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Winter 2005 Newsletter President's Message
President's Message One of the greatest joys of the holiday season is being home spending time with family and friends. As I think about this time of year, I’m reminded of how our animals are part of our families and the comfort they bring to our lives, particularly this time of year. Seeing their eager faces and hearing their welcoming whinny as I walk to the paddock at feeding time. Knowing that whatever the weather is rain, sleet, snow or 20 below zero, they are relying on me just as much as my human family. From all of my family to yours, we send you our best wishes for a happy, healthy and safe holiday season. Beyond the holidays we have the MWFHC Winter meeting occurring February 19 and 20th. Our clinician this year is Wes Licht. For those of you who may not be familiar with Wes, he is a well known Wisconsin whip. He has been very active in the Dairyland Driving club and competes in many events including combined driving, carriage classics and competitive distance driving events. Also during the winter meeting we will be having a silent auction to raise funds for the club. Please consider donating an item for the auction even if you cannot attend. If you are planning on attending, bring your checkbook as we will need bidders. Hope to see you all in February in Winona!
Here's Your Chance to Help If you like what the club is doing, this is your chance to help the MWFHC continue on the path that it has taken. If not, get involved and make the changes needed to improve the club better. Nominations are being accepted until April 1, 2005 for: President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Merchandise Coordinator. Please consider running for office! The requirements are outlined in the By-Laws which can be found on our website in the MWFHC Information section. They are also written below:
It is also recommended that the candidates have access to computer email. Nominees will be asked to write and submit a short biography to be included with the ballot by April 4, 2005. If you would like more information, please contact me or any of the current MWFHC officers. Please send your nominations to:
Fjord Family Honors Father
My husband and David's father, James R. (Bob) Lee, passed away October 8, 2004, after suffering from Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease for several years. He was born March 3, 1925 in Clinton, Wisconsin, and spent his entire life in the area. He loved family, friends, farming, and Fjords. We used our Fjord team to pull the antique milk wagon David had restored, which hauled the casket from the church to the cemetery. The team walked so slowly and quietly, knowing full well the important job they had that day. Bob had hauled milk in his younger years in such a wagon and enjoyed a few parade rides in it as well. We felt it fitting that his final ride should be in such a wagon, pulled by the horses he loved so much. Editor's Note: For members wishing to send cards, they may be addressed to:
The Manitowoc County 4-H Horse and Pony committee had a VERY successful fundraiser this year. It included Arianna, a three year old Norwegian Fjord filly. The committee decided to purchase Arianna, have the kids under supervision train the horse and sell raffle tickets as a fundraiser for our 4-H Camp, Camp Tapawingo. The 4-H committee purchased Arianna as a 3 yr old in January 2004. In February, the committee chose five kids to work with her. Megan Pritzl and Megan Lutze were the first to start with her. They started her under saddle and in April rode her in two large horse fairs. The girls even taught Arianna how to bow. May brought Rachel Rhein to work with Arianna on showmanship. In June and August she had Tony Wiesner teaching her how to drive and Holly Lentz doing western pleasure with her. Both Tony and Holly were able to show Arianna at the Manitowoc County 4-H Open Youth Show end of July. Both walked away with ribbons. Arianna was wonderful placing in all her classes. Her best was the 4th out of 24 in the open/walk trot class. Between the horse fairs and the shows, Arianna made several guest appearances at local events. Throughout the entire year we were selling raffle tickets to win Arianna. At our local fair in August we drew the lucky winner. MANY people were praying they would be the one and the lucky ticket winner was Khristi Cleaton of Janesville, Wis. BUT the story doesn't end here. You see, we had people who wanted to buy Arianna if the winner didn't really want a horse, but wanted to support 4-H and buy a ticket. That price (of offering to buy Arianna) kept going up, as there were 4 people along the way that wanted her. It started at $3000, was at $4100 the day before we raffled her and that day a gentleman said he would give the ticket winner $4200 if they really didn't want her! Well, Khristi Cleaton decided she would rather have the money. The neat part about this story is, the gentleman who bought her lives in Manitowoc County, and said Arianna could be used by a horse-less horse 4-H'er next year! Isn't that awesome? It's a great ending to a great fund raiser. AND all the credit goes to Arianna, who taught the kids not only what Fjords are like and many other things as well. When I asked the kids what they learned besides working with a Fjord, they said:
