(07/17/23) GONZALES, La. — The LSU AgCenter hosted the 53rd annual Louisiana 4-H and FFA State Horseshow from July 10 to 14, at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, celebrating the project achievements of youth in the Louisiana 4-H and FFA projects during the past two years.

Hilton Waits, State Horse Show superintendent, reports this year 170 exhibitors participated with 240 horses.

Premier Exhibitor awards sponsored by the Gerry Lane Foundation were given to participants who displayed a true knowledge of the horse program. Each exhibitor was tested on skills and knowledge of horses through an exam, interview and résumé.

Molly Bordelon, of Vermilion Parish, was named the 2022 Horse Premier Exhibitor. She received $500, a Premier Exhibitor jacket and a belt buckle.

Other finishers were: second, Elise Bordelon, Vermilion Parish; third, Blair Landry, Ascension Parish; fourth, Juliana Easley, Livingston Parish; and fifth, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish. Each was presented with a trophy and a cash award.

All-around High Point winners were presented with $125 scholarship awards by the Louisiana Equine Council as follows:

Timed events, 13 years and under: Olivia Nelton, Lafourche Parish.

Timed events, 14 years and older: Carson Price, Terrebonne Parish.

Ranch events, 13 years and under: Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish.

Ranch events, 14 years and older: Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish.

Western events, 13 years and under: Gracie Bourgeois, Lincoln Parish.

Western events, 14 years and older: Isabelle Dunn, Rapides Parish.

Hunter events, 13 years and under: Bonnie Songne, Vermilion Parish

Hunter events, 14 years and older: Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish.

In addition to Gerry Lane Enterprises and the Louisiana Equine Council, other horse show sponsors included Sunshine Quality Solutions, the Louisiana 4-H Foundation and Louisiana Farm Bureau. Mike Anderson’s/Clarion Inn, Don’s Seafood and Walk-Ons also provided support.

The 2023 LSU AgCenter Horse Leader of the Year award is presented to Perry Fontenot of St Landry Parish.

Fontenot is known for encouraging 4-H youth in all aspects of horsemanship and personal development. His continual guidance and tutelage supporting youth in the 4-H horse program provides inspiration to many.

“He seeks out those youth who need encouragement and confidence, no matter how they are performing in the show ring and spends personal time with them and their parents,” said LSU AgCenter state livestock and horse show leader Dwayne Nunez. “His support lends itself to steady improvements in performance.”

As a former high school principal, Fontenot relates well to community leaders and parents, involving them personally in the efforts to teach their children about what 4-H has to offer.

Fontenot also promotes the use of senior 4-H members, as well as parents and grandparents in conducting clinics, trail rides, horse shows, as well as one on one teaching opportunities for 4-H horse project members.

Collaboration with parish leaders to improve the local show and teaching facilities at the Agricultural Arena in Opelousas has been a large part of Fontenot’s contribution to the Equine Program, according to Nunez.

The Master Horseman Program has been a very important component in Fontenot’s life for a number of years and he currently serves as chairman of the Southwest Region Master Horseman Advisory Committee.

Other award winners include:

Public speaking, Junior division: first, Isabella Choate, Vermilion Parish.

Public speaking, Senior division: first, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish.

The first-place senior division public speaking winner received a $125 scholarship premium and a trip to Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championship in Perry, Georgia.

Individual demonstration, junior division: first, Isabella Choate, Vermilion Parish; Parish.

Individual demonstration, senior division: first, Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish.

The first-place senior division winner received a $125 scholarship premium and a trip to Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championship in Perry, Georgia.

Class results are as follows:

TIMED EVENTS:

Breakaway Roping 13 and under: first, Dax Broussard, Vermilion Parish.

Breakaway Roping 14 and over: first, Ike Little, Cameron Parish.

Second, Emilee Sanders, Catahoula Parish and Charles Grezaffi, West Feliciana Parish.

Tie-down Roping 13 and under: first, Dax Broussard, Vermilion Parish.

Tie-down Roping 14 and over: first, Ike Little, Cameron Parish

Stake race, 13 and under: first, Gracyn Guidry, Lafourche Parish.

