2025 Scholarship Winners
Margaret Connor
AAYHS Scholarship Foundation winner
My name is Margaret Conner, and I am a senior at LaPorte High School in LaPorte, Indiana. Outside of school, you can often find me at the barn with my horses, running, gardening, or simply enjoying the outdoors. My journey with horses began at the All American Youth Horse Show in 2016 when I was just 8 years old. That year, I started competing in the All-Around classes. In recent years, I have expanded my focus to include reining and ranch events.
Reflecting on the past nine years of competing at the All American Youth Horse Show, many memorable moments come to mind. In my third year at the show, I had a standout performance, winning Horsemanship, Equitation, Western Showmanship, and English Showmanship. However, what truly makes these experiences special are the friendships and memories I’ve built with fellow youth equestrians. Whether it's the early mornings spent bathing horses, the camaraderie during competition, or supporting friends as they show, the All-American Youth Horse Show has been an important part of my life. It’s an event I look forward to year after year.
Beyond the ribbons, my time at the show has taught me valuable lessons about hard work, discipline, and sportsmanship. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching both myself and my friends reach our goals, all while cheering each other on. This sense of community and mutual support is one of the most fulfilling aspects of horse showing. As I prepare for my final year at the All American Youth Horse Show, I feel a bittersweet mix of emotions. It’s hard to believe how quickly the time has passed, and I am truly grateful for all the memories and experiences that this event has given me over the years.
Looking ahead, I am excited for the next chapter of my life. In the fall of 2025, I will attend Oklahoma State University, where I plan to study Biology and continue pursuing my love for horses by riding for their equestrian team. My desire to study Biology and eventually become a doctor is rooted in my passion for service and helping others. I am excited about my journey as a student-athlete at the collegiate level and am deeply thankful for the opportunity to have spent so many years competing at the All American Youth Horse Show. These experiences have shaped me in more ways than I can express, and I will carry the lessons and friendships I’ve gained with me into the future.
Alexa Davis
AAYHS Scholarship Foundation winner
My name is Alexa Davis, and I am a senior at Freedom Area High School in western Pennsylvania. In school, I am involved
in the National Honors Society and Spanish Club. In prior years, I was also an active staff member for our school newspaper, yearbook, and Fortune 500 Business Class, where I made everyone on my show team t-shirts for last year’s AAYHS! Outside of school, I have been a proud member of 4-H since 2018, and I now serve as the President of the Hookstown Hooves 4-H Club. Last year, I was honored to be named the champion of my trail class at the PA State 4-H Horse Show.
Also, I was the 2023 Hookstown Fair Queen, and I am currently involved in a school committee that plans to install an FFA chapter in my school!
Each year, my show team and I keep a countdown until the AAYHS. We wait all year round to make the trip to Columbus! It is absolutely my favorite horse show I attend. The first year I participated in this show was 2019. I am honored to have shown multiple great and talented horses at the AAYHS, including BRF Blue Chip (Chip), Dandy Zippin Skip (Skippy), and Flippen Good Time (Flip). In 2019, I was the champion of the 12 and under pony western pleasure class, where I earned my first-ever blue ribbon! In 2022, I placed third in the hunter under saddle pony championships and was the reserve champion in the 14-16 horse trail. In 2023, I was named the western riding class champion and the 16-18 horse trail reserve champion!
To me, the AAYHS is a way to gather together with friends from all over to do what we all love the most: showing our horses. Some of my best memories have been made at this show. However, it’s not all fun and games. Months before the AAYHS, I always begin preparing and practicing for the show.
Although it’s a lot of fun and we have a great time, the AAYHS is also about hard work, preparation, and dedication. It is a great competition where every competitor is top-notch. Everyone always shows up and does the absolute best they can, which creates a fun and competitive environment.
After high school, I plan on majoring in biology and pre-medicine, to work in the medical field. I am going to continue riding horses at Blue Ribbon Farms throughout my schooling. In the future, I would love to continue my horse showing journey with a quarter horse of my own, and I aspire to help out at
shows, like the wonderful volunteers that help out at the AAYHS each year!
