News Briefs: Equine Related

4-H YOUTH IN ACTION AWARDS

Winners receive:

AHC URGES IMMEDIATE CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF THE “PREVENT ALL SORING TACTICS ACT” (PAST ACT) OF 2021

It’s that time of year again – time for all 4-H youth ages 15-19 to apply to be a 2023 4-H Youth in Action Award winner! Now is the chance for 4-H’ers across the nation to tell us how they’re impacting their communities through service and leadership. Four selected recipients will each earn a $5,000 scholarship and an opportunity to serve as a national youth spokesperson. The 4-H Youth in Action Program recognizes four confident young leaders with diverse backgrounds and unique perspectives in our core pillar areas: agriculture, civic engagement, healthy living, and STEM. Each year, Pillar Winners will experience an exciting year of telling their 4-H story and celebrating their leadership.

• $5,000 higher education scholarship • Opportunities to showcase their 4-H impact story • All-expenses paid trip to National 4-H Council event • Networking opportunities with 4-H celebrities and other prominent alumni

American Horse Council President, Julie Broadway, recently sent letters to House and Senate leadership of committees of jurisdiction on the “Prevent All Soring Tactics Act” (PAST Act) of 2021. An identical bill was passed by the House on July 25, 2019 in the 116th Congress. The American Horse Council will keep members and the industry up-to-date on any and all developments. For more information, find the AHC at: https://www.horsecouncil.org/

• Recognition as the official 4-H youth spokesperson for their pillar Learn more about the application process at www.4-h.org and set your calendar to apply by March 28, 2022.

More specifically, the letters urge the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, and the House Energy & Commerce Committee, to hold hearings to advance the PAST Act of 2021 on Capitol Hill. The letters also encourage Congressional leaders to engage with the American Horse Council for expert information and potential testimony. The bill has overwhelming support in both the House and Senate (247 cosponsors, 50 cosponsors respectively). “The PAST Act addresses the practice of soring horses. The soring of horses includes various actions taken on horses’ limbs to produce higher gaits that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness. More specifically, the bill expands soring regulation and enforcement at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions, by establishing a new system for inspecting horses for soring. In addition, the bill increases penalties for violation” commented Julie Broadway.

A RECORD $115 MILLION BACK TO 27,000 CUSTOMERS, MARCH 17, 2022

St. Patrick’s Day will feel even luckier this year for GreenStone Farm Credit Services members. The GreenStone Farm Credit Services board of directors has approved $115 Million in patronage dividends to be paid to its 27,000 member-owners on March 17th, of 2022. This record-level of patronage, nearly 45% of GreenStone’s net profits, brings total patronage payments to $720 Million over the 17 years of the program – that makes 2022 Lucky 17! “We are so excited and so fortunate to be sharing these profits with our customers,” said GreenStone President and CEO Dave Armstrong. “As a member-owned cooperative, our success is a direct result of our members’ strength and commitment. Along with ensuring financial stability to being a partner for our members, returning these earnings to them is one of the many key benefits we can provide to affirm our commitment to them.” GreenStone has always been committed to seeking additional ways to provide added value to customers and stockholders. This program makes the cooperative unique, as it is a financial institution that not only is truly competitive in interest rates and sound in capital, but also hands back a significant portion of the interest its members have paid to them. This year’s patronage check back to them averages 1.25% of their loan balance. In addition to the dividend return to members, GreenStone will also be showing appreciation through GreenStone ’ s Member Grown Outreach program, with a total of $20,000 in donations given to local organizations and charities. To connect our members to our effort to strengthen our support of the local communities, money will be directed to groups based on member votes at their local branch. “We’re honored to have earned this level of trust from our farmers and rural consumers in Michigan and northeast Wisconsin,” Armstrong said. Though Patronage Day is taking place on March 17, he added, “It’s not luck; it’s our commitment to do everything we can do to support our members.” The ability to provide this value of cooperative partnership is a result of strong loan growth, operational efficiencies, and members’ continued commitment to their own personal and businesses obligations, which all lead to these strong net earnings. The cooperative continues to build and grow for the future in support of its members. GreenStone continues to diversify the company portfolio by increasing involvement into country living and rural homeowner products and services. GreenStone members are invited to visit their local branch on March 17 to participate in the Patronage Day celebration. For more information about the Patronage Program, visit our website: www.greenstonefcs.com

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20TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON, IEA HITS ALL-TIME MEMBERSHIP RECORD

