Rich Fortner
Rich Fortner got his first AQHA registered horse in 1963.
Since that time, he has loved and served the AQHA and the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association.
Fortner served on the NQHA Board of Directors for many years as Vice President, District Director and Youth Advisor, as well as an active member of several committees. He was also Co-Director of the AKSARBEN Silver Classic horse show.
He served on the AQHA Youth Committee for over five years.
In 1993 he was named the AQHA Youth Advisor of the Year.
Fortner was awarded one of the highest honors from AQHA in 2000: The Merle Wood Humanitarian Award. The award is given to the individual who “exemplifies an ethic of kindness and benevolence in providing opportunities for all young people to be involved with the American Quarter Horse.”
Fortner’s other accolades include being recognized as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year from the Nebraska Association of Extension Boards and the Lancaster County Outstanding Neighbor Award.
He raised funds to help build the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association Walk of Fame that was first located at the Nebraska State Fair and then moved to the Lancaster Events Center.
Rich and his wife, Katie, reside in Davey, Nebraska. The family also includes daughter Courtney and her husband Jamie Peterson and their son, Carter Peterson.
Jan Greenland
Jan Greenland began her career with the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association by computerizing the 1984 Nebraska Quarter Horse Futurity.
In 1985 the Board of Directors of NQHA contracted Jan for the executive position of Secretary and Treasurer.
Jan became an officer of the Nebraska Quarter Horse Breeders Futurity as it grew into the Nebraska Silver Classic, a 5-day event at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha. She was a NQHA Director and NQHA Amateur Association officer. In 1989 Jan represented NQHA when it was awarded the American Quarter Horse Association Affiliate of the Year Award.
Jan always kept a show horse or two at her farm in Hastings, Nebraska and showed them in a dozen states and Canada, too. She won many award saddles and placed at the AQHA Select World Show. She qualified 25 straight years for the AQHA World Championship Shows.
On the first day of the eligibility for the AQHA Select Division, January 1, 1997, Jan earned Select points.
The horses Jan showed earned AQHA Superior Awards in classes ranging from trail to ranch riding to hunter under saddle.
When asked what she thought was the best part of showing horses, Jan said, "The horses I have shown have been great companions. Even more than that, the very best part of NQHA and AQHA is all the camaraderie. I have made many lifelong friendships at horse shows."
Zippo Pine Bar
Zippo Pine Bar was one of the most prolific sires in American Quarter Horse history.
Zippo Pine Bar was bred by Lloyd Geweke of Ord, Nebraska
Foaled on April 25, 1969, he was sired by Zippo Pat Bars, a son of Three Bars (TB) and a grandson of Leo. His dam, Dollie Pine, was an AQHA Champion by AQHA Champion, Poco Pine.
Norman Reynolds, of Lexington, Nebraska, purchased the weanling Zippo Pine Bar on September 13, 1969 at Geweke’s dispersal sale.
In 1972 Zippo Pine Bar earned his AQHA Champion title. He was trained and shown by Bill Keyser of Ord, Nebraska. He earned over 100 performance points, 33 halter points, 11 grand champion titles, 19 reserve champion titles and a Superior in western pleasure.
In 1985, Zippo was sold to Bob and Ann Perry, where he continued his true legacy as a sire. His ability to pass on his quiet disposition became a desirable trait. He sired over 1650 offspring who earned 13 AQHA Champions, 23 world champions, 38 reserve world champions and over 87,800 points.
Some of his notable get include Zipabull, the 1990 AQHA Superhorse; Zips Chocolate Chip; Zippo Ltd; and Zippos Dew Claw. He bred his last two mares in 1997 at the age of 28.
Zippo Pine Bar was inducted into the National Snaffle Bit Hall of Fame in 1992 and in 2000, his first year of eligibility, into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
After suffering a stroke in January 1998, Zippo Pine Bar was euthanized at the age of 29.