by Sam Lilly, chairman, USTA District 5

Downers Grove, IL — The deadline is looming for the USTA District 5 annual meeting and awards banquet. Reservations are due this Saturday (Jan. 12).

All activities will be held at the Artisan Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield on Saturday (Jan. 19).

The district directors will conduct appeal hearings at 12 noon at the Artisan Building. The membership meeting will start at 3 p.m. with reports from officers, committees, proposed rule changes, a report from the IHHA, other business and a question and answer session.

Prior to the awards banquet there will be a cash bar from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. the awards banquet will commence with a catered meal by Poe’s Catering. The featured speaker of the evening will be Senator John Sullivan, Chairman of the Illinois Senate Agriculture Committee. Awards will be presented for Illinois Horse of the Year, Illinois divisional champions, Illinois Stallions of the Year, Illinois Broodmares of the Year and Department of Agriculture County Fair Awards. There will also be door prizes and giveaways.

A special award will be presented to Betty Johnson in recognition of her 30 years of service as secretary-treasurer of the Mid-Western Illinois Racing Association as she retires.

Tickets must be purchased prior to Jan. 12 and are available from Sam Lilly at 630.373.7670 or Brenda Watson at 217.416.3973. Banquet tickets are $30 each, or $55 for two, or $165 for a table of six. Make checks payable to USTA District 5, P.O. Box 399, Downers Grove, IL 60515.