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Fall 2005 Newsletter 2005 Upper Midwest Fjord Horse Show results 20th Anniversary Celebration photos Merchandise Sales Report Standing in the Shadow
President's Message Greetings to All!! Was it only last Thursday when we just started to brush the Fjords to get all that winter coat off? And now they are starting to grow another one? DeeAnna and I hope that you have had a summer filled with some of the simple pleasures and joys that spending time with "the ponies" can bring. It seems that I need pasture therapy more and more as time goes on. Let me close by saying that I do encourage any one with concerns, questions or comments to give me a shout. My home phone number is (563)864-3201 and my email address is coyote@acrec.com Just as many hands make short work of a hard task, many eyes and ears will help make the club better.
2005 Upper Midwest Fjord Horse Show results
20th Anniversary Celebration photos
History of the Blue Earth Show
Merchandise Sales Report Sales were great this year for the Fjord merchandise at the Midwest Fjord Show in Blue Earth! We started out by setting up shop at the outdoor picnic area (west of arena) and ended up relocating to the little white house after very stormy conditions. There were many volunteers who pitched in to help us. Thank you to Carol Stimler; Laurie With; Monie Redfield and her grandniece, Anna Lee; the lone guy who helped through the storm; Caren (Laurens Mom); Ted and Barbara Lefky and the other helpful box liftersall of whom joined in and laughed with us along the way. A special thank you to Deb Gilbertson for her generous donation of embroidered items. All proceeds from the sales of these items went directly to the Club for a total of $160.00. TOTALS: Thank you all for purchasing your Fjordy items and for supporting the club!
The annual summer meeting of the MWFHC was held on Sunday evening, July 24. Due to the unexpected absence of outgoing president, Karin Peterson, incoming president, Chuck Kelly, took over the reins for the business meeting. New officers for the 2005-2007 term were announced. Chuck Kelly will serve as president, Susie Sadlon is the new vice-president, Therine Gudknecht assumes the role of secretary and Mary Ofjord is the treasurer. Gary Johnson, Faribault County Fair Board, offered congratulations for the 20th anniversary of the show and said he is looking forward to the future. The Fair Board donated exhibitor pins for the show. New MWFHC brochures are now available from Therine Gudknecht. It was announced the Country Supply will donate 5% of purchases to the club and details can be found on the website, www.mwfhc.org. DeeAnna Weed and Chuck Kelly developed a First Aid Kit that will travel to all club activities. Winter meeting details have yet to be finalized, but a winter training show is being considered. Look for more details in the winter newsletter, published in December.
LaCrosse Evaluation 2005 Thank you to all the participants of the LaCrosse Evaluation. We hope it was a positive, educational experience for you and your Fjord. There were some outstanding performance tests which showed the versatility of the Fjord and set a goal for anyone wishing to achieve it. A special thank you to our Evaluators: Wayne Hipsley and Pat Wolf. Accolades to Mike May for his endless paper work. Our compliments to Phillip Odden, Linda Syverson-Kerr and their committee for the outstanding job of sponsoring the event. It was wonderful to see so many new members and Fjord owners come for their first evaluation. It's a tribute to one and all to see everyone work together and help one another.
