On June 2, halter exhibitors lined up with their yearlings for the
second Jerry Wells Memorial Scholarship Futurity.
High hopes were the order of the day, with exhibitors standing just a
little taller than usual at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. The
futurity was in conjunction with Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association’s
Redbud Spectacular.
One exhibitor was Shirley McCary, showing Clowd Nine for Kevin
McCary. She was confident in her filly, but her partner, David Williams,
was more skeptical.
“We really didn’t think she was going to win today,” he says. “We
like her and we’re really excited about her.”
The 2009 chestnut mare is by Self Employed and out of Jay Lo 2002 by
Wincredible. She came to Shirley and David through the All American
Congress sale and is being fitted by AQHA Professional Horseman Luke
Castle.
Shirley showed against a tough group of fillies against all comers in
the open class, winning that before taking the top prize in the non-pro
class.
In the youth classes, three exhibitors were from Nacogdoches Boys
Ranch. Two of the boys, Colby Calloway and John Malabicky, took home
checks in the limited gelding class for Some Kind Of Fella and Financial
Bailout, owned by the ranch.
“We’re really thrilled to have the Boys Ranch here,” says Betty
Wells, Jerry’s widow. “It’s the second year of the futurity, and we
tried to make it bigger than last year. We had more money and added the
new limited classes.”
During the show, frequent drawings for prizes such as $50 gift
certificates and certificates for appetizers at local restaurants kept
the crowd engaged. Organizers also had a blood drive and a health fair,
while a silent auction raised money for the scholarship fund. Payouts
for the futurity totaled almost $40,000.
“The scholarship is awarded in January,” Betty says. “It’s $1,000
every year, $500 to a boy and $500 to a girl. This year, 10 percent of
our entry fees go to the scholarship fund.”
After the futurity, AQHA Professional Horsemen Ross Roark and J.T.
Mitchell gave a free youth clinic that kept many adults in their seats
as well. Boys Ranch students were the models for the clinic.
Winners
Non-Pro Yearling Fillies and Open Yearling Fillies — Clowd Nine owned
by Kevin McCary
Non-Pro Yearling Geldings — I Want Revenge owned by James and
Rosemary Hill
Open Yearling Geldings — The Turminator owned by Kevin McCary
Non-Pro Yearling Stallions, Open Yearling Stallions and Limited
Non-Pro Yearling Stallions — A Zhivago owned by Judy Jordan
Youth Mares — FG Aint She Amazin owned by Jason Smith; shown by
Shyanne Smith
Youth Geldings – FSR Remarkable, owned and shown by Cooper Dobbs
Limited Youth Mares — At Last A Cool Clu, owned by Veronica Cothran;
shown by Bailey Smith
Limited Youth Geldings — Some Kind Of Fella, owned by Nacogdoches
Boys Ranch; shown by Colby Calloway
Click here for more from The American Quarter Horse Journal’s “America’s Horse Daily”
