by Sam Lilly, chairman, USTA District 5

Springfield, IL — The annual meeting of members of USTA District 5 was held Saturday (Jan. 19) at the Artisan Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

The District directors heard three appeal hearings at 12 noon followed by the annual membership meeting at 3 p.m. with 53 members in attendance.

Members voted on the proposed by-law changes as follows: #1 opposed; #2 supported; #3 opposed; #4 opposed; #5 opposed; #6 tie vote; #7 opposed; #8 supported; #9 supported; #10 opposed; #11 supported.

In addition to USTA reports the Bureau Chief of County Fairs and Horse Racing for the Illinois Department of Agriculture reported on the upcoming 2013 program as well as a recap of the 2012 program. The executive director of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association gave a similar report on their activities.

That evening after a reception at 5:30 p.m., the annual awards banquet was held before 146 people as awards were made for the 2012 ICF divisional champions as well as Outstanding Pacing and Trotting Broodmare of the Year and the Outstanding Pacing Stallion and Trotting Stallion of the Year. The Illinois Horse of the Year was I Am Bonasera.

Illinois Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman, Senator John Sullivan, gave a presentation on his assessment of the current political situation in Illinois.