Vanderbilt teen wins supreme champion in halter show
The crowd at the Fayette County Fair’s horse arena roared Thursday when Timmy Meade of Vanderbilt won the title of supreme champion at Thursday’s 4-H halter show with his Appaloosa named Misty Madeline Kay. “Go Timmy!’ the spectators shouted.
Meade, the 17-year-old son of Chris and Eddie Meade, smiled for everyone and said, “I feel proud.’
Meade is a two-year member of the therapeutic horse club Against All Odds.
“It’s fun, right, Mom?’ said Meade when asked about 4-H. He also gave credit to his horse and Mrs. Meade agreed, “She does a good job for you.’
The Meades are former horse trainers and Mrs. Meade said that belonging to Against All Odds has been beneficial for her son.
“It’s really brought him out. It’s something he can do and excel at. He knows when he does well and he’s very proud. It helps his self-esteem tremendously,’ said Mrs. Meade.
She continued, “I want to give credit to Karen and Joey Hull. They run the therapeutic program. It’s amazing the amount of time and effort they put into it.’
Meade competed in the 4-H riding show last Saturday, winning both his trail and equitation classes. He will compete in the district show in September at the Fayette County Fairgrounds.
“It’s fun,’ Meade said of competition. “Everyday, I hold onto my ribbons.’
“He’s shown in Harrisburg and won and he holds the ribbons all the way home,’ said Mrs. Meade. “He’s competed in Special Olympics and won medals and held them all the way home from State College. He went to the state games and won two gold, one silver and two bronze – all for riding.’
Sis Hughes, chairwoman of the 4-H horse department, revealed there were 52 entries in the 4-H halter show.
Judge Rachel Willson of Millsboro commented, “There’s a lot of good horses today and the kids are working hard. The overall champion was an Appaloosa. I was impressed with it. And it was great to see the Against All Odds kids in it. He did a great job.’
Other results from the show included: Appaloosa: champion gelding, Shelby Rice with Boss Rocksteen; champion mare, Timmy Meade with Maddy. Arabian/Half-Arabian: champion mare, Rachael Thompson with Lily. Paint: champion gelding, Rebecca Corvin with Buddy; reserve champion gelding, Shelly Rice with Tango; champion mare, Zack Marella with Taylor; and reserve champion mare, Chelsi Festa with Mayzee.
Palomino: champion gelding, Rebecca McGee with Cody; reserve champion gelding, Ashley Farmer with Skippy; champion mare, Katie Venneri with Zips Peachy Girl; reserve champion mare, Sabrina Szabo with Darins Blonde. Pinto: champion gelding, Shelby Rice with Diggin’ Montana Gold. Quarter Horse: champion gelding, Deanna Liptak with General Lee Sneakin’; reserve champion gelding, Brianna Staub with I Wanna Talk Bout Me; champion mare, Shauna Couch with Collegegirlsnightout; and reserve champion mare, Garrett Free with Emerald Hills Belle; Other: champion gelding, Melissa Adams with Freedom; reserve champion gelding, Kacie King with Romeo; champion mare, Sam Salatino with Abby and reserve champion mare, Sam Salatino with Clueless.
Meanwhile, the draft horse arena took place Thursday morning in the Outdoor Arena with approximately 26 animals in the show.
Judge Mark Ryburn of Washington commented, “It was a very nice bunch of animals. The confirmation was sound.’
He noted, “I’m not a stickler for size as long as it’s sound. I like a big horse but I’d take a sound little horse over a great big not sound horse.’
In the registered Belgian show, Tony Regula of Brownfield won champion stallion and Anthony Myers Sr. of McClellandtown won reserve champion stallion while Scott and Becky White of Bruceton Mills claimed champion mare and Milford Gibson of Bruceton Mills was named reserve champion mare. Supreme champion mare went to Scott and Becky White while supreme champion stallion went to Tony Regula.