The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 15

www.pantagraph.com The Pantagraph Wednesday, August 4, 2004 B7 2004 MCLEAN COUNTY FAIR The king and queen Horses mean fun for Blazing Saddles By Chris Anderson candersoniSpanlaqraph.com BLOOMINGTON Fun and horses go hand in hand. Just ask any of the 60-plus members of the Blazing Saddles 4-H Club. The club reigns as the largest of 58 in McLean County. The membership feat matches a steady increase of horse numbers at the fair. About 140 horses entered the competition this week.

"We probably had 20 or 25 members when we started in 1999," said Michele Ott of Danvers, organizational leader. "We hear more members may be joining next year. I think it's because the kids have so much fun' Chelcei Fischer of Goodfield, one of the founding club members, seconded the opinion. She loves riding along with the camaraderie of other club members. She just made it through "I think it's Laura's love for horses.

The kids love horses and they love Laura. The next thing you know they're in 4-H," said Sloneker, a Blazing Saddles leader. "Not every member may have a horse, but everyone has a tie to horses." Sloneker noted that the fair provides show opportunities to riders who may not enjoy showing on the circuit. She added that riders at the fair can compete on the basis that they're still a work in progress. While the club focuses on horses, members take many other projects.

President Megan Ott shows hogs and entered project work in homecommunity development and flower arranging. "Dad showed pigs in 4-H, and Mom showed cattle. So, I have horses," said Megan. "Almost everyone comes to club meetings. I try to use parliamentary procedure rules we use in FFA, but it's hard with that many people." Ott shows 8-year-old Bubba and Blackjack, a pony she leases from Ron and Patty Houk.

She and most members of the club use Parelli training methods with their horses. French teaches the methods to all her students as a gentler form of training. Horses trained in the method wear rope halters and no bits. The rider and horse work through seven games before the rider ever gets aboard the horse. The games involve sideways movement, respect of the trainer's space in relation to the horse and developing a comfort zone while walking over, under and between objects.

"We would like to see more of the natural horsemanship approach used at the fair," said Michele Ott. "Bubba hasn't had a bit in his mouth for a year, but bits are required here." Megan Ott Michele Ott last year's fair before needing knee surgery. She didn't ride again until January, but stayed involved in the club. Several other leaders and members pointed to Laura French as the driving force behind the club's success. a former 4-H'er, started the club to give her students another outlet for their equestrian skills.

She remains one of six club leaders with Ott, Lisa Sloneker, Amy Frietag, Nila Rader and Ginger Knowles. Yummy The PantaqraphSTEPHANIEOBERLANDER Lori Nichols and David Shier were named 4-H queen and king Tuesday night at the McLean County Fair at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. Owner surprised when rabbit named champion '1 7kA The PantagraphLORI ANN COOK McLean County Fair Superintendent Angie Tiller of Marquette Heights admitted being in Weight Watchers as she carried two sundaes Tuesday, one for her mother, Jean Schmidt of Heyworth, at the McLean County Fair. FairResults Rutherford. "I have five rabbits, and I brought them all to the fair." The grand champion was born April 15 to a first-place winning doe named Lucky Rutherford showed Lucky three years ago.

He said he hopes his grand champion can provide more winners. Rutherford's entry into 4-H four years ago led to the rabbit project. He wasn't really aware of rabbits until exposure through 4-H. Rutherford also takes projects in Legos, block printing, woodcrafts and rockets. "I just like rabbits because they're cuddly," said Rutherford.