All Things Fjord and More Dear Fjord Enthusiasts: Fall, cooler weather and the holidays are soon here. ALL THINGS FJORD AND MORE! can help to keep you warm and with gifts for loved ones and Fjord lovers. All orders placed now through the holiday season will receive FREE SHIPPING!!! Our new hooded sweatshirt with our Fjord logo and the Norwegian Flag was a huge hit at the Fjord show. Check out our website to see it!!!!! Add some sweat pants with flags or Fjords or both and be the best dressed Fjord lover sitting around the fire!!! We can customize your clothing - have access to most any type of clothing - and, want to work with you to find a wonderful item for yourself or a gift. Sweatshirts, sweatpants, jackets, denim shirts, fleece vests, long sleeve tees, hats, blankets, scarves........just a few of the many items we can embroider with our fabulous Fjord logos for you. We also have access to riding clothing, riding accessories and horse blankets and gear. We have a limited number of wool lap robes, fjord rusty hangers and Tokheim Fjord mugs in stock, ready to be sent to you. Don't forget our Fjord stamps......great stocking stuffer. We thank all of you who enjoy our Fjord designs and merchandise. We aim to please.....so, give us a call at 866-273-3048. Website: www.allthingsfjord.com
Standing in the Shadow Those of us putting this show together this year came to realize we were standing in the shadow of a tradition, started by a small group of honorable people, and it was a memorable show. Once again the MWFHC-sponsored show in Blue Earth, Minn., was the largest-attended Fjord event in North America. Weather was one of the little problems we had to overcome this year. Ttemperatures started near 100 degrees, then a near tornado-like storm with torrential rainfall came on Monday afternoon making us cancel late afternoon classes. We rallied and pulled off the second day without a hitch, only ending up one hour behind for the scheduled 20th Anniversary Celebration Tuesday night. Wednesday brought clear 70 degree temps and a great ending to a wonderful event. The celebration was a once-in-a-lifetime event to see. Phil Odden of Barronett, Wisconsin presented a full- dress Norwegian Wedding Party that paraded past the fairgrounds into the show ring. Ole Odden led the procession playing his fiddle. All participants wore authentic costumes and Guy and Martha Martin were the "wedding couple". Bob Gudknecht drove a six in hand put to an unbelievably beautiful reproduction stagecoach owned by Bob and Sally Kjorsvig of Roslyn, South Dakota. Following the parade, honors were given to those who started the Blue Earth Show: Roger and Diane Whitney, Don Johnson, Kit Davis, Rich and Nancy Hotovy, Mike and Susie Sadlon and Tom and Ann Hans (who were not present). We also honored Wayne Hipsley who was judging this year and thanked him for all of his work within the Fjord Registry as a whole and the MWFHC in particular. After the honors, a presentation was given, directed by Patti Jo Walter and Joni Griffin, on the Versatility of the Fjord horse. Horses were shown in English, jumping and western riding, draft, driving with a six up, pairs, single and tandem and a wonderful demonstration on how the Fjord horse is used in therapy riding. The show was filled with "first timers" who left with a good feeling and the experienced "old timers" were there to show us all how it is done. Exhibitors came from all parts of the nation. The high cost of gasoline did not seem to stop those who brought their horses far distances. We were glad to see our NFHR President, Neil Sorum, returning to Blue Earth from Ohio, exhibiting a beautiful group of horses in conformation, riding and driving. Lisa and Jeff Pedersen came all the way from Utah and presented outstanding driving turnouts. Curtis Pierce came from Virginia then turned back east to attend the New York show and then came back for the evaluation in LaCrosse, Wisc. the following week. Sami Poirier came back this year from Colorado with her wonderful family in tow and her sister Savanna showed that great horsemanship runs honest and true in the family. Conformation classes were exceptional this year - with 36 geldings shown and 47 mares to choose from for Grand and Reserve. Phil Odden took Grand Champion stallion with Smedsmo Graen, his beautiful gray from Norway and Neil Sorum took Reserve with PCF Vidar, a son of Kastanjegardens Fernando. Lisa Pedersen took Grand Champion mare with her gray MVF Kariya by Karibu and Sami Poirier took Reserve mare with Trudie (aka Haylee) by Orsta. Grand Champion gelding was Brynjar (aka Braveheart) by Malcom Locke owned by Kay Van Natta and shown by Melissa Boyd, Reserve gelding was Pines's Edge Ivan by Rokida's Haakon (deceased) owned by Robin Holland. The Versatility award was won by Linda Syverson-Kerr's Spruce Hills Markus from Holmen, Wisc. for the second year in a row and Sami Poirier took the Youth High Point Award with Trudie (Haylee). This is also the second year in a row Sami took the Youth High Point. Ken Raspotnik won the Ron David Memorial Award for his first place win in the Open Log Skid with his stallion, Half Diamond Luton. The class had 18 exhibitors. The Blue Earth show is without a doubt a tradition of goodwill and friendship. We do stand in the shadow of those before us who, with great forethought, created a place where we are all welcome to show what this great breed of horse can do.
