Write an essay, get a horse

By Kristin Kveno
The Land Staff Writer

December 18, 2006 05:25 pm

— How would you like to get a horse for free? That was the question posed by the Le Sueur County Fair to area youth.
A month before the Le Sueur County Fair began this summer, an anonymous donor gave a yearling painted horse to the fair to be given to someone in the county. According to Fair Board President Wayne Fahning, they decided to have a youth contest to give the horse away. Fahning said the idea came from a major national horse show that gives a horse away every year.
Those interested needed to submit an essay stating why they wanted the horse and how they would take care of it. They also needed a parent's signature on the essay, to make sure the parent was OK with the possibility of acquiring a new, large, four-legged friend.
Fahning said 11 youth turned in essays and a committee narrowed the group down to six finalists. Those six were then interviewed by the committee and a winner was chosen.
There were a few tears when the winner was announced, as all the finalists clearly hoped to win the horse. "We wished we had six horses to give," Fahning said, but in the end Erin Fahrenkamp, 16, of Le Center was the winner.
"I cried, I was so happy," Fahrenkamp said, describing her reaction when her name was called.
The horse, Dexter, is only a yearling so the 4-H'er Fahrenkamp will have some work to do with him - luckily she is a veteran in showing horses at the Le Sueur County Fair. Fahrenkamp is looking forward to showing Dexter in halter next year and, when he is older, showing him in games. She will also participate in a 4-H horse training program.
Despite the fact that the idea of giving away a horse came up only a month before the fair, the contest "drew a lot of interest," Fahning said. They are looking into possibly doing it again next year.
So calling all horse enthusiasts under 17 in Le Sueur County: next year may just be your year to get a free horse, too.