Second, Blakelynn Mercer, Franklin Parish; third, Gracie Theriot, Lafourche Parish; fourth, Olivia Nelton, Lafourche Parish; fifth, Dax Broussard, Vermilion Parish; sixth, Lacyn Hayden, Tangipahoa Parish; seventh, Adele Stein, Lafourche Parish; eighth, Christopher Mares, St Landry Parish; ninth, June Morris, East Feliciana Parish; tenth, Ava Robertson, West Feliciana Parish.

Stake race, 14 and over: first, Rozlyn Hayden, Tangipahoa Parish.

Second, Emilee Sanders, Catahoula Parish; third, Carson Price, Terrebonne, Parish; fourth, Blair Landry, Ascension Parish; fifth, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish; sixth, Summer Speights, Morehouse Parish; seventh, Jessi McDowell, Rapides Parish; eighth, Emily Martin, Richland Parish; ninth, Breanna Weaver, Beauregard Parish; tenth, Ellie Verdin, Lafourche Parish.

Pole Bending 13 and under: first, June Morris, East Feliciana Parish.

Second, Olivia Nelton, Lafourche Parish; third, Gracyn Guidry, Lafourche Parish; fourth, Emily Rodrigue, Lafourche Parish; fifth, Christopher Mares, St Landry Parish; sixth, Tanner Domangue, Terrebonne Parish; seventh, Weston Dryden, Rapides Parish; eighth, Laney Price, Terrebonne Parish; ninth, Mary Grezaffi, West Feliciana Parish; tenth, Adaelina Peters, Beauregard Parish.

Pole Bending, 14 and over: first, Carson Price, Terrebonne Parish.

Second, Kelsi Thomason, Franklin Parish; third, Summer Speights, Morehouse Parish; fourth, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish; fifth, Misty Gros, Lafourche Parish; sixth, Ellie Verdin, Lafourche Parish; seventh, Jessi McDowell, Rapides Parish; eighth, Emma Percle, Lafourche Parish; ninth, Emilee Sanders, Catahoula Parish; tenth, Sidney Fruge, Evangeline Parish.

Barrel Racing, 13 and under: first, Ava Parra, Terrebonne Parish.

Second, Olivia Nelton, Lafourche Parish; third, Ava Robertson, West Feliciana Parish; fourth, Tanner Domangue, Terrebonne Parish; fifth, Gracyn Guidry, Lafourche Parish; sixth, June Morris, East Feliciana Parish; seventh, Laney Price, Terrebonne Parish; eighth, Adele Stein, Lafourche Parish; ninth, Emily Rodrigue, Lafourche Parish; tenth, Dax Broussard, Vermilion Parish.

Barrel Racing, 14 and over: first, Hollie Metz, Iberia Parish.

Second, Sidney Fruge, Evangeline Parish; third, Kelsi Thomason, Franklin Parish; fourth, Carson Price, Terrebonne Parish; fifth, Blair Landry, Ascension Parish; sixth, Emily Martin, Richland Parish; seventh, Emma Percle, Lafourche Parish; eighth, Emilee Sanders, Catahoula Parish; ninth, Ellie Verdin, Lafourche Parish; tenth, Misty Gros, Lafourche Parish.

Goat Tying, 13 and under: first, Genevieve Harmon, St Landry Parish.

Second, Carter Reeves, Webster Parish; third, Nola Dickey, Richland Parish, fourth, Aubrey Lee, Evangeline Parish; fifth, Hayden Hornsby, Lafayette Parish, sixth, Jillian Hebert, Vermilion Parish; seventh, Kenley Pitre, St Landry Parish; eighth, Christopher Mares, St Landry Parish; ninth, Kady Jo Racca, West Carroll Parish; tenth, Ava Tanner, Richland Parish.

Goat Tying, 14 and over: first, Emilee Sanders, Catahoula Parish.

Second, Ike Little, Cameron Parish; third, Emma Percle, Lafourche Parish; fourth, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish; fifth Carson Price, Terrebonne Parish.

WESTERN CLASSES

Western Pleasure, 13 and under: first, Madison Jacob, St Charles Parish.

Second, Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish; third, Gracie Bourgeois, Lincoln Parish; fourth, Cecelia Sparks, East Baton Rouge Parish; fifth, Evelyn Pollet, West Feliciana Parish; sixth, Carlisle Tomlinson, West Carroll Parish; seventh, Genevieve Harmon, St Landry Parish; eighth, Nicole Perry, East Baton Rouge Parish; ninth, Amelia Tircuit, East Baton Rouge Parish; tenth, Jillian Hebert, Vermilion Parish.

Western Pleasure, 14 and over: first, Isabelle Dunn, Rapides Parish.

Second, Hollie Johnston, Livingston Parish, third, Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish; fourth, Sadie Childers, St Charles Parish; fifth, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish, sixth, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish; seventh, Grace Martin, Lafayette Parish.

Western Horsemanship, 13 and under: first, Amelia Tircuit, East Baton Rouge Parish.

Second, Gracie Bourgeois, Lincoln Parish; third, Cecelia Sparks, East Baton Rouge Parish; fourth, Anna Claire Brummel, East Baton Rouge Parish; fifth, Madison Jacob, St Charles Parish; sixth, Lillie Gilpin, East Baton Rouge Parish; seventh, Jaycie Hebert, Lafayette Parish; eighth, Ella Sampognaro, Ouachita Parish; ninth, Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish; tenth, Taylor Triche, West Feliciana Parish.

Western Horsemanship, 14 and over: first, Isabelle Dunn, Rapides Parish.

Second, Hollie Johnston, Livingston Parish; third, Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish; fourth, Grace Martin, Lafayette Parish; fifth, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish; sixth, Jessi McDowell, Rapides Parish; seventh, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish; eighth, Sadie Childers, St Charles Parish.

Western Riding, 13 and under: first, Madison Jacob, St Charles Parish.

Western Riding, 14 and over: first, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish.

Open Trail, 13 and under: first, Amelia Tircuit, East Baton Rouge Parish.

Second, Taylor Triche, West Feliciana Parish; third, Genevieve Harmon, St Landry Parish; fourth, Gracie Bourgeois, Lincoln Parish; fifth, Anna Claire Brummel, East Baton Rouge Parish; sixth, Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish; seventh, Madison Jacob, St Charles Parish; eighth, Jillian Hebert, Vermilion Parish; ninth, Nicole Perry, East Baton Rouge Parish; tenth, Carlisle Tomlinson, West Carroll Parish.

Open Trail, 14 and over: first, Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish.

Second, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish; third, Isabelle Dunn, Rapides Parish; fourth, Hollie Johnston, Livingston Parish; fifth, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish.

Reining, 13 and under: first, Taylor Triche, West Feliciana Parish.

Second, Anna Claire Brummel, East Baton Rouge Parish; third, Gracie Bourgeois, Lincoln Parish; fourth, Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish; fifth, Jillian Hebert, Vermilion Parish; sixth, Ella Sampognaro, Ouachita Parish.

Reining, 14 and over: first, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish.

Second, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish.

Western Showmanship, 13 and under: first, Bonnie Songne, Vermilion Parish.

Second, Madison Jacob St Charles Parish; third, Gracie Bourgeois, Lincoln Parish; fourth, Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish; fifth, Carlisle Tomlinson, West Carroll Parish; sixth, Amelia Tircuit, East Baton Rouge, Parish; seventh, Ella Sampognaro, Ouachia Parish; eighth, Jaycie Hebert, Lafayette Parish; ninth, Anna Claire Brummel, East Baton Rouge Parish; tenth, Aubrey Brummel, East Baton Rouge Parish.

Western Showmanship, 14 and over: first, Aubrie Vidrine, Evangeline Parish.

Second, Isabelle Dunn, Rapides Parish; third, Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish; fourth, Hollie Johnston, Livingston Parish; fifth, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish; sixth, Sadie Childers, St Charles Parish; seventh, Grace Martin, Lafayette Parish; eighth, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish; Jessi McDowell, Rapides Parish.

RANCH CLASSES

Ground Work Class, 13 and under: first, Nola Dickey, Richland Parish.

Second, Jaycie Hebert, Lafayette Parish; third, Genevieve Harmon, St Landry Parish; fourth, Kady Jo Racca, West Carroll Parish; fifth, Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish; sixth, Carlisle Tomlinson, West Carroll Parish; seventh, Jillian Hebert, Vermilion Parish; eighth, Evelyn Pollet, West Feliciana Parish; ninth Isabella Choate, Vermilion Parish; tenth, Laura Spicer, Richland Parish.

