Beckom: (770) 358-2678
Barbara Branch: (706) 677-2712
S.R. Stocker: (229) 777-7741

************************************

THE NEWSLETTER STAFF:
Roxanne Janes (770) 479-7110 (rjanes@alltel.net)
Lawana Smith (770) 422-5142 (DoubleSFarm@aol.com)
Rebecca Cannon (423) 339-0694 (
fairwindsclydes@gmail.com)

************************************