Media Advisory: Maryland Horse Industry Board to Present Touch of Class Awards during Ole Fashion Christmas Horse Parade in Howard County

Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Secretary Buddy Hance will present the Maryland Horse Industry Board’s (MHIB) November and December “Touch of Class” Awards during the Lisbon Ole Fashion Horse Parade in Howard County on Saturday, Dec. 8. The award is presented every month to honor a Maryland horse, individual, team, organization or event that has garnered national or international recognition. The MHIB is a program within MDA.

The November award will be presented to Jacob Pope, an 18 year-old senior at McDonogh School who is from Columbia (Howard County). Jacob won the ASPCA Maclay National Championship in equitation at the National Horse Show in Kentucky. The December Award will be presented to Officer Megan Lau of the Maryland National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County division, and winner of the overall National Mounted Police Equitation Championship at the North American Police Equestrian Championships. She will ride in the parade with the Capital Police unit, which is a color guard. Officer Lau lives in Dickerson (Montgomery County).
The MHIB is also a sponsor of the parade, which begins at 11 a.m. and benefits the Howard County and Carroll County Food Banks and the Lisbon Fire Department Building Fund. Last year, the parade included 86 units and 300 horses. MHIB will have a display tent onsite as well as an entry in the parade. A team of Percherons, owned and driven by Dr. Mike Odian from Taneytown, will pull a carriage carrying MDA officials and MHIB members. Other parade awards will be announced from the MHIB tent. MHIB will provide cookies, hot chocolate, and hot cider to participants in its tent after the parade.

Who: Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance and MHIB Chairman Jim Steele.

What: Presentation of the MHIB’s November and December Touch of Class Award, which is presented every month to honor equine excellence in Maryland. The award is named after “Touch of Class,” the Maryland-bred mare who won two Olympic Gold Medals in Showing Jumping in 1984.
When: Saturday, Dec. 8. The parade begins at 11 a.m. Awards will be presented immediately after the parade, about noon.

Where: The parade judging stand by the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department, 1330 Woodbine Road, Woodbine,

For more information, contact MHIB Executive Director Ross Peddicord at [email protected] or 410-841-5798.

Note to Editors: Photos of the presentation will be available after the event upon request.