by Courtney Stafford, for the SBOANJ

Manalapan, NJ — The New Jersey Department of Agriculture held the 61st annual New Jersey Breeders Awards Luncheon this past Sunday (Jan. 28) at O’Conners Restaurant in Eastampton, N.J.

SBOANJ photo

Per Engblom, Helen Engblom and Perry Soderberg receive Ariana G’s awards from NJDA Division of Marketing and Development Director Tom Beaver, SBOANJ director Rich Meirs and Nancy Grbelja.

SBOANJ directors in attendance were Anthony Romano, Michael Klau, Sam Landy, Mark Mullen, Richard Meirs, Bob Boni and Executive Administrator Al Ochsner.

Ariana G was awarded the New Jersey Standardbred of the Year and the New Jersey Sires Stakes Horse of the Year. Accepting the award for the Takter Stable were Per Engblom, his wife Helene, and Perry Soderberg.

Richard Miers presented Mark Mullen of Fair Winds Farm the Breeder of the Year award.

Margret Romano, wife of SBOA director Anthony Romano, received the Horseperson of the Year presented by Karyn Malinowski.

The committee also honored Sam McGee and Dr. David Meirs for all their help, support and participation over the years.

The SBOANJ congratulates all of the award winners and wishes them more success in the year to come.