Unknown Facts about the Blue Earth Show
While it's hard to argue the fact we have grown, it's an interesting argument for the reason we've grown. Certainly our location in the Midwest is conducive to attendance, drawing from a central national point. I'd like to think our "user friendly" show has something to do with it, and basic rules with a "learn from watching the experienced exhibitor" goes farther than traditional "by the book" set of rules. I realized many people do not know all the facts concerning managing this show, so I would like to address those at this time. First, we do not pay any site fee to the Faribault County Board, and because, technically, we are part of their county fair, we do not pay for the insurance coverage. Average site fees range from $300 per day all the way to $1,000 per day. You pay $10.00 per horse for your entire stall fee at the Blue Earth grounds, no matter how many days you are there, where most facilities charge stall fees ranging from $15 to $35 per stall, per day. As Show Chairman, I work throughout the year prior to the show. The partnership we have with the Fair Board, and Gary Johnson in particular, is a vital component to show preparations. Gary Johnson's wife, Shirley, acts as on-site show secretary, staying in the announcers booth the full three days, coordinating the entry book with entry scratches and additions without charge to the club. We are not charged extra for the announcer, sound system, or ring maintenance between classes. All stall set- up and dismantling is provided with no expense to the club. The Faribault Fair Board also pays for half of our judges fee, ALL of the ribbons and honor trophies given out to the youth. They provide basic electrical hook up without fee, and all you pay is $5.00 per vehicle entrance fee. Over the years, the Fair Board has made improvements for us, and nothing I have ever asked for has been denied to me. When I asked for a tent for more stalls, Gary Johnson rented it, erected it with more stalls and took it upon himself to dismantle and clean up with no charge to us. Out of courtesy, the MWFHC, after the fact paid, for HALF of the rental fee for the tent. They set up, dismantle and store the portable stalls without extra charge. They have added wash rack area for us and recently tiled the area as well, no charge. We do not have an indoor facility at Blue Earth and yes, if Mother Nature plays havoc like she did Monday afternoon this year, we have to stop the show. But because the ring is tiled we were able to go on early the next morning with excellent ring footing. Our entire schedule was only delayed by ONE HOUR. Few facilities have the size of arena like the Blue Earth grounds provide and of which we need for the large driving classes. They added a new sound system for us, going to the barns and further. They provide wagons for the farm hitch class and many of our extra ring needs. Bob Mischka told me that he had a hard time taking pictures at Blue Earth because the Jolly Green Giant statue was always in the background. I told him I understood but, when I was seeking corporate sponsorship this year, I sent pictures from past shows to Seneca Foods (Jolly Green Giant Brand) and told them how they have inadvertently been a part of our show for 20 years, and they kindly gave us a nice donation. Sometimes it's all a matter of looking at the "glass half full....." and I believe our Blue Earth glass is very full and well worth holding onto.
Blue Earth Bits Rollinghills Stables, Iduna Acres Fjords, and Twin Spring Fjords joined together this summer to show off and have fun with their Norwegian Fjord Horses. Wow! What a lot of work! Kathy Monroe and Nancy Barmore got a wake up call to what really goes on behind the glamour of showing. Lorrie Tolmie could have purchased stock in shampoo companies and Vicki Hovre needs a new pair of running shoes! Even though it was lot of work, we had a good time.
A big thank you to all members of the Midwest Fjord Horse Club for the beautiful picture that was presented to me at Blue Earth. I have enjoyed working with all of you and have many wonderful memories of the club. Sharon Falck
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