Ground Work Class, 14 and over: first, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish.

Second, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish; third, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish; fourth, Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish; fifth, Meghan Short, Point Coupee Parish.

Stock Horse Pleasure, 13 and under: first, Taylor Triche, West Feliciana Parish.

Second, Anna Claire Brummel, East Baton Rouge Parish; third, Ella Sampognaro, Ouachita Parish; fourth, Maddix Browning, East Feliciana Parish; fifth, Isabella Choate, Vermilion Parish; sixth, Nola Dickey, Richland Parish; seventh, Genevieve Harmon, St Landry Parish; eighth, Carlisle Tomlinson, West Carroll Parish; ninth, Nicole Perry, East Baton Rouge Parish; tenth, Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish.

Stock Horse Pleasure, 14 and over: first, Isabelle Dunn, Rapides Parish.

Second, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish; third, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish; fourth, Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish; fifth, Meghan Short, Pointe Coupee Parish; sixth, Sadie Childers, St Charles Parish; seventh, Grace Martin, Lafayette Parish; eighth, Hollie Johnston, Livingston Parish; ninth, Jessi McDowell, Rapides Parish; tenth, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish.

Working Cow Horse, 13 and under: first, Taylor Triche, West Feliciana Parish.

Second, Jullian Hebert, Vermilion Parish; third, Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish; fourth, Anna Claire Brummel East Baton Rouge Parish; fifth, Carlisle Tomlinson, West Carroll Parish, sixth, Dax Broussard, Vermilion Parish.

Working Cow Horse, 14 and over: first, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish.

Second, Sadie Childers, St Charles Parish; third, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish; fourth, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish.

Ranch Trail, 13 and under: First, Anna Claire Brummel, East Baton Rouge Parish.

Second, Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish; third, Kady Jo Racca, West Carroll Parish; fourth, Cecelia Sparks, East Baton Rouge Parish; fifth, Taylor Triche, West Feliciana Parish; sixth, Genevieve Harmon, St Landry Parish; seventh, Jillian Hebert, Vermilion Parish; eighth, Ella Sampognaro, Ouachita Parish; ninth, Nola Dickey, Richland Parish; tenth, Carlisle Tomlinson, West Carroll Parish.

Ranch Trail, 14 and over: first, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish.

Second, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish; third, Meghan Short, Pointe Coupee Parish; fourth, Isabelle Dunn, Rapides Parish; fifth, Hollie Johnston, Livingston Parish; sixth, Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish; seventh, Jessi McDowell, Rapides Parish; eighth, Sadie Childers, St Charles Parish.

Ranch Roping, 13 and under: first, Hayden Hornsby, Lafayette Parish.

Second, Dax Broussard, Vermilion Parish; third, Nola Dickey, Richland Parish; fourth Jillian Hebert, Vermilion Parish; fifth, Gus Amos Babineaux, Vermilion Parish; sixth, Andrew Grezaffi, West Feliciana Parish; seventh, Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish; eighth, June Morris, East Feliciana Parish.

Ranch Roping, 14 and over: first, Charles Grezaffi, West Feliciana Parish.

Second, Haylee Bourque, Vermilion Parish; third, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish; fourth, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish; fifth, Sadie Childers, St Charles Parish.

Ranch Riding, All Ages: first, Anna Claire Brummel, East Baton Rouge Parish.

Second, Chaislyn Blanchaard, St Charles Parish; third, Meghan Short, Pointe Coupee Parish; fourth, Jillian Hebert, Vermilion Parish; fifth, Taylor Triche, West Feliciana Parish; sixth, Hollie Johnston, Livingston Parish; seventh Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish; eighth, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish; ninth, Sophie Fernandez, Terrebonne Parish; tenth, Carlisle Tomlinson, West Carroll Parish.

Ranch Team Sorting, All Ages: first, June Morris, East Feliciana Parish.

Second, Charles Grezaffi and Andrew Grezaffi, West Feliciana Parish; third, Dax Broussard, Vermilion Parish, and Hayden Hornsby, Lafayette Parish; fourth, Jessi McDowell and Weston Dryden, Rapides Parish; fifth Gus Amos Babineaux, Vermilion Parish, and Ella Robin, Iberia Parish.

HUNTER CLASSES

Working Hunter, All Ages: first, Allie Tarver, Sabine Parish.

Second, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish; third, Bonnie Songne, Vermilion Parish; fourth, Annalise Arnaud, St Martin Parish; fifth, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish; sixth, Rayleigh Bertrand, Natchitoches Parish.

Equitation over Fences, All Ages: first, Natalie Lebert, Calcasieu Parish.

Second, Bonnie Songne, Vermilion Parish; third, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish; fourth, Allie Tarver, Sabine Parish; fifth, Annalise Arnaud, St Martin Parish; sixth, Rayleigh Bertrand, Natchitoches Parish.

Hunter under Saddle, 13 and under: first, Bonnie Songne, Vermilion Parish.

Second, Madison Jacob, St Charles Parish; third, Lillie Gilpin, East Baton Rouge Parish; fourth, Ella Sampognaro, Ouachita Parish; fifth, Annalise Arnaud, St Martin Parish; sixth, Rayleigh Bertrand, Natchitoches Parish; seventh, Mia Hebert, St Martin Parish; eighth, Natalie Lebert, Calcasieu Parish.

Hunter under Saddle, 14 and over: first, Isabelle Dunn, Rapides Parish.

Second, Hollie Johnston, Livingston Parish; third, Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish; fourth, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish; fifth, Allie Tarver, Sabine Parish; sixth, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish.

Hunt Seat Equitation, 13 and under: first, Bonnie Songne, Vermilion Parish.

Second, Madison Jacob, St Charles Parish; third, Natalie Lebert, Calcasieu Parish; fourth, Lillie Gilpin, East Baton Rouge Parish; fifth, Mia Hebert, St Martin Parish; sixth, Ella Sampognaro, Ouachita Parish; seventh, Annalise Arnaud, St Martin Parish.

Hunt Seat Equitation, 14 and over: first, Isabelle Dunn, Rapides Parish.

Second, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish; third, Allie Tarver, Sabine Parish; fourth, Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish; fifth, Hollie Johnston, Livingston Parish; sixth, Olivia Thibodeaux, Lafayette Parish.

Hunter Showmanship, 13 and under: first, Madison Jacob, St Charles Parish.

Second, Lillie Gilpin, East Baton Rouge Parish; third, Annalise Arnaud, St Martin Parish; fourth, Ella Robin, Iberia Parish; fifth, Mia Hebert, St Martin Parish; sixth, Rayleigh Bertrand, Natchitoches Parish.

Hunter Showmanship, 14 and under: first, Isabelle Dunn, Rapides Parish.

Second, Julianna Easley, Livingston Parish; third, Hollie Johnston, Livingston Parish; fourth, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish; fifth, Sophie Deckard, St Landry Parish; sixth, Allie Tarver, Sabine Parish.

HALTER CLASSES

Quarter horse Gelding: Grand Champion, Alexandra Richard, Acadia Parish; Reserve Champion, Madison Jacob, St Charles Parish.

Quarter horse Mares: Grand Champion, Chaislyn Blanchard, St Charles Parish; Reserve Champion, Isabelle Dunn, Rapides Parish.

AOB & Grade Halter, Geldings: Grand Champion, Cecilia Manning, Tensas Parish; Reserve Champion, Bonnie Songne, Vermilion Parish.

AOB & Grade Mares, all ages: Grand Champion, Royce Aguilard, Vermilion Parish; Reserve Champion, Sophie Deckard, St Landry Parish.

Paint Horse Halter Geldings, all ages: Grand Champion, Carlisle Tomlinson, West Carroll Parish; Reserve Champion, Evelyn Pollet, West Feliciana Parish.

Paint Horse Halter Mares, all ages: Grand Champion, Ella Sampognaro, Ouachita Parish.

Miniature Geldings, all ages: Grand Champion, Annalise Arnaud, St Martin Parish

Miniature Mares, all ages: Grand Champion, Aubrey LaHaye, Evangeline Parish; Reserve Champion, Isabella Choate, Vermilion Parish.

4-H’er Cecilia Manning of Tensas Parish (holding reins) and her Champion AOB Grade Gelding at the 53rd annual Louisiana 4-H and FFA State Horseshow, held from July 10 to 14, at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. Photo provided by Dwayne Nunez/LSU AgCenter