Reiff's Favorite Story of 2024

Editor's Note:

As the year comes to a close, we've once again asked the DTN/Progressive Farmer reporting team to pick out the most significant, most fun, or otherwise their favorite, story of 2024. They range from solar events to seeing how seed corn is produced, political/policy coverage to wildfire impact, to including profiles of American farmers and ranchers who shared their marketing, production and even life choices with our writers. We hope you enjoy our writers' favorites, continuing the series with today's story by DTN Content Editor EllaMae Reiff.

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Sometimes, the best stories are the ones you don't plan to write. When I mentioned in a DTN editor's meeting that I'd be heading to the All American Quarter Horse Congress that weekend, it was DTN Farm Business Editor Katie Dehlinger who suggested I turn my experience into a blog. I saw it as an opportunity to capture the essence of something special. The Congress is hard to put into words, but in "A Weekend at the All American Quarter Horse Congress," I did my best to share the heartbeat of an industry I've loved for years, offering our audience something fresh and different.

Though it's been nine years since I last attended in person, the Congress never left my life. I've faithfully watched the livestream every year, tracked results through Horse Show Tracker and kept up with coverage from equine publications. Being back in Columbus this year, experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells again, brought everything to life in a way that felt incredibly fulfilling.

The Congress isn't just another horse show -- it's a community. From the beautiful stall fronts in the Gilligan to the thrill of watching top-notch classes, it's a celebration of everything that makes the Congress so special.

For those who aren't familiar, the Gilligan Complex is the heart of the Congress stabling area. It's where many of the large-name trainers and big barns stall during the show.

Also, let's not forget the legendary food, shopping and puppy alley, which are traditions in their own right.

Writing this blog wasn't about checking a box; it was about offering something fresh and meaningful to our audience. As a content editor, writer and someone deeply connected to the equine world, seeing it published as my first piece for DTN/Progressive Farmer -- and later republished by The Equine Chronicle -- was an incredibly proud moment. This wasn't just a blog; it was a chance to merge my personal passion with my professional role and celebrate an industry that has meant so much to me.

See my original blog on DTN/The Progressive Farmer, "A Weekend at the All American Quarter Horse Congress," at https://www.dtnpf.com/…

EllaMae Reiff can be reached at ellamae.reiff@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @ellareiff

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