Piper Frank
AAYHS Scholarship Foundation winner
My name is Piper Frank, and I’m a senior at Plymouth High School. Throughout my time there, I’ve been actively involved in Varsity Cheer, Varsity Gymnastics, Pep Club, Art Club, and Future Teachers of America. Outside of school, I participate in the Laporte County 4-H Horse and Pony Club and the Laporte County 4-H Photography Club, and I also take professional photos for local sports teams. I've had the privilege of showing at the All American Youth Horse Show (AAYHS) since 2017. My journey began with my first big show alongside my horse, ShezaRosieSensation (Rosie). As a timid 9-year-old who had just entered the horse showing world, I felt overwhelmed by the sight of older kids with their impressive horses. Despite my nerves, Rosie and I managed to place in the majority of our classes. Over the next three years, we continued to excel at AAYHS, growing together as a team. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 shows, which left me feeling distraught. I was particularly upset because I knew it would be my last chance to show Rosie, given her age. Yet, as one door closed, another opened. The following year, I began showing MyIronsWin (Mya) and competed in Western and English Showmanship at AAYHS. 2022 was a great learning experience, however in 2022 my mount changed once again. I began showing OnlyGran (Dylan). Although it was tough at first since I had only been riding him for about six months before our first show, every experience has taught me something valuable. The AAYHS has been a great platform for learning, and the supportive community makes each event an unforgettable experience.
This fall, I’m excited to start my journey at Purdue University, where I’ll be studying Elementary Education. I’ve got my sights set on becoming a 1st or 2nd-grade teacher because I want to make a real impact on my students’ lives. I plan to ride for Purdue's IHSA Western Riding Team to continue to pursue my passion for riding. I'm also looking forward to possibly joining a photography club or class to enhance my skills in sports photography. I can’t wait to see where this next chapter of my life takes me, and I’m grateful for the amazing opportunities that are guiding me in such a positive direction.
Olivia Stoudmire
AAYHS Scholarship Foundation winner
Hi, my name is Olivia Stoudmire, and I am a senior at Norwayne High School in Wayne County, Ohio. I currently attend The Ohio State University – ATI as a CCP student. My main focus outside of school has been showing horses in 4-H, AQHA, NSBA, NYATT, and numerous open show organizations. In addition to horses, I participate in livestock competitions, specifically showing Boer goats at the local, state, and national level. When I’m not at the horse barn, you will find me at the goat barn, helping my family with our Boer goat breeding business or at my job cleaning stalls or feeding horses at 4 Pillars Ranch.
The All-American Youth Horse Show means so much to me. I can remember the excitement of my first year and how in awe I was. I did not own a horse, so I borrowed one and showed in showmanship, I will never forget I placed 3rd and I think that ribbon still hangs in my room. Over the last 8 years I have experienced so many emotions, from my first riding class at the AAYHS, just hoping to “get a call back” to the last 2 years winning High Point Ranch pony. The late nights, cold showers in the green wall bathrooms, stalling with friends, cheering for each other, camping and buzzing around on our golf carts, spending countless hours with the most amazing animals in the world with other kids that felt the same way I did.
Last year I was blessed with a lot of success at the AAYHS. I remember warming up in the practice ring before the Championship class for HUS pony. A young girl stopped beside me to tell me how much she liked my horse. She was so sweet, and she admitted she was nervous. I told her she was going to do great and good luck as we both trotted into the coliseum for the finals. We lined up and the placings began, we were down to the last two, me and that sweet girl. I looked over and she was crying. I prayed she would win and when my number was called for Reserve Champion, I side-passed over and gave her a high five. She had tears streaming down her face as she hugged her pony, and you could see the true joy and love she had for her pony. That is what the All-American Youth Horse Show is about.
My education and career goal is to graduate from The Ohio State University with a Degree in Animal Science and Agri-Business and to get a job in the agriculture field, working in animal nutrition or reproduction. I am excited about a career that I am passionate about. I feel blessed to have been able to have a horse and participate in shows like the All-American Youth Horse Show as a youth. I appreciate all of the volunteers and the countless hours they sacrifice to put this show on.