"I don't think I'll add any more rabbits at home (because of the win). I've already given a lot of my rabbits away as pets." Ag; Josie Saufley, Hudson Ag; Darwin Schultz, Stanford Silver Stars; Anneke Schweers, County Capri; Jack Schweers, County Capri; Anna Schwenk, Home Spun; Megan Schwenk, Home Spun; Bryton Seeman, Space Age Pioneers; Kristin Shepard, Bits and Boots; Sara Shifflet, Lucky 4's; Kristen Steidinger, Space Age Pioneers; Sarah Steinberg, Hobby Horse; Ashton Stewart, Downs Top Notchers; Mark Swartz, Linden Lead'em; Rachel Sweeney, Towanda Busy Bees; Jessie Swiech, Silverleaf Let's Go Ag; Emily Teuscher, Hobby Horse; Kimberly Thomas, Sunset Rowdies; Sarah Throop, Home Team; Christine Todd, Danvers Industrial Youth; Grace Tyler, Towanda 4-H; Carter Vance, Home Team; Laura Ward, Pride of the Prairie; Gracie Weinzierl, Olympia Pacesetters; Kirsten Whitaker, Clover Crew; Adam Wiggins, Vision Riders; Victoria Wiggins, Vision Riders; Ashlynd Wilson, Lucky 4's; Kyle Woodrum, Towanda 4-H; Christopher Wylie, Learn Lead; Wesley Young, Blue Ribbon Kids; Rachel Zimmerman, Danvers Industrial Youth Small Pets Jacob Anderson, Learn Lead; John Anderson, Green Valley; Joshua Anderson, Green Valley; Michael Anderson, Learn Lead; Seth Bauersfeld, Lucky 4's; Dana Bose, Arrowbrook Handy Helpers; Lindsay Bose, Arrowbrook Handy Helpers; Lindsay Bose, Arrowbrook Handy Helpers; Jonathon Cargill, Home Spun; Ryan Drury, Clover Crew; Katelyn Etherton, Vision Riders; Katelyn Etherton, Vision Riders; Alysa Layden, Hudson Ag; Mary Messenger, Linden Lead'em; Nicole Moore, McLean County Shooting Stars; Kayla O'Neal, Pride of the Prairie; Meghann Ratcliff, Home Team; Rachel Richard, Towanda 4-H; Josie Saufley, Hudson Ag; Josie Saufley, Hudson Ag; Alexandra Thomas, Blazing Saddles; Alexandra Thomas, Blazing Saddles; Jennifer Trowitch, Dry Grove Happy Larks; Kathryn Trowitch, Dry Grove Happy Larks; Elizabeth Troyer, Green-Leafers; Lane Wright, McLean County Shooting Stars; Lane Wright, McLean County Shooting Stars; Sarah Wylie, Learn Lead. By Chris Anderson candersonpantagraph.com BLOOMINGTON Twelve-year-old Matt Rutherford of Hudson honestly didn't mind not winning the top prize giv en Tuesday in the McLean County Fair rabbit show ring. He was just glad to be considered. So, when the judge tabbed his Dutch Matt Rutherford doe as grand champion, his mouth dropped wide open.