They all agreed that it was a LOT of hard work, but they were all glad that they were a part of it. The horse committee raised almost $23,000 for Camp. As most camps go, it can use the money on repairs but also plans on using some of it to build a challenger course and will name it the Arianna Challenge! I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to have Arianna as the raffle horse. This little filly had to put up with a LOT. Not only did she have 5 different kids working with her throughout the eight month period, she had to learn 4 disciplines: huntseat, western, driving and showmanship. She is one smart little cookie. I was very proud of our kids but even more so of Arianna! She was one big ambassador to the breed. In eight months we educated a LOT of people on the Fjord breed, and changed a lot of minds on what a Fjord really is and what a Fjord can do. So, if you bought a ticket, THANK YOU. We couldn't have done this without
you. AND, I'm in the same boat as the rest of you. I wanted to win that
little filly just as much. So, we can all be sad for a little while that
she is not in our barn, but can be thrilled that the outcome of her staying
in 4-H in the county that started it all is more than we could have ever
dreamed. -> Top
20th Anniversary Work on the Anniversary show in 2005 began before the 2004 show ended. Committee members met when we were at Blue Earth to discuss what we can do to make this next show even better than the record attended 2004 show. Safety issues are our highest priority. With classes becoming larger we will be initiating split or first and second cuts classes with a final class - which would make two extra classes in some situations requiring more time needed. We must make great effort in guaranteeing safety not only for the exhibitors but for our horses as well. With the knowledge and support of the Faribault Fair Board we will be providing a full fledged warm-up arena near the entry gate, where horses can be prepared for class in a controlled and watchful manner and reducing ring mishaps. After the holidays I will be addressing these and other improvements and additions to the Executive Board for their approval. At this time thoughts and hopes are being put together to assure the best venue to present our great breed. Other ideas are being formulated. We are hoping to offer a ladies log pull and an advanced log pull as well as reestablishing an adult equitation class. Several new "fun" classes have been brought to our attention as well as a division of our ever popular costume class. We are also considering an Exhibitors Award. We are considering, with the approval of the Executive Committee, the possibility of a hospitality tent, a final day awards presentation with food and even possibly a Fjord horse auction. For certain we will have a "special" time allotted for a 20th Anniversary celebration with demos and authentic Norwegian dress presentations. I have already been contacted by individuals from Canada, New York, Florida and the western states with plans on attending. The Faribault Fair Board has made a special pin that will be given to all exhibitors and I am working on having T-shirts made to commemorate this event. Your show committee has been working hard and will continue to do so. By the winter meeting in February all will be ironed out with the show bill and agendas. Wayne Hipsley has been approved and contracted to judge the show, as we would like for him - having been such a big part of the success of the breed - to join our celebration and enjoy the event. A note to all of you whom sell Fjords to new owners this coming year please make this event known to them, or let me know of your sales and I will include them in my mailing list. If anyone has questions or concerns regarding the 2005 show and celebration, or you would like to volunteer to help, please feel free to contact me - this is what I'm here for and I will look forward to hearing from you. -> Top
First Annual MWFHC Auction Proceeds will go to the MWFHC, so we all will benefit from this auction. We will not only have fun, but you may go home with a wonderful purchase, and your money will support our beloved Fjord horse. Other reasons to donate might include advertising your livelihood, your skills, or simply your big heart! Items do not have to be Fjord or even horse related. Ideas could include horse tack, gift baskets, hand made items, weekend get-a-ways, or (wouldn't this be great?!!) training lessons, or anything you can dream up. Haven't donated anything yet but want to? It's not too late! This auction is already something special, and more items will be more fun! Contact Dan Nauman at bighorn@alexssa.net or call me at (262) 626-2208. You can also contact auction committee members Syl Weyker, crfarm@execpc.com; Chuck Kelly, coyote@acegroup.cc; and Carlene Schwartz, emmas@execpc.com. Please bring your donation to the MWFHC Winter Meeting. This will be a silent auction. Include a description of your item and be sure to include your name and if you require a minimum bid. When you get to the Winter meeting, see me, Dan Nauman, ASAP to get your item registered. If you can't find me, look for Carlene, Syl, or Chuck. Bid early and bid often! If you see an item that you just have to have, check the bid sheet as someone might have eyes for that special something as well! Thanks to all the folks who have already donated items. A partial listing of items donated to the auction:
Submitting an article: MWFHC members are welcome to submit articles and photos for the MWFHC newsletter and website. Please send your submission to the Newsletter Editor |
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