By Matt Browning

Reese Byers of Garden Plain was chosen for the Hog Wild Performance of the Month for September. Byers and her horse An the Winner is (Lou) lead the nation in Halter Geldings and were World Champions at the APHA World Show. Byers was also the Reserve World Champion with her mare Wished You Were Here. “This was all especially sweet considering that eight months before the beginning of the show season I sustained a life-threatening injury when a horse flipped over on me and required me to have two major surgeries,” Byers said. “I wasn’t sure at that point that I would even be able to show this year.”

Byers began horse showing six years ago, following in her parents’ footsteps, as they showed horses for many years. “I was 13 when I actually got serious about showing,” Byers said. “My parents started me with halter classes, and that’s when I really fell in love with the sport.”

At Garden Plain, Byers is Drum Major, KAY Vice President, section leader in choir and a member in FFA and National Honor Society.

Byers plans to attend Kansas State next year on a band scholarship and study Pre-Med in hopes of one day becoming a pediatrician.