Derickson voted youth 'Member of the Year'

The youth of the Trainers' Association received their share of honors Saturday at the Walking Horse Trainers' Association annual banquet.

Nine-year-old Thomas Derickson was voted "Member of the Year" by his peers on the Youth Council. A fourth-grader at Cascade, he has been riding in competition since he was 4 and has been on the Youth Council since he was 5.

"Thomas enthusiastically works on all projects and has only missed two meetings in the past four years," said Bobby Sands, emcee for the event. "Thomas has shown in the 11 and under classes since he was 4 years old and just won his first World Championship this year aboard the family-owned horse, Solar Generated."

Derickson will receive a custom riding suit donated by Marsha's on the Square.

Youth hi-Point winners:

Youth plantation

Winner: Lindsey Landrum

Reserve: Megan Davis

Youth Lite Shod

Winner: Stratton Weaver

Reserve: Christopher Givens

Performance 11 and under

Winner: Hailey Puckett

Reserve: Thomas Derickson

Performance 12-17

Winner: Haley Lane

Reserve: Amy Nesius

The officers of the Youth Council, Rachel Galeski, president; Lindsey Landrum, first vice president; and Alexandria Holland, second vice president, were honored, as were the members of the Youth Council board: Meghan Davis, Thomas Derickson, Corey Green, Lindsey Hess and Kaitlin Strickland.

Austin Bonner, Jimmy Civils and Mary Alison Hooker were the scholarship winners this year.

Equitation high point winners:

Equitation 11 and under

Winner: Kaitlyn Rippy

Reserve: Caroline Walker

Equitation 12-17

Winner: Allison Thorson

Reserve: Amy Nesius

Third: Stephanie Smith

Equitation Adult

Winner: Alex Bumpus

Reserve: Leslie Perry

Third: Rachel Jernigan

Auxiliary Rookie of the Year: Jennifer Hall

Mudslide Slim Lifetime Achievement Award: Patty Gray