"I was so surprised. I was scared being out there. I think I was scared I might win and scared I might not," said the son of Rick and Tammy McLean County Shooting Stars; Kelsey Haas, Equus; Eric Hansen, Stanford Silver Stars; Danny Harms, Blue Ribbon Kids; Kristie Harms, Blue Ribbon Kids; Sophia Hartler, Over The Top; Danielle Hisle, Over The Top; Rachel Horton, Lexington Leprechauns; Jay Howard, Downs Top Notchers; Levi Howard, Downs Top Notchers; Kristen Hungerford, Home Spun; Matt Hunsaker, Hudson Ag; Julia Irwin, Hot Shot Leaders; Hallie Marie, Johnson Saybrook Willing Workers; Jessica Johnson. Ellsworth Tip Toppers; Melinda Johnson, Sabina Greenleaf; Kelly Kahle, Space Age Pioneers; Travis Kieser, McLean County Shooting Stars; Amanda Kramer, Hudson Ag; Erica Kuchenmeis-ter, Hudson Ag; Alicia Larkin, Towanda 4-H; Alysa Layden, Hudson Ag; James Lindenbaum, Hudson Ag; Leah Livingston, Saybrook Willing Workers; Alexandria Lovel, Old Town 4-H; Spencer Ludwig, McLean County Shooting Stars; Wes Ludwig, McLean County Shooting Stars; Sarah Lyle, Lucky 4's; Joshua Martin, Home Spun; Meredith Martin, Home Spun; Meredith Maughan, Towanda Busy Bees; Logan McKeon, Ellsworth Tip Toppers; Jared Miller, Home Team; Michael Miller, Home Team; Bridget Mohr, Lexington Leprechauns; Jacob Mohr, Ardent Tillers; Mitch Mohr, Ardent Tillers; Nicole Moore, McLean County Shooting Stars; Sarah Morris, Towanda Busy Bees; Taylor Morris, Towanda Busy Bees; Mallory Munster, LeRoy 4-H; Maggie Naden, Linden Lead'em; Hannah Nelson, County Capri; Natasha Orendorff, Equus; Emily Parks, Home Spun; Tyler Pascav-is, Towanda Busy Bees; Christian Perry, Ardent Tillers; Grant Perry, Ardent Tillers; Amanda Pestka, Lexington Leprechauns; Addison Phillips, Home Spun; Blair Phillips, Home Spun; Sara Pratt, Linden Lead'em; Scott Pratt, Linden Lead'em; Kelly Pyne, Hot Shot Leaders; Kelsey Pyne, Hot Shot Leaders; Lauryn Reiners, Ellsworth Tip Toppers; Adam Reynolds, Downs Top Notchers; Ashley Reynolds, Downs Top Notchers; Randy Roberts, Space Age Pioneers; Amanda Rohde, Home Team; Sean Ruch, Silverleaf 4-H; Sarah Rutledge, Old Town 4-H; Katie Sandage, Towanda 4-H; Cassie Saufley, Hudson rechauns; Kameron Quehl, Lexington Leprechauns; Lauren Rathke, Blue Ribbon Kids; Kelsey Reynolds, Over The Top; Brooke Rhoda, Space Age Pioneers; Rachel Richard, Towanda 4-H; Ben Ritter, Home Team; Crystal Roberts, Space Age Pioneers; Randy Roberts, Space Age Pioneers; Sarah Rogers, Green-Leafers; Leslie Sabick, Silverleaf Let's Go Ag; Rachel Sabick, Silverleaf Let's Go Ag; Sarah Sadler, Lexington Leprechauns; Katie Sandage, Towanda 4-H; Katie Sandage, Towanda 4-H; Megan Schwenk, Home Spun; Alex Shaffer, Downs Top Notchers; Sara Shifflet, Lucky 4's; Shaelyn Smith, McLean County Shooting Stars; Sadie Somers, 3-F; Sadie Somers, 3-F; Sophie Somers, 3-F; Sophie Somers, 3-F; Sophie Somers, 3-F; Sophie Somers, Sarah Steinberg, Hobby Horse; Laura Sutter, Ellsworth Tip Toppers; Rachel Sweeney, Towanda Busy Bees; Skye Swichtenberg, Ellsworth Tip Toppers; Treavor Taylor, Over The Top; Kimberly Thomas, Sunset Rowdies; Kimberly Thomas, Sunset Rowdies; Joshua Throop, Home Team; Sarah Throop, Home Team; Sarah Throop, Home Team; Sarah Throop, Home Team; Karen Thul, Hot Shot Leaders; Sarah Thul, Hot Shot Leaders; Chelsea Tipsord, Blue Ribbon Kids; Chelsea Tipsord, Blue Ribbon Kids; Chelsea Tipsord, Blue Ribbon Kids; Christine Todd, Danvers Industrial Youth; Claire Troyer, Buckingham Clovers; Elizabeth Troyer, Green-Leafers; Elizabeth Troyer, Green-Leafers; Kelsey Troyer, Buckingham Clovers; Grace Tyler, Towanda 4-H; Grace Tyler, Towanda 4-H; Stephanie Van Gundy Ellsworth Tip Toppers; Amanda Vercler, Space Age Pioneers; Jennifer Voss, Bloomington Busy Bees; William Waller, Arrowbrook Handy Helpers; Bryce Wegman, McLean County Shooting Stars; Hannah Weinzierl, Olympia Pacesetters; Kirsten Whitaker, Clover Crew; Sam Williamson, Towanda Busy Bees; Elexa Wills, Saybrook Willing Workers; Alexis Woodrum, Towanda 4-H; Lane Wright, McLean County Shooting Stars; Lane Wright, McLean County Shooting Stars; Lauren Wright, McLean County Shooting Stars; Lauren Wright, McLean County Shooting Stars; Christo pher Wylie, Learn Lead; Brittany Zimmerman, Saybrook Willing Workers; Brittany Zimmerman, Saybrook Willing Workers; Katie Zimmerman, McLean County Shooting Stars; Katie Zimmerman, McLean County Shooting Stars Read-A-Book Kristen Adams, Downs Top Notchers; Jacob Anderson, Learn Lead; John Anderson, Green Valley; Aleska Barkoviak, Home Spun; Taryn Basting, Silverleaf Let's Go Ag; Tom Basting, Silverleaf Let's Go Ag; Katherine Beard, Home Team; Brian Behrens, Olympia Pacesetters; Lisa Behrens, Olympia Pacesetters; Jayde Bergstralh, Space Age Pioneers; Ashley Bessmer, Vision Riders; Nick Birsa, Ardent Tillers; Zoe Birsa, Ardent Tillers; Beth Bliese, Home Spun; Ethan Bliese, Home Spun; Heidi Bliese, Home Spun; Brady Boitnott, Green-Leafers; Christopher Burke, Hudson Ag; Matthew Burke, Hudson Ag; Jessica Busse, Stylistics; Kathryn Campbell, Hudson Ag; Michael Campbell, Hudson Ag; Elyse Carrigan, Clover Crew; Sarah Carrigan, Clover Crew; Kylie Christensen, Towanda 4-H; Logan Christensen, Towanda 4-H; Ann Clary, Home Spun; Carissa Cooper, Towanda 4-H; Kaitlin Costello, Hudson Ag; Katie Doyle, Bloomington Busy Bees; Sydny Dunlap, Woodland Clovers; Angell Eckert, Stanford Silver Stars; Ashleigh Enghausen, Saybrook Willing Workers; Cassandra Enghausen, Saybrook Willing Workers; Amanda Erickson, Ellsworth Tip Toppers; Zachary Ferrie, County Capri; Sam Finlen, Lexington Leprechauns; Rayven Fischer, Blazing Saddles; Elizabeth Frey, Danvers Industrial Youth; Mary Frey, Danvers Industrial Youth; Sarah Frey, Danvers Industrial Youth; Kayla Friedlein, Pride of Sabina; Kyle Friedlein, Pride of Sabina; Samantha Garrison, Over The Top; Marnie Geb-hardt. County Capri; Brady Geerts, Space Age Pioneers; Brandon Geerts, Space Age Pioneers; Emilee Gibson, McLean County Shooting Stars; Jennifer Glasscock, Towanda 4-H; Abbey Graeber, Hudson Ag; Elizabeth Graeber, Hudson Ag; J.

