Phillips County Fair 2015 Horse Show with results

The Phillips County Fair's first event was held last Saturday at the Milk River Pavilion; the 2015 4-H Horse Show event featured a dozen horsemen.

Twelve year old Sidney Meeks started showing horses when she was nine and last Saturday, she took home a first place award in Advanced Junior Showmanship, the first event of the day.

She said that it was exciting, but she was also really nervous.

"There were a lot of kids in my age group," Meeks said.

Meeks said that her father, Scott, was instrumental in teaching her how to present her horse at the show. She also mentioned that she had help at the 4-H clinic.

Other than showing horses, Meeks does rodeos and is currently training a young colt. She admits she doesn't break horses.

"He has bucked, but he is not a true bucking horse," Meeks said.

In rodeo, Meeks participates in barrel racing, pole bending, arena races and key races. She hasn't participated in breakaway races to this point.

Her favorite event is pole bending.

"It's just fun and you have to have some skill to do it," Meeks said.

The horse that she showed at the Horse Show was a horse affectionately named Snickers. Snickers is also her horse of choice at rodeo events.

"She kind of looks like a Snickers (candy bar)," Meeks said. "Actually one of the 4-H leaders came up with it and I thought it stuck pretty well."

Meeks also participated in the Ranch Horse Trail Class, Ranch Horse I, Green Horse I and Green Horse II.

"In Trail you have to walk through obstacles, like going through a pretend car wash," Meeks said. "In Ranch Horse I have to go over a tarp, trot over some poles and rope a dummy."

Other than showing horses at the fair, Meeks also plans on showing a pig she named Chica, though the name has no meaning.

"I don't know. It was getting close to fair time and I had to think of something," Meeks said noting that her pig weighs close to 320 pounds. "She's pretty heavy this year."

Meeks plans to continue working with animals, saying that she will likely do high school rodeos and continue 4-H as long as she can.

Nine year old Tova Anderson has gained popularity around Phillips County for her singing skills as well as her skills on a horse. Anderson took home a first place ribbon in Beginning Junior Showmanship.

Anderson knew that her horse named Boone did well.

"I think he did good," she said.

When asked how long she had been riding horses, Anderson said, "As long as I can remember."

Anderson is quite the singer and has done well in competitions over the past years of her young career. She says that practicing is part of how she can sing so well.

There was no question in her mind about who her favorite recording artists is.

"One of them is probably Miranda Lambert," Anderson said. "I like her voice and all of her songs."

She is active in rodeos including Boots and Saddles.

"I do all of the events," Anderson said.

Her favorite events so far are Barrel Racing and Arena Racing.

"In barrels, you get to go super fast," she said noting that her fastest time in the event was around 17 seconds. "I like arena races because those are really easy. All you do is go around a barrel."

She only rode Boone once during a barrel race recently.

"He did kind of good," Anderson said noting that he could improve.

Anderson helps her father Tanner run cows on the family ranch, but she says her favorite thing to do on a horse is participate in rodeos. She plans on participating well into her high school years but she has no idea if that will continue during college.

Later in the day Anderson would win Grand Champion in Horsemanship I.

2015 Horse Show Results

July 25, 2015

Trophy sponsor in ( )

Advanced Junior Showmanship –

1st – Sidney Meeks 2nd – Aidan Wiese 3rd – Brett Wiebe

Beginning Junior Showmanship – 1st – Tova Anderson

Horsemanship 1 – Grand Champion – Tova Anderson (North & South PC Grazing Districts)

Horsemanship II – Camryn Messerly – Red Ribbon

Horsemanship IV – Brett Wiebe – Red Ribbon, Danie Rhodes – Red Ribbon

Horsemanship V – Aidan Wiese – Grand Champion (Howard & JoAnn Hammond)

Brett Wiebe – Red Ribbon Sidney Meeks – White Ribbon

Colt to Maturity, Yearling

Grand Champion – Aidan Wiese (Ken & Gayle Stahl & O Bar Quarter Horses)

Reserve Champion – Kalen Wiebe (Travis & April Gronley Family)

English I – Danie Rhodes – Red Ribbon

English III – Charlee Rhodes – Blue Ribbon (Howard & JoAnn Hammond)

English IV – Brett Wiebe, Red Ribbon

Green Horse I – Sidney Meeks – Blue Ribbon

Green Horse II – Brett Wiebe – Blue Ribbon

Green Horse III – Sidney Meeks – Red Ribbon

Working Ranch Horse I – Danie Rhodes – Blue Ribbon Sidney Meeks – Red Ribbon

Working Ranch Horse II - Aidan Wiese – Blue Ribbon Charlee Rhodes – Red Ribbon

Ranch Horse Trail Class, Advanced Junior –

Brett Wiebe– received a monogramed saddle bag (Galusha, Higgins, Galusha)

Ranch Horse Trail Class, Senior –

Charlee Rhodes - received a monogramed saddle bag (Ken & Gayle Stahl & O Bar Quarter Horses)

Pleasure Bareback, Beginning (less than three years in horse program)

Camryn Messerly – received a monogramed horn bag (Galusha, Higgins, Galusha)

Pleasure Bareback, Advanced (4th year and up in horse program)

Danie Rhodes – received a monogramed horn bag (Northwest Realty and Auction)

Most Improved (voted on by horse leaders) - Aidan Wiese

Trophy sponsored by Pete James and Russ and Julia Cebulski in Memory of Arthur Warren

Presented by Bruce Warren

Best Overall (voted on by horse judge) - Danie Rhodes

Trophy sponsored by Pete James and Russ and Julia Cebulski in Memory of Arthur Warren

Presented by Bruce Warren

Judge was Amber Smith

Thanks to the horse leaders:

Sarah Barnard, Liz Pierce, Cathy Rhodes, Barb Wiebe, Janni Wiese, Kendra Green