The Illinois Hunter Jumper Association (IHJA) would like to thank everyone involved with their 2009 year-end banquet, which was held on November 21, 2009, at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL.
One of the main sponsors of the 2009 IHJA Banquet was WeatherTech.com, owned by David Mac Neil. WeatherTech.com is the online source for MacNeil Automotive Products, a company that designs, engineers and manufactures automotive accessories for cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles and mini vans.
IHJA President Patrick Boyle of Showplace Productions said that this year's edition of the banquet was a great success in honoring the best equestrians of the year.
"The IHJA banquet was a great event," Boyle said. "We really appreciate the support of our sponsors and everyone who worked to make this event special for all of our Illinois equestrians."
The IHJA banquet was a night full of award presentations and celebration. There were five special awards given that night. The "A" Horse Show of the Year was the Showplace Spring Spectacular II, while Perfecta Farm Horse Show won the "B" Horse Show of the Year. The 2009 Scholarship Recipients were Ryan Sassmannshausen on the "A" circuit and Melissa Zaley on the "B" circuit. The Life is a Journey Spirit Award, donated by David and Stacy Bell, went to Betty Kolba. Maggie Jayne of Our Day Farm was named the 2009 IHJA Horseperson of the Year.
In addition to Weathertech.com, the Gold Sponsors at the IHJA Banquet included organizers Patrick and Nicole Boyle of Showplace Productions, Clay and Donna Struve of Ledges Sporting Horses, The Tyree Family and First Partners, Inc., Roy and Paula May and the Slowiak Family.
Generous Silver Sponsors were Taylor Harris Insurance Services and representatives Michael Taylor and Mike Puffer, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Jayne of Our Day Farm, Nutrena Feeds and Tim Karl and Star Creek Video. Bronze Sponsors for the night were Freddie and Jodi Vazquez of Messenger Hill Farm, OC Imageworks/Dave Barrows, Dave and Stacy Bell of Bell Farms and Perfecta Farm/Kim Gardiner.
The IHJA Banquet included year-end awards for 57 divisions on the "A" circuit and 48 divisions on the "B" circuit. There were also 21 special trophies handed out for "A" circuit winners and 13 trophies for "B" circuit winners.
Throughout the night, fabulous hors d'oeuvres were featured at the banquet. The food was sponsored by Showplace Productions/Pat and Nicole Boyle, True North Farms/Matt and Holly Yeterian, Our Day Farms/Mr. and Mrs. Alex Jayne, Canterbury Farms/Greg Franklin and Diane Carney, O'Connor-Leetz Funeral Home and Bill Kay Auto/Nina Kay.
Awards were not the only special part of the night. During dinner, a silent auction was held and featured items donated by Ledges Sporting Horses/Clay and Donna Struve, Showplace Productions/Pat and Nicole Boyle, MGP Ventures, Inc. and Judy Lefferdink.
The banquet concluded with a special video program thanks to videographer Pat Williams of Star Creek Video. The program was shown on video screens sponsored by WeatherTech.com, and special thanks are given to David MacNeil and family. Ledges Sporting Horses and the Struve Family sponsored the evening's entertainment, while the Light Show was produced by Nutrena and Tim Karl. This year's kid's bar was sponsored by the Tyree Family and First Partners, Inc. and the open bar was sponsored by Taylor Harris and Michael Puffer.
In conclusion, the IHJA would like to recognize all of the sponsors for this year's raffle prizes:
Showplace Productions and Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Boyle
Taylor Harris Insurance Services
Ledges Sporting Horses
WeatherTech.com
Stacy and David Bell
Nutrena and Tim Karl
Barrington Saddlery
Freddie and Jodi Vazquez
The Fairfield Inn of Beloit
Ann K. Hubbard's Tack Shop
Diane Carney and The George Morris Clinic
Kodiak Equipment Company
Horse Works and Cindy Baffa
Mark Boyle Equine Services
Jimmy's Charhouse
OC Imageworks
Tievoli Farm
Oros Saddlery
Perfecta Farm
Star Creek Video Production
O'Connor-Leetz Funeral Home
St. Charles Courtyard by Marriott
Tack Trunks Etc. and Mr. Joe Rupsch
Gallop4word Equine Products Lorri Wallis
Racontto Fine Italian Foods and Lee Mugnolo
Weiss On Location Photography Kerri Weiss
JM Select, Inc. Joe D'Arco
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dew
Blue Line Restaurant
Janeen Home Décor
MGP Ventures, Inc.
For your holiday shopping needs, please visit www.Weathertech.com for a unique and useful gift for the auto enthusiast in your life.
More information and new announcements will follow on Showplace Productions' horse shows. For further information on Showplace Productions, visit www.showplaceproductions.com.