Even though the Awards Banquet program read Jan. 12, 2013, the South Dakota Quarter Horse Association annual convention wasn't held until Feb. 23. Due to weather, a last minute decision was made to reschudule and they chose a beautiful weekend near Chamberlain, SD – on the west banks of the Missouri River at Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma.

Promoting the American Quarter Horse continues to be the main focus of the association – now into it's 65th year. The SDQHA Executive Committee met on Friday evening and then reconvened on Saturday morning to finalize the association business. Also meeting on Saturday was the South Dakota Quarter Horse Youth Association and their meeting concluded with the election of new officers for 2013. The SDQHA general membership met in the afternoon and and included the election of their new Board of Directors. In the evening, a social hour, banquet, silent auction, live auction with auctioneer Carter Johnson and presentation of the 2012 SDQHA and SDQHYA Year-End Awards finished off the day.

In honor of attaining their AQHA Youth Championsips in 2012, two SDQHYA members, both from Belle Fourche, furnished cake that was served following the banquet. Rianna Schaeffer showed Invest Ina Popper and Sentel Johnson showed Leaguers Lopin Delux to their ChampioSDQHA nships this year.

Newly elected officers to the 2013 Executive Committee are President Kerry Papendick, Rapid City; Vice-President Rosie Elmore, Hot Springs, SD; and Kristen Gonsoir from Groton was reappointed as the asscociation Secretary/Treasurer and webmaster of their site http://www.sdqha.com. Immediate Past President Amy Krueger, Ferney, will also remain on the board for one year. Completing the new Board of Directors will be – East: John Kabeiseman, Yankton; Amy Krueger, Ferney; and Dean Townsend, Andover. West: Kerry Papendick, Rapid City; Becky Johnson, Vale; and Heather Sutton, Gettysburg. Central: Kim Fordham, Aberdeen; Vanessa Gravatt, Woonsocket; and Debbie Holmes, Virgil. At Large: Jodie Svennes, Toronto; Rosie Elmore, Hot Springs; and Penny Peterson, Mitchell. Youth Advisor Tiffany Lesmeister-Knott, Redwood Falls, MN, will also remain on the SDQHA Board of Directors for 2013. AQHA National Directors representing South Dakota at the National level are Larry Larson, Rapid City; Mike Clites, Brookings; Georga Sutton, Gettysburg; and Janet Hansen from Fort Pierre. Director at Large is Dr. R.M. Christensen along with Director Emeritus Jim Hootman, both from Harrisburg. They will represent SDQHA at the 2013 AQHA Convention being held March 8-11 at the Hyatt Regency Houston in Houston, TX.

The SDQHYA will be led in 2013 by President Hattie Erickson, Britton; Vice-President Sentel Johnson, Belle Fourche; Secretary Gina Elmore, Hot Springs; and Jade Gaukel from Yankton will serve as the Treaasurer. Reporter for the youth association will be Beth Seidel, Bison. Youth Advisors are Tiffany Lesmeister-Knott, Redwood Falls, MN, and Linda Johnson from Belle Fourche.

Special award winners announced at the evening presentation included SDQHA Sportsmanship winner Rosie Elmore from Hot Springs and the Most Valuable Professional Horseman Dean Johnson from Vale. The SDQHYA announced Stephanie Johnson, Belle Fourche, as their 2013 Sportsmanship winner; Leslie Elmore, Hot Springs, a student at South Dakota State University in Brookings, was presented as their 2013 Scholarship winner; a special youth associaition sponsor award this year was given to Mike & Vicky Clites, Brookings, and Sponsor of the Year was presented to Michelle Erickson from Britton. Others honored that evening for their contributions to SDQHYA were Gold Buckle Show Management, Kabeiseman Quarter Horses, Townsend Quarter Horses and Rosemary McCoy. Special help certificates were also presented to Walker Horn, Rapid City, and Khris Rodriguez from Gordon, NE for their continued dedication to the youth fund raisers.

SDQHA YEAR-END AWARD WINNERS

OPEN ALL-AROUND: DUALENA SAN, Kim Fordham

OPEN RESERVE ALL-AROUND: Skeeters Lil Hickory, Hope Hall

TWO YEAR OLD STALLIONS: Secret To Atouchdown, Karna Colby

AGED STALLIONS: 1. Dualena San, Kim Fordham; 2. Classy Dakota Jack, Verla Schaer

PERFORMANCE GELDINGS: Just A Shady Guy, Mary Roes PERFORMANCE MARES: 1. CL Ole Kit Catn Lena, Lori McDowell; 2. Miss Kane Is Invited, James Hootman.

