by Kate Lockhart, USTA Director of Communications

Marshalltown, IA — The annual membership meeting of USTA District 4-A, comprising Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, was held on Saturday, January 14, at the Best Western Regency Inn in Marshalltown, Iowa.

USTA photo

USTA Director Royal Roland at the podium.

Approximately 70 members and directors Royal Roland and Gabe Wand were in attendance. Rule change proposals were discussed and voted on.

The Iowa Harness Horseman’s Association held their annual meeting following the USTA district meeting, and the IHHA annual awards banquet was held in the evening. A presentation of scholarships was made to seven high school seniors and college students and awards were given to Iowa Registered Champions and the top sire stakes performers including 2010 Iowa horse of the year Sandra Dea Go Fast, who received the top honor for the second consecutive year.

Judith Roland and Lenora Coulter were the 2010 living inductees into the Iowa harness racing hall of fame, John Nessa was the 2010 immortal horseman inductee and Zippy Star, a top performer on the Iowa fair circuit with 62 wins in 154 career starts was the horse inductee.