Hi!
I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself. My name
is Katelyn Reutzel and I am proud to be representing the Pennsylvania
Quarter Horse Association this year as the PQHA Queen. I was born
and raised in Meadville, Pennsylvania. For the past few years, I have
attended Robert Morris University majoring in Graphic Design and Photography.
While attending Robert Morris, I maintained a 4.0 and a perfect attendance
record. During the fall of 2008, I will be transferring to Embry Riddle
Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach Florida where I will be majoring
in Air Traffic Control Management. It has always been a lifelong dream
to be in the aerospace industry and after several years of hard work,
I am finally able to pursue that dream.
I
am the daughter, and only child, of Barb and Chuck Reutzel. My mom,
Barb, is a registered nurse and currently works at Bethesda Memorial
Hospital. My father, Chuck, is an automotive technician and works
at Smith Gray Buick-Cadillac-GMC Truck.
When I am not in school, I am actively involved in several different
activities. I was an active 4-H member for 11 years and I had participated
in many 4-H related events. Some of these included Performance Horsemanship,
Horse Production, Horse Bowl, Interstate Exchange and numerous community
service activities. After completing 4-H, I became a 4-H leader for
the Odds N Ends 4-H horse club where I donate my time to help young
members enhance their knowledge of horses. Outside of 4-H, I also
enjoy working with my two Quarter Horses, Sweet Talk Me Now and Red
Leather Pants. I have shown both horses all over the east coast in
AQHA approved shows as well as open horse shows. In the winter when
I am not working with my horses, I can be found on the ski slopes
snowboarding or at the local ice arena skating. Other activities I
enjoy include swimming, playing tennis, designing advertisements and
taking photographs.
With my horses I have many honors to my name such as Pennsylvania
State qualifier seven years in a row with eight different horses,
five state championships, and sixteen top ten Pennsylvania state placings.
My greatest triumph though is accomplishing all this on horses which
I have personally trained or worked with. I have also achieved three
Pennsylvania state top five awards in Horse Bowl and a state championship
in Horse Bowl. The year my team won the state championship in Horse
Bowl, I was third overall individually.
PQHA Queen is a very high honor and I believe that it is the queens
responsibility to promote the association in every way possible. I
plan to attend many of the PQHA sponsored shows and proudly represent
the association at the All American Quarter Horse Congress and promote
not only PQHA but the Quarter Horse breed.
I would also like to thank all those who support me, I would not be
where I am today without you. If it wasn't for Rose Watt teaching
me compassion, patience, and proper horsemanship then I would not
have any horse sense at all. To Sandra, Tim and Amy, I thank you for
helping to produce the most unforgettable times. I thank Dick and
Carol Brooks for teaching me about the horse industry and allowing
me to use their spectacular horses. And to Rachael and Karen Willey,
your help has not gone unappreciated. Thank you to Sierra and Keeley
Kuzminski for being there to answer all my questions and encouraging
me to run for queen. Also thank you to Stacey Weaver, Brenda Campbell
and Shelly Campbell for your help with the competition! Thanks to
my friends for being great problem solvers and to my wonderful horse
Buzz for managing to be able to "do it all". But most of
all a big thanks to my parents. If it wasn't for your love, support
and of course your financial aid I would not be the person that I
have become.
Thank you PQHA for this wonderful opportunity! I am looking forward
to a wonderful year!
