May 31, 2003 — Thirteen awards honoring journalistic excellence will be awarded in the 2002 American Quarter Horse Association Steel Dust Awards contest. A special reception and awards ceremony is planned for later this year in Amarillo.
Created in 1999, the Steel Dust Awards are designed to recognize outstanding coverage and promotion of horses, people and events within the American Quarter Horse industry by television, newspapers, radio, photographers and AQHA Affiliates.
Judges for the 2002 contest were Jill Goodrich, Vice President Fleishman-Hillard International Communications; Summer Best, Editor Equus Caballus published by Seminole Feed; Dave Wohlfarth, Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication West Texas A&M University; Chris Sitz, Marketing Manager of Sooner Trailer Manufacturing; and Jennifer Hancock, Assistant Editor The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal.
Those winners who will be invited to the exclusive awards ceremony to receive recognition for their work are listed below. Details for the awards ceremony will be released in the coming weeks.
1. Newspaper/Magazine/Internet Feature Article
Steel Dust Award-Training Feature–Horse & Rider
Pleasure Short Course
Written by Guy Stoops and Sue M. Copeland
Second Place–Western Horseman
Whoa Training
Written by Juli Thorson
Third Place–Western Horseman
Selecting Mr. Right
Written by Jennifer Denison
Steel Dust Award-People Feature–Western Horseman
The Horses Came First
Written by Juli Thorson
Second Place–Horse & Rider
True Survivor: The Kacey Ruegsegger Story
Written by Jennifer Forsberg Meyer
Third Place–Western Horseman
Behind the Scenes of Wire To Wire: The Walter Merrick Story
Written by Frank Holmes
Honorable Mention–Horse & Rider
High-Point Horsewoman
Written by Jennifer Forsberg Meyer
Steel Dust Award-American Quarter Horse Feature–Cutting Horse Chatter
The Last Great Cowhorse
Written by Sally Harrison
Second Place–Horse & Rider
Zips Chocolate Chip
Written by Honi Roberts
Third Place–Performance Horse
The Mysterious Reappearance of Doc Per
Written by Christie Miller
2. Newspaper/Magazine/Internet Feature News Reporting
Steel Dust Award–Horse & Rider
Against The Clock
Written by Doreen Wright Shumpert
Second Place–Horse & Rider
Raising The Limit
Written by Sushil Dulai Wenholz
Third Place–Ride With Bob Avila
The 40th NCHA Futurity: Dad’s Day
Written by Ty Wyant
Honorable Mention-Spin To Win
Olympic Spirit Meets Rodeo Action with a sidebar on the first-ever
Olympic team roping champions
Written by Kendra Santos
3. Newspaper/Magazine/Internet Commentary
Steel Dust Award-Horse & Rider
“Who’ll Fill Our Boots?”
Written by Karen Winegar
Second Place-Western Horseman
Personally Speaking: This Generation Needs a Pony Of Its Own
Written by Juli Thorson
4. Affiliate/Track Newsletter
Steel Dust Award–Texas Quarter Horse Association
Brandi Koltiska
5. Affiliate Magazine
Steel Dust Award–NHSRA Times
Kyle Partain, Editor
Second Place–AQHA-United Kingdom
Jackie James, Editor
6. Photography and/or Illustration
Steel Dust Award-Horse & Rider
Dell Hendricks at US Equestrian Team Reining Championships
Second Place–Horse & Rider
Todd Bergen and Nic It In Bud
7. Television/Radio/Book/Magazine
Steel Dust Award-Single Issue Publication
2002 Guide To Horseracing in Colorado
Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse
Honorable Mention-Single Issue Publication–NHSRA Times
Kyle Partain, Editor
April Fool’s Special Section
Steel Dust Award-Industry Television Program
All American Futurity Show Trackside LIVE
TVG
Steel Dust Award-Media Coverage
Dateline Houston-“Huebner Cattle Drive”
KPRC-TV HoustonSteel Dust Award–Radio
The Horse Show With Rick Lamb
8. Marketing/Promotional /Publicity CampaignSteel Dust Award-Sam Houston Race Park
Don’t Pee Like A Racehorse