September 14, 2005

Luck of the draw brings horse home

Kelsey Leonardi wins horse through 4-H raffle during Northwestern Michigan Fair

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

       During the Northwestern Michigan Fair this year, Kelsey Leonardi tried to be tough.
      Having bonded with Woody, a three-year-old quarter horse she had been riding for months, Leonardi knew he would be going to a new owner soon.
      Donated to the Northwest Michigan Fairgrounds Enhancement Fund by breeders in Clare, the Traverse City West High School sophomore had shown Woody at 4-H events all summer around the region. The duo was part of a campaign to raise money to upgrade the 4-H facilities at the Northwest Michigan Fairgrounds, which last year were used by more than 1,400 kids.
      Raffle tickets to win Woody went for $100 each to drum up funds for these renovations and Leonardi, on the horse, was the traveling ambassador of the effort.
      "My old 4-H horse went lame and I was picked to show [Woody] over the summer," said Leonardi, a member of the Windsonnet Wranglers 4-H group based in Lake Ann.
      As the drawing date of the 4-H awards ceremony approached during the fair, Leonardi tried to distance herself from Woody, with whom she had bonded closely. When her name was read on the winning ticket, purchased and donated in her honor, she could not believe Woody would be hers.
      "I was like, 'Am I dreaming?'­" she recalled.
      Mike Zerbe, a local farrier and the 4-H leader for the Windsonnet Wranglers, remembers a little more drama: "When we called her name, she collapsed!"
      Five of the 60-65 tickets sold were purchased by Steve and Lori Randall who put Leonardi's name on them, said Zerbe. One of those tickets was the winner but some others who had bought tickets knew of the special bond between horse and girl.
      "The people who had seen her and saw the rapport, there were another 10-12 people who bought tickets and had every intention of making sure she got the horse if they won," noted Zerbe.
      "He just trusts Kelsey," continued Zerbe of Woody. "He knew he was Kelsey's horse long before we knew he was Kelsey's horse."
      Zerbe noted that Leonardi has distinguished herself this summer in 4-H events and shows by her positive attitude, riding and horsemanship with Woody. Her first year showing after five years of riding, Leonardi has always done whatever it takes to be around horses.
      "She used to come in Saturdays, when we were all at horse shows, and clean the stalls for us," he said. "Even thought she didn't have a horse at the time."
      Since Woody was donated in December, Bob Gilbert, owner of Windsonnet Stables, chipped in board for six months and a local trainer, Deb Cochran, contributed six months of training.
      A quiet horse, Woody is eager to please and a testament to his championship ancestors.
      "He's very mellow for three and doesn't care about crowds or other horses," said Leonardi, who shows both English and Western saddle.
      Zerbe has been spearheading the grassroots fundraising drive to enhance the 4-H facilities since August 2004. With $100,000 already raised, the group is striving for another $500,000 to complete improvements that will include a new cattle barn, relocating an existing small arena, adding 135 new campsites, upgrading septic, electricity and communication facilities and remodeling existing buildings.
      The renovation will also feature a new covered arena, which will be called the Haberlein Livestock Pavilion. This is in honor of John Haberlein, a local veterinarian, decorated Vietnam veteran, sports coach and 4-H leader and supporter, who died in 2004 at age 57.
      The upgrades will serve thousands of kids and their animals and 4-H projects for years to come.
      "It's not just the horses we're doing it for, we're going to update all the 4-H facilities," Zerbe said. "We need a major facelift and everybody thinks this [the fairgrounds] is a county-owned facility but it it's not, it's owned by the Northwest Michigan Fair Association."
      For more information on the Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds Enhancement Fund or to make a contribution, contact Mike Zerbe care of P.O. Box 243, Interlochen, MI 49643.