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Several members and horses of the Morgan community were honored at the 2017 UPHA Convention, which took place January 19-21, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Longtime Morgan trainer, Mike Goebig, was honored with the 2017 Larry Bacon Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to the Morgan breed. Mike is only the second Morgan trainer to receive this award, the first being Judy Whitney Harris in 2012.

Matt Kwapich received the 2017 UPHA Herman Miles Horse Show Manager of the Year Award for his leadership and management of the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show for the past three years.

AMHA Board member Ling Fu Wylie was the UPHA Associate Member of the Year honoree. The UPHA Associate Membership was formed to engage the non-professionals in the betterment of the sport of showing horses and ponies and Ling has long given of herself for that cause.

Shaunicy Sturm earned the highest amount of money raised for the Ribbons of Service Program in the Morgan division, raising more than $15,500. This year's charity was "Keep Memory Alive," which is an organization committed to improving the lives of patients and their families as they navigate the extraordinary challenges of brain disorders.

Overall Morgan Pleasure Horse of the Year winner was SLB Andiamo and the Overall Morgan Park Horse of the Year was As Predicted.

Division winners included:

• MORGAN PARK SADDLE: As Predicted GCH; Trainer: Nikki Rae Woodworth; Owner: Deborah Hamilton
• MORGAN PARK HARNESS: Tomeri Symphony; Trainer: Bob Hughes; Owner: Tom and Teri Brisco
• MORGAN ENGLISH PLEASURE: SLB Andiamo GCH; Trainer: David Rand; Owner: Steve and Kathleen Kabel
• MORGAN PLEASURE DRIVING: The Noblest; Trainer: Gerry Rushton; Owner: Tom and Teri Brisco
• MORGAN CLASSIC PLEASURE SADDLE: Playmor's Juke Box Hero; Trainer: Forest Nealon; Owner: Robert and Deborah Stevenson
• MORGAN CLASSIC PLEASURE DRIVING: Indian Creek Cachet; Trainer: Phil Fountain; Owner: Hannah McBain
• MORGAN WESTERN PLEASURE: EQE Maker’s Mark CH; Trainers: John and Belle Hufferd; Owner: Glitter Farms LLC
• MORGAN HUNTER PLEASURE: LLL Tzar Alexander GCH; Trainer: Phil Fountain; Owners: Doug & Tadgy Stacy

-- via AMHA