Animal Science Department
P.O. Box 110910
Gainesville, FL 32611-0190
The Block and Bridle Club at the University of Florida kicked off the 1998 Fall semester with a new and ambitious officer team. The first meeting was held in early September to welcome back members from a sizzling summer break. A barbecue was hosted to welcome new members into the club. The new members' interest evolved quickly as they practiced showing and grooming their livestock species for nearly six weeks in preparation for Little International.
Little International was held in November at the Cecil M. Webb Livestock Pavilion, which was festively decorated for the occasion. It was a wonderful evening shared by all members, their families and Animal Science faculty. An auction was held to provide travel funds for the Florida delegation to attend National Convention. During the annual Buck-Off, members and guests rode a mechanical bull to compete for several prizes. To top-off the evening, several administrators, faculty members, and graduate students competed in "Faculty Frolics." In one event, competitors saddled up a herd of stick horses and competed in a sheep team-penning contest!
In October, we hosted the fall's biggest fundraiser, "The Bull Riding Blowout," which gave fifty professional bull-riders the chance to compete for cash prizes. Membership stayed busy implementing its annual Thanksgiving food drive to donate turkey dinner baskets to the St. Francis House, a local charity. For Homecoming, our chapter teamed up with another club in the College of Agriculture to share in the festivities and fun of building a float for the Gator Homecoming Parade. Members worked furiously for a week, building a float to ride on during the televised parade. For the Holidays, the club participated in an Adopt-A-Family program, in which our club donated food, clothes and toys to a local community center. The spring semester offered several more leadership and service opportunities for the club members. In January, ten members traveled to Fort Worth, Texas to attend the National Convention. The Block & Bridle Club made its presence known at the Florida State Fair in February. The State 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging and Horse Judging Contests ran smoothly thanks to the concerted efforts of the club members who handled livestock, tabulated scores, and served as assistants to the official committees. In late March, the club hosted its 3rd Annual Cowboy/Cowgirl Auction, which was the most successful fund raiser of the spring semester. In addition, the club held several major social functions including the 3rd Annual Sporting Clays Shoot and the Cow Pasture Open Golf Tournament.
The year ended with the Spring Awards Banquet, which was held to honor the achievements of club members, animal science students and faculty. This year, the club recognized Mr. Jeff Vermilion as Honorary Member for his long-term, generous support of the club.
1998-1999 Officer Team
President (F): Lindsey Blakeley
President (S): Sally Flowers
Vice-President (F): Robby Clemenzi
Vice-President (S): Cheryl Fulford
Secretary (F): Meghan McCracken
Secretary (S): Jodi Crowley
Treasurer: Melissa Syfrett
New Member Coordinator: Greg Steube
Reporter: Rachel Bush
Editor Farrah: Johnson
Layout Editor: Kennis Boltin
Photographer: Sarah Jefferson
Food Chair (F): Jennifer Ely
Food Chair (S): Nicole Prosser
Marshall: Jason McInturf
Agricultural Council Representatives: Andrea Farrell, Robby Clemenzi
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Saundra TenBroeck, Dr. Bryan Reiling, Sylvia Beauchamp