The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) is celebrating their 20th Anniversary Season which runs July 1, 2021 to May 1, 2022. This season officially marks the largest membership season in IEA history with more than 14,135 active members nationwide riding and coaching Hunt Seat, Western and Dressage. Since its inception in 2002, IEA has experienced a steady growth in overall membership until the beginning of the pandemic (2020-2021) which saw a significant drop in membership due to cancelled collegiate and secondary school riding participation as well as other national shutdowns. Despite the extreme challenges brought on by the Coronavirus, IEA was able to successfully conduct a full show season in 2020-2021 which included over 900 individual horse shows and three National Finals over the course of 11 months. “We are delighted to announce this bounce back in membership numbers for our 20th Anniversary year,” says IEA Executive Director, Roxane Durant. “In past seasons, we have hovered near the 14,000 mark, but this is a significant milestone for IEA to exceed that benchmark number. We are so appreciative of our riders, coaches and contributing members who have stuck with us during these trying times and those that have returned to participate in 2022, our celebratory year.” “One of the upsides of the pandemic, if you can say that, has been the significant increase in social media engagement with our members,” says IEA Director of Marketing, Kimber Whanger. “Because so many of our riders were forced to be online this past year – we found new ways to engage, educate, and inspire riders to become more involved in IEA and their equine communities. We can't help but think this effort has had a direct effect on this year’s membership surge.” IEA offers affordable riding opportunities for student athletes in grades 4-12 using a draw-based competition format whereby riders do not need to own their own horse or tack. IEA show hosts provide horses for every level of competition from Beginner walk-trot through Varsity Open. Riders compete on teams and as individuals, accruing points throughout the season to qualify for regional, zone and national competitions. For the first time ever and as part of their 20th Anniversary season, IEA will host a combined National Finals with all three disciplines: Hunt Seat (Flat and Fences); Western (Horsemanship, Reining and Ranch Riding); and Dressage (Test and Dressage Seat Equitation) on April 28 - May 1, 2022 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. IEA Membership is open year-round for riders, coaches, teams and show officials with most regular season shows happening between August and February. Registration for the 2022-2023 season will officially open in May 2022. Visit us online for more details at: https://www.rideiea.org/

SHAWNEE STATE FOREST EXPANDED BY MORE THAN 1,200 ACRES!

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz announced that the Shawnee State Forest will expand by more than 1,200 acres. ODNR's Division of Forestry acquired the property with a federal partnership grant through the Forest Legacy Program. The 1,252 acre tract in Scioto County is approximately 75 miles south of Columbus and 65 miles east of Cincinnati. The land, located near Shawnee State Park and The Nature Conservancy's Edge of Appalachia Preserve, is now part of the state forest. This purchase will allow ODNR to partner with the Buckeye Trail Association and reroute a section of the Buckeye Trail off the road and through the wooded area. In addition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service's financial support provided with grant cost-share from the state, the Ohio Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, and the Ruffed Grouse Society both contributed funds to support the acquisition. To learn more visit the ODNR website at: www.ohiodnr.gov

GET READY, GET ON YOUR MARK, AND GO FOR 2022!

This is the time of year to apply for the YEDA scholarships. One of the major reasons for YEDA is to offer scholarships to students in the equestrian field. Just like any youth sport we want to see student athletes pursue their dreams, whether it be in college, in an apprentice program or professionally. YEDA is here to promote that dream. $1000 McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat Dealership Senior Achievement Scholarship One (1) $2,000 Senior Scholarship, and One (1) $1,000 Junior Scholarship from Ross Junior and Senior Scholarships $1000 Lakota Of Ohio Senior Achievement Scholarship $500 YEDA Scholarship for EWD Riders $1500 (winner) and $500 (runner Up) YEDA Founders Leadership, Senior Achievement Scholarships The due date is April 1st and the finalists and the scholarship award winners will be announced and presented at the National Championship Show. The winners will receive the award and a certificate in recognition of outstanding achievement.

YEDA Scholarship Incentive Fund Program 2021-2022

The YEDA Scholarship Incentive Fund was designed to provide a vehicle for competing members to grow their continuing education dollars based on their own individual performance. Dollars collected from members are placed in the designated YEDA Scholarship Incentive Fund account and coupled with additional scholarship contributions. Funds will be awarded to graduating seniors based on the cumulative number of points earned during the years in which the member was enrolled in the YEDA Incentive Fund. Learn more about scholarships that YEDA has to offer by visiting our website at: http://showyeda.com/