Evening of Equestrians Honors USHJA Annual Award Recipients at 2022 USHJA Annual Meeting

Bellevue, Wash.—Dec. 13, 2022—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association's Evening of Equestrians, presented by the Washington State Hunter Jumper Association, honored USHJA Annual Award winners and announced the Volunteer of the Year and President's Distinguished Service Award recipients. The festivities, held on Tuesday, December 13 at the 2022 USHJA Annual Meeting in the Seattle, Washington, area, saw USHJA President Mary Knowlton and Master of Ceremonies Mike Lowry present awards to deserving members in-person for the first time in two years.

Earning the evening's most anticipated surprise award, the Volunteer of the Year Award, was Amy Center of Tallahassee, Florida. Passionate about education and horsemanship, Center currently serves as chair of the Emerging Athletes Program committee. She holds her large 'R' Jumper and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation judges licenses and Hunter Breeding designation. Her farm, Cavallo Farms, which she co-owns with Janet Price Cawley, is also a USHJA Recognized Riding Academy and home to an Interscholastic Equestrian Association Hunt Seat Team.

The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes volunteers behind the scenes who work the long hours with a passion for bringing the sport forward and providing a safe, fair and understandable sport for fellow equestrians.

"This is always a hard decision because we have so many really hard-working volunteers. But this year I decided to focus on someone who stepped up to a challenge that perhaps this person thought was a little large but I didn't think it was large—and her mentor (Sally Ike) didn't think it was large—and that person is Amy Center," announced Knowlton.

The President's Distinguished Service Award was developed to recognize and honor the dedication and service by members and volunteers to the USHJA and our sport. The Award recognizes those individuals who have gone beyond the call of duty to bring the Hunter/Jumper sport to a new level and to benefit the USHJA membership.

For the first time in the history of the award, President Mary Knowlton awarded the prestigious award to the USHJA Staff: Whitney Allen, Olivia Arden, Whitney Barnard, Sarah Bernknopf, Tricia Booker, Penny Brooks, Eileen Cody, Terisé Cole, Coleton Cook, Mackenzie Crabtree, Suzanne Dorman, Meredith Ekstedt, Brooke Goddard, Gwendolyn Hagg, Georgia Holbrook, Jill Insko, Lynn Johnson, Lauren Klehm, Alexis Kolasa, Mary Hope Kramer, Marianne Kutner, Dominique Lien, Russ Longeway, Rachel Lyman, Melanie Mader, Emily Martinez, Jamie Martinez, Elizabeth Mayo, Rachel Milewski, Joshua Mims, Lisa Moss, Jennifer Osterman, Katie Patrick, MaryJo Peters, Kevin Price, Denise Quirk, Kristin Rosenberg, Erica Salley, Heather Sinclair, Louise Taylor, David Warner and Taylor Wienold.

The USHJA congratulates this year’s Annual Award recipients. In addition to these honors, previously announced nomination-based award recipients were also honored during the Evening of Equestrians.

The USHJA extends thanks to Official Sponsors CWD, Parlanti, Nutrena, Exhibitor's and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital & Pharmacy. A special thanks also goes to Supporting Sponsors Dianne Johnson; Washington State Hunter Jumper Association; Archway Equestrian Sports, LLC; Thumbs Up Farm; Imagination Lane, LLC; Headland's Management; US Equestrian; Hodges Badge Company; Eaton Equestrian Center; Kathryn A. Hall PC; Brookway Stables; Show Place Productions; Woodside Stables; Great Southwest Equestrian Center; Brookside; Let's Show; Peggy Fackrell; Misty, Scampi and Haydon; LEG Shows and Events; Colorado Horse Shows; and Human Touch for their support of this year's Annual Meeting. 

The 2022 USHJA Annual Meeting continues with important sports governance meetings through December 15. For more information on the USHJA Annual Meeting, including resources and details on select virtual sessions, visit ushja.org/annualmeeting.

Photos: Tricia Booker/USHJA and Lisa Slade