RANCH HORSE PLEASURE: 1. Hickory Sun Olena, Amanda Dikoff; 2. Dualena San, Kim Fordham

SENIOR WESTERN PLEASURE: Miss Kane Is Invited, James Hootman JUNIOR REINING: Legends Forty Nine, Michelle Sigman

SENIOR REINING: 1. SKEETERS LIL HICKORY, Hope Hall; 2. Chex Spinnin Smoke, Mary Roes

SENIOR HUNTER UNDER SADDLE: Artful Sunsation, Kim Fordham

JUNIOR CUTTING: LR Jos Little Lady, Dean Johnson

SENIOR CUTTING: 1. SI Hollywood Star, Mike Sigman; 2. Skeeters Lil Hickory, Hope Hall

AMATEUR ALL-AROUND: Artful Sunsation, Kim Fordam

AMATEUR RESERVE ALL-AROUND: Macs Good N Graceful, Meagan Hardee

STALLIONS 3 & OVER: Dualena San, Kim Fordham

PERFORMANCE GELDINGS: 1. Ima Good Leaguer, Tiffany Lesmeister-Knott; 2. Justa Shady Guy, Mary Roes

MARES 3 & OVER: One Hot Molly, Heather Basham

PERFORMANCE MARES: Miss Kane Is Invited, James Hootman HORSEMANSHIP: 1. Jesus Loves Me, Alyssa Nix; 2. Artful Sunsation, Kim Fordham

HUNT SEAT EQUITATION: 1. Artful Sunsation, Kim Fordam; 2. Macs Good N Graceful, Meagan Hardee

HUNTER UNDER SADDLE: 1. Artful Sunsation, Kim Fordham; 2. Macs Good N Graceful, Meagan Hardee

SHOWMANSHIP: 1. Ima Good Leaguer, Tiffany Lesmeister-Knott; 2. Macs Good N Graceful, Meagan Hardee

WESTERN PLEASURE: Artful Sunsation, Kim Fordham

TRAIL: 1. Macs Good N Graceful, Meagan Hardee; 2. Bibs Sweetheart, Penny Peterson

REINING: 1. Dualena San, Kim Fordham; 2. Legends Forty Nice, Michelle Sigman

POLE BENDING: Dualena San, Kim Fordham

DALLY TEAM ROPING – HEADING: 1. Larkins Little Lola, Rhonda Flynn; 2. Guns On Deck, Dale Brown

DALLY TEAM ROPING – HEELING: 1. Guns On Deck, Dale Brown, 2. Larkins Little Lola, Rhonda Flynn

WORKING COW HORSE: Dualena San, Kim Fordham

AMATEUR SELECT ALL-AROUND: Kim Larson

HORSEMANSHIP: Selected By Magic, Kim Larson

HUNT SEAT EQUITATION: Good Cash Asset, Nancy Tweet

HUNTER UNDER SADDLE: Good Cash Asset, Nancy Tweet

WESTERN PLEASURE: 1. Miss Kane Is Invited, James Hootman; 2. Homerun Hopeful, Vicky Clites

TRAIL: Selected By Magic, Kim Larson

WESTERN RIDING: Selected By Magic, Kim Larson

REINING: Ginnin Starlight, Steve Eidsness

NOVICE AMATEUR ALL-AROUND: Macs Good N Graceful, Meagan Hardee

NOVICE RESERVE ALL-AROUND: Jesus Loves Me, Alyssa Nix

HUNTER UNDER SADDLE/HUNT SEAT EQUITATION: Macs Good N Graceful, Meagan Hardee

HORSEMANSHIP: 1. Macs Good N Graceful, Meagan Hardee; 2. One Hot Molly, Heather Basham

REINING: 1. Chex Spinnin Smoke, Mary Roes; 2. Olenas Smart Egger, Julie Baker

SHOWMANSHIP: 1. Macs Good N Graceful, Meagan Hardee; 2. One Hot Molly, Heather Basham

WESTERN PLEASURE: 1. Macs Good N Graceful, Meagan Hardee; 2. Willy B Royal Te, Raquel Harder

WESTERN RIDING: 1. Diegos Dimension, Becky Byrum

TRAIL: Macs Good N Graceful, Meagan Hardee

SDQHYA YOUTH YEAR END AWARD WINNERS

YOUTH ALL-AROUND ALL-AGES: Kate McCoy, Sir Magic Man

YOUTH RESERVE ALL-AROUND ALL-AGES: Hattie Erickson, Get Tuff

HIGH POINT SENIOR GIRL: Kate McCoy

HIGH POINT JUNIOR GIRL: Allison Longhenry

HIGH POINT JUNIOR BOY: Khris Rodriguez

YOUTH ALL-AROUND 14-18: Kate McCoy

YOUTH RESERVE ALL-AROUND 14-18: Hattie Erickson

YOUTH ALL-AROUND 13 & UNDER: Allison Longhenry

YOUTH RESERVE ALL-AROUND 13 & UNDER: Madelyn Seidel

SDQHYA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Allison Longhenry

AGED GELDINGS: 1. Sir Blue Eyed, Allison Longhenry; 2. Boons Scat Cat, Joellen Gonsoir

PERFORMANCE HALTER GELDINGS: 1. Lotsa Socks Dox, Khris Rodriguez; 2. Sir Magic Man, Kate McCoy

SHOWMANSHIP 14-18: 1. Kate McCoy, Sir Magic Man; 2. Get Tuff, Hattie Erickson

SHOWMANSHIP 13 & UNDER: 1. Allison Lonhenry, Sir Blue Eyed; 2. Hailey Olson, Sonnys First Venture

HUNTER UNDER SADDLE 14-18: 1. Kate McCoy, Sir Magic Man; 2. Hattie Erickson, Get Tuff

HUNTER UNDER SADDLE 13 & UNDER: Allison Longhenry, Sir Blue Eyed HUNT SEAT EQUITATION 14-18: 1. Kate McCoy, Sir Magic Man; 2. Hattie Erickson, Get Tuff

HUNT SEAT EQUITATION 13 & UNDER: Allison Longhenry, Sir Blue Eyed

WESTERN PLEASURE 14-18: 1. Kate McCoy, Sir Magic Man; 2. Sentel Johnson, Leaguers Lopin Delux

WESTERN PLEASURE 13 & UNDER: 1. Madelyn Seidel, Delux Goods; 2. Allison Longhenry, Sir Blue Eyed

TRAIL 14-18: 1. Gina Elmore, Premiere Edition Bar; 2. Ericka Furnich, Petite Finesse

TRAIL 13 & UNDER: Allison Longhenry, Sir Blue Eyed

WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP 14-18: 1. Kate McCoy, Sir Magic Man; 2. Sentel Johnson, Leaguers Lopin Delux

WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP 13 & UNDER: Allison Longhenry, Sir Blue Eyed

WESTERN RIDING 14-18: 1. Ericka Furnich, Petite Finesse; 2. Sentel Johnson, Leaguers Lopin Delux

BARREL RACING ALL-AGES: Allison Longhenry, Sir Blue Eyed

WALK-TROT 10 & UNDER: 1. Shelby Holmes, Miss Kane Is Invited; 2. Kylee Harder, Shy Hotrodder

LEAD LINE 8 & UNDER: 1. Alyssa Furnish, Petite Finesse; 2.Kendra Johnson, Solanos Last Lady

SDQHYA NOVICE YEAR END AWARD WINNERS

NOVICE YOUTH ALL-AROUND: Hattie Erickson, Get Tuff

NOVICE RESERVE YOUTH ALL-AROUND: Ericka Furnish, Petite Finesse

NOVICE YOUTH SHOWMANSHIP: 1. Hattie Erickson, Get Tuff; 2. Claire Longhenry, A Flower From KC

NOVICE YOUTH HUNT SEAT EQUITATION: 1. Hattie Erickson, Get Tuff; 2.Claire Longhenry, A Flower From KC 3. Allison Longhenry, Sir Blue Eyed

NOVICE HUNTER UNDER SADDLE: 1.Hattie Erickson, Get Tuff; 2.Claire Longhenry, A Flower From KC

NOVICE WESTERN PLEASURE: 1. Hattie Erickson, Get Tuff; 2. Madelyn Seidel, Delux Goods

NOVICE WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP: 1. Hattie Erickson, Get Tuff; 2. Ericka Furnish, Petite Finesse

NOVICE TRAIL: 1. Hattie Erickson, Get Tuff; 2. Cassandra Townsend, Arties Jazzin.