Hello, my name is Shannon Berry. I am the daughter of Tim and Connie Berry and the grand-daughter of Janice Berry and the late James H. Berry Jr. I have two brothers Cody and Justin. My family is known in the show circuit as Berry's Belgians.
I am a Junior at Villa Grove High School. I am very involved in basketball, cheerleading, choir, science club, Blue Crew and of course showing our Belgian Horses. I enjoy spending all of my free time with family and friends.
This is my second term as the Illinois Draft Horse & Mule Association Queen and I am very excited about the upcoming show season. I have been attending Draft Horse Shows all of my life and began showing in the halter classes when I was eight and the driving classes when I was ten. I enjoy helping my family with the daily chores involved with our horses and preparing them for the shows.
I am very honored in being the 2009 Illinois Draft Horse and Mule Association Queen and would like to thank the members of the Association for again giving me the opportunity to represent its members. I can't wait for the season to begin so that I can see my extended draft horse family.
I wish everyone a safe and successful show season in 2009.
See you all soon!
Shannon
Thank you to Zales Factory Outlet (Tanger Outlet Mall, Tuscola, Illinois) for providing the crown for our Queen.
I apologize for not being able to attend the November Draft Horse and Mule meeting at Yoder's Country Kitchen to personally extend my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to once again serve the Association as their 2009 Draft Horse and mule Queen, but as a football cheerleader I am traveling with the Villa Grove football team to compete in the second round of playoffs in concord.
I will never forget the past two summers and the wonderful generosity that was extended to me while I served as your queen. I would be at the show ring all day and my family did not have to be concerned if I was safe and taken care of because everyone in my draft horse family made sure that I was.
As serving as your queen for the past two years I have had the opportunity to meet so many different people in the draft horse business and those who were just merely curious about our horses. In September 2008 I had the opportunity to serve as one of the queens at the National Belgian Show in Indianapolis and was always proud when they announced that I represented the Illinois Draft Horse and Mule Association.
Although the last two years have been a blast I feel that it is time for another young draft horse woman to serve as your queen and gain the experiences that I have enjoyed. I am currently a senior in high school and anticipating attending Parkland College in the fall of 2010 for a degree in Elementary Education and then transferring to Eastern to complete my studies.
Again, thank you for giving me this honorable opportunity to serve as your queen...I Hope that I served you well........................See ya at the shows in 2010...in my jeans and boots.
Shannon