Christian, Graeber Hudson Ag; Alec Gramm, McLean County Shooting Stars; Ashlyn Gramm, Jaskowiak, Blue Ribbon Kids; Jessica Johnson, Ellsworth Tip Toppers; Wyatt Kahle, Space Age Pioneers; Eric Kaufman, Linden Lead'em; Trevor Kaufman, Linden Lead'em; Kelly Kerber, Over The Top; Jason Kieser, McLean County Shooting Stars; Melissa Kieser, McLean County Shooting Stars; Travis Kieser, McLean County Shooting Stars; Laura King, Home Team; Shelby Koehl, McLean County Shooting Stars; Amanda Kramer, Hudson Ag; Amanda Kramer, Hudson Ag; Amanda Lawler, McLean County Shooting Stars; Amanda Lawler, McLean County Shooting Stars; Amanda Lawler, McLean County Shooting Stars; Reid Lichty, County Capri; Lucas Lindsey, Ellsworth Tip Toppers; Makayla Ray Maciejewski, Equus; Elizabeth Mathes, Home Spun; Sara Mathes, Home Spun; Sara Mathes, Home Spun; Meredith Maughan, Towanda Busy Bees; Dakota McDaniels, Blue Ribbon Kids; Samantha Melvin, Vision Riders; Karrissa Meredith, Lexington Leprechauns; Michael Meyer, Lexington Leprechauns; Bridget Mohr, Lexington Leprechauns; Jacob Mohr, Ardent Tillers; Jennifer Mohr, Lexington Leprechauns; Rachel Mohr, Lexington Leprechauns; Alexandra Mueller, Blazing Saddles; Alexandra Mueller, Blazing Saddles; Erin Mulch, Downs Top Notchers; Maggie Naden, Linden Lead'em; Erica Navis, County Capri; Jaymi Nettleton, Saybrook Willing Workers; Jaymi Nettle-ton, Saybrook Willing Workers; Jordyn Nettleton, Saybrook Willing Workers; Jordyn Nettleton, Saybrook Willing Workers; Jordyn Nettleton, Saybrook Willing Workers; Annie Nord, Linden Lead'em; Austin Nord, Linden Lead'em; Ashley Oliver, Stanford Silver Stars; Ashley Oliver, Stanford Silver Stars; Ashley Oliver, Stanford Silver Stars; Danielle Oliver, Stanford Silver Stars; Daniel Otto, Vision Riders; Daniel Otto, Vision Riders; Daniel Otto, Vision Riders; Shawn Parker, Towanda Busy Bees; Kailey Parks, Home Spun; Taylor Parks, Home Spun; Amanda Pestka, Lexington Leprechauns; Christine Poppe, Green-Leafers; David Porter, Blazing Saddles; David Porter, Blazing Saddles; Jacque Potter, Lexington Leprechauns; Jacque Potter, Lexington Lep Foods Jonathan Alden, Pride of Sabi-na; Michael Anderson, Learn Lead; Adam Backsmeier, Bloomington Busy Bees; Benjamin Backsmeier, Bloomington Busy Bees; Jen Baker, Over The Top; Molly Baker, Over The Top; Hannah Bauersfeld, Lucky 4's; Shelby Beck, Lexington Leprechauns; Lisa Behrens, Olympia Pacesetters; Rachel Berg, Blazing Saddles; Ashley Bessmer, Vision Riders; Sydney Bickerstaff, Bridle Path; Tyler Bixby, Hudson Ag; Carrie Bobrosky, Prairie Chicks; Shelby Bolduc, Towanda 4-H; Katie Brelsfoard, Bloomington Busy Bees; Bobbie Jo, Brooks Over The Top; Bobbie Jo, Brooks Over The Top; Christopher Burke, Hudson Ag; Matthew Burke, Hudson Ag; Britney gle, Danvers Industrial Youth; Michael Campbell, Hudson Ag; Ryan Carmack, Lexington Leprechauns; Ann Clary, Home Carrie Correll, Woodland Clovers; Haley Craig, Linden Lead'em; Haley Craig, Linden Lead'em; Callie Cummings, County Capri; Caitlin Darnall, Danvers Industrial Youth; Caitlin Darnall, Danvers Industrial Youth; Fonda Dean, Lexington Leprechauns; Claire Dubree, Dry Grove Happy Larks; Sydny Dun-lap, Woodland Clovers; Angell Eckert, Stanford Silver Stars; Ashleigh Enghausen, Saybrook Willing Workers; Cassandra Enghausen, Saybrook Willing Workers; Katie Fasse, Olympia Pacesetters; Brittany Feger, Blue Ribbon Kids; Courtney Feger, Blue Ribbon Kids; Rebecca Fenton, Equus; Katie Ferrie, County Capri; Zachary Ferrie, County Capri; Sara Freed, Towanda 4-H; Audra Fritzen, Silverleaf Let's Co Ag; Jenna Fritzen, Silverleaf Let's Go Ag; CJ Furry, Downs Top Notchers; Carrie Glaser, Danvers Industrial Youth; Alec Gramm, McLean County Shooting Stars; Ashlyn Gramm, McLean County Shooting Stars; Eric Greiner, Ardent Tillers; Ryan Greiner, Ardent Tillers; Gina Griffin, LeRoy 4-H; Olivia Harde'sty, Linden Lead'em; Lauren Harrison, Over The. Top; Andrea Haughey, Towanda 4-H; Danielle Hisle, Over The Top; Shelby Hospel-horn, Hudson Ag; Erin Huddle-ston, Normal Knights; Erin Hud-dleston, Normal Knights; Cassie Irmeger, Clover Crew; Kristin.