Posted on August 17, 2014 at 9:31 PM by Global Reach
Sandy Ruckhaber grew up on a farm south of Menomonie, in Dunn County Wisconsin. Sandy was a member of the Little Elk Creek 4-H Club. Sandy has had a passion for horses and all things connected to horses all her life. The year she had a colt eligible for the horse project, the Wisconsin 4-H program deleted the state horse project. So the next best thing for her was to show cattle which she did during her 4-H career.
In 1959 Sandy moved to Iowa. She met and married her husband Jim and they moved to Luana in 1961. As soon as their daughter, Suzie, was old enough she joined 4-H. She showed her horse and her other projects at the Clayton County Fair. Along the way Sandy got involved helping the other 4-H members in the horse project.
Through the years Sandy has given clinics for 4-H members on how to prepare their horses for the show at the fair. She has also served as a horse show superintendent for the Clayton County Fair Horse Show for over 30 years. Sandy also serves as a horse show judge throughout the Upper-Midwest. Highlights of her judging career have been to judge 4-H horse shows in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
During the past 15 years Sandy has been involved with the Great Strides of Northeast Iowa Therapeutic Riding Program. This a horseback riding program for physically and mentally challenged children and adults. For 13 years she was the Certified Riding Instructor and now serves as a volunteer. She hopes to continue to help 4-H Horse Project members for as long as she can.
Sandy is a member of the Forest Mills United Methodist Church and serves on the Advisory Board.
Categories: Clayton
