The 2016 recipient of the Indiana Quarter Horse Award 4-H Horse Award is Morgan Roush of St. Joseph County (Ind.).
To become eligible for the award, Morgan had to fill out an extensive application and submit a resume. She had to explain why she was deserving of the award and what she has done to make herself ready for a horse.
Morgan's 3-year-old Quarter Horse is named "Chip." The horse was donted by Russ Louderback Farms of Indianapolis. This summer, Morgan plans to show Chip at the county 4-H fair. Eventually, she would like to show him in the circuit.
Morgan, 13, is the daughter of Ryan and Kristen Roush of Granger.
The award has a long history, beginning in 1968 with the late Bud Alderson of Sharpsville. He had the foresight of having Indiana Quarter Horse Assn. present a Quarter Horse to a deserving 4-H member from Indiana. With the assistance of the IQHA board of directors and Purdue University's 4-H office, Bud created an application and proceeded to get 4-H'ers from throughout the state to apply.
The concept behind the award was to provide recognition to ten deserving 4-H horse/pony members; provide one 4-H'er each year the opportunity to own and train a registered Quarter Horse; and to generate additional exposure for the Indiana Quarter Horse Assn.
Those first finalists showed up at the 1968 Indiana State Fair and proceeded through an interview process before the initial winner, Dana Magnuson of Fort Wayne, was selected.
The first yearling, Pasiano Bert, was purchased by the association at the State Quarter Horse Sale held at the Marion County Fairgrounds just four days prior to being awarded to Dana.
The award has generated longstanding relationships with IQHA with past winners. The 1973 winner, Beth Lancaster Moon, has gone on to national prominence, showing Quarter Horses and top 10 placings at the AQHA World Show as well as serving as an IQHA director. The 1992 winner, Ginny Tauer, has won an IQHA All Around title and currently serves as 4-H Horse Award chair and IQHA secretary.
The 2003 winner, Sarah Van Hoy, went on to serve as the Indiana Quarter Horse queen. The 2007 winner, Dana Hicks, competed at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress with her filly, One Hot Coastal.