2024 Grand National Youth of the Year Results
Congratulations to all 13 AMHA Youth members who participated in this year’s Youth of the Year contest at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show ® in Oklahoma City!
Pictured above: Lauren Rekis - 2024 Overall Grand National Youth of the Year Champion
The 2024 Overall Youth of the Year Champion Honors goes to Lauren Rekis. This was Lauren’s third year as a participant in the AMHA Youth of the Year Contest with a score of 903.5!! She was also this year’s winner of the Written Exam Division. Lauren exemplifies the spirit of the Youth of the Year program through her dedication and high achievement in all of her equestrian activities. Aside from enjoying time with her gelding, Mendon Twist of Fate GCH (“Twister”), Lauren also works as a horse camp counselor and leads her farm’s AMHA Youth Team, The Crystal Champions! Lauren is honored to have earned the title of 2024 Grand National Youth of the Year and feels it is a wonderful culmination of everything she has learned about the equine world thus far.
Pictured above (center), 2024 Youth of the Year Reserve Champion, Hannah Stetson
This year’s Reserve Champion title goes to Hannah Stetson, who also had the highest scores in both the Horsemanship Patterns and Horse Judging Divisions. This was Hannah’s fourth year attending the Grand National and participating in the youth contest, and her first year competing with her horse, Meadowair Quest for Glory. Hanna graduated in the top 20 of her High School class and plans to attend the Oklahoma Horseshoeing School in January of 2025 to pursue her future career as a farrier.
OVERALL YOTY CHAMPION: Lauren Rekis
OVERALL YOTY RESERVE CHAMPION: Hannah Stetson
DIVISIONAL WINNERS:
Written Exam:
1. Lauren Rekis
2. Clea Cloutier
3. Allison Hall
4. Isabella Miles
5. Emilia Saint Loup
6. Alexa Rahman
Speech Presentation:
1. Alexa Rahman
2. Madeline Wolff
3. Lauren Rekis
4. Hannah Stetson
5. Hannah Harmon
6. Cassidy Moore
Horsemanship Patterns:
1. Hannah Stetson
2. Lauren Rekis
3. Hannah Whitley
4. Madeline Wolff
5. Clea Cloutier
6. Alexa Rahman
Horse Judging:
1. Hannah Stetson
2. Alyssa Beach
3. Lauren Rekis
4. Logan Claypool
5. Alexa Rahman
6. Hannah Harmon
JUNIOR INVITATIONAL:
Champion: Emily Kolodziej
Reserve champion: Ivy Morgan
Speech
1. Emily Kolodziej
2. Ivy Morgan
3. Amelia Gordon
4. Vivian Mallory
5. Oliver Swain
6. Katherine Sobus
Judging
1. Kate Fenik
2. Emily Kolodziej
3. Amelia Gordon
4. Ivy Morgan
5. Oliver Swain
6. Vivian Mallory
INDIVIDUAL JUDGING CHAMPION
1. Evie Davis
2. Allie Awwad
3. Ryker Crimm
4. Ryker Edgeington
5. Gretta Kassens
6. Elayna Harman
OTHER AWARDS GIVEN DURING THE YOTY:
Tristanne Weber Childress Memorial - -Isabella Miles
W. Dayton Sumner High Point judging award - -Hanna Stetson
Cecil R. Brown Memorial Award - -Emily Kolodziej
Learn more about our exceptional Youth Program and Youth of the Year Contest HERE.