Michigan Paint Exhibitors Raise over $5,700
for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

In spite of stiff competition, rising fuel prices, and uncertain economy, the Michigan Paint Horse community rallied to raise $5,704 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at the 2008 Memorial Day Bonanza show! In true MPHC fashion we raised the money with plastic spoons, a carton of eggs and a lot of generous hearts.

Each Memorial Day weekend, the Michigan Paint Horse Club holds a 3-day show with Sunday as a day of rest, fun classes and cookout. The fun classes included Water Cup, Ride A Buck, Egg and Spoon, practice pleasure and dog races. Last year a group of exhibitors thought it would be even more entertaining to have a "Calcutta Egg & Spoon" and use the opportunity to raise money and awareness for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This year's participants included:

Each participant started off with spoon, egg, and horse. They showed off some of their skills to the bidders, and bidders bid on who they thought would be the last person riding with their egg still safely resting on their spoon. After the bidding ended, the class began with some simple commands like jogging and loping. Now these were some of the top riders and horses in the country, so it took a lot to get any of them to lose their egg. Then the fun began. We asked them to hold their spoon in their mouth, behind their back, do lead changes, hand gallop, stop in a box and even ride backwards! After all these silly commands, one team was crowned the 2008 Egg & Spoon Grand Champion of Michigan's Memorial Day Bonanza! This year the title goes to Austin Gooding riding Barhoppin Jana!

Austin's winning bidder was the Hartmann family of South Haven, Michigan. They graciously donated their half of the winnings, $2,610.00, back to St. Jude, bringing the total donations from the Calcutta to $5,220. THANK YOU, Hartman Family!

Our 2008 Egg & Spoon Reserve Grand Champion was Garth Gooding. Laura Stenroos was the high seller with Wade Spell as the high bidder. Numerous donations were made through out the day by other generous paint horse enthusiasts to bring our total donations raised to $5,704.00! This class could not be a success without our participants, generous bidders, and of course our volunteers who help run the fun show! Special thank you to Norma Streeter Hamilton and Steve Sauder for their work in raising the money and making sure St. Jude receives our donations; Wade Spell as Auctioneer; and Brent Harnish and Rob Chapman as auction spotters.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital provides top medical care to patients who desperately need their assistance and they do it all with out any regard to a families ability to pay. Their services help each family concentrate on healing and caring for each other. Not about how they will take care of their medical bills. The difference they make everyday for our communities cannot be measured with dollar signs, rather with healing children.

This Memorial Day Weekend we hope everyone took a moment to count their blessings and honor and remember those who have given their lives for our freedoms and found a way (no matter how big or small) to make a difference in your community.

On behalf of the entire Michigan Paint Horse Club, we would like to thank our volunteers, sponsors and our exhibitors. All of you continue to make our shows successful, entertaining, and safe.