Five Star Futurity Debuts Over Labor Day Weekend 2007
The Five Star Futurity will have its inaugural futurity and open horse show on September 1-2, 2007 at Fonner Park in Grand Island, Nebraska.  This new futurity is the creation of seven mid-western horsepersons who were concerned about the current status of futurities.  The 'Magnificent Seven' saw that futurities were getting increasingly specialized and that numbers and prize monies were decreasing.  Their solution to the problem-"Let's run a futurity of our own!"

Thus, the Five Star Futurity was born.  The creators of the Five Star Futurity began to break the rules that cause complications for so many other futurities.  Instead of catering to just one breed, the Five Star Futurity sought to find strength in numbers.  Six breeds of horses are eligible for the futurity including AQHA, ApHC, PtHA, IBHA, ABRA, and PHBA.  There are no Stallion Service Auctions, no mare nomination forms, and no recurring nomination fees.  Stallions can be nominated for the show year for a mere $100, if paid by the first deadline in February.  All foals (any age) resulting from this stallion are eligible for the Five Star Futurity.  The next year, the stallion can be re-nominated and all of his foals will again have futurity eligibility.  No more worrying about prize money distributions that take place over the course of several years.  All of the money allotted to the prize fund from 2007 entry fees, nomination fees, and sponsorships will be distributed at this year's show.  The creators of the futurity also endeavored to keep showing expenses at a reasonable price.  Besides entry fees, the only fee to be paid is a $50 fee per horse that includes your stall and all office fees.  Tack stalls are free.

Other unique features about the Five Star Futurity include the process of hiring judges as well as the inclusion of several special classes.  The judges for the Five Star Futurity are kept a complete secret- not even the 'Magnificent Seven' know who will be gracing the ring on September 1st.  An outside consultant was hired to select the judges for the first ever Five Star Futurity.  Special classes make the Five Star Futurity unlike futurities of its kind.  A Do-Over class will be offered for Select 2 Year Old Western Pleasure and Select 2 Year Old Hunter Under Saddle.  After the regular class has been run, the first and second place horses will be asked to leave the arena.  Any exhibitors that placed 3rd or below have the opportunity to "Do the Class Over."  The winners of the Do-Over classes will receive a Gist belt buckle.

Special Incentives and Awards-In order to make the Five Star Futurity even more appealing, the creators of the Five Star Futurity have added special incentives and numerous awards and random drawings.  The prize that has most people talking is the drawing for a Reserve World Champion Buckskin Dun Weanling Stallion.  That's right- he's a Reserve World Champion.  The Five Star Secret, a 2007 Dun stallion, was sponsored by Wild Basin Ranch.  The colt (named especially for his future engagement with the Five Star Futurity) stood Reserve World Champion at the IBHA World Show.  In order to be eligible to win the drawing for this stallion, you simply have to finish 3rd place or lower in the futurity.  Accomplish this, and you'll be given a chance to enter the drawing.  At the end of the show, a name will be drawn and that person will walk away the owner of a Reserve World Champion Halter Horse. Even if you lose, you could still win big!

Gist belt buckles will be given away in all Select Futurity and Jackpot Futurity classes.  A high point saddle will be given away to the High Point Palomino Horse and a new weanling Harris show halter to the winner of the select early filly class (sponsored by Triple C Paints).   Many of the classes have added money- up to $500 per class!  Additionally, the following sponsors have donated items for Random Drawings to be held throughout the show:

• Heartland Vet Supply has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge with 5 four dose tubes of Ulcergaurd.

• Purely Platinum Paints of Oklahoma has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge with a trailer door item bag and a hat can.

• Terrys Tails has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge with a tail in your choice of black, sorrel, chestnut or flaxen. Retail value up to $185.00.

• Show Dressed Up has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge with a custom rail shirt to be drawn at random the day of the show.

• Wild Basin Ranch has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge with a beautiful 2007 Dun AQHA stud colt to be drawn for at Random the day of the show. Click here to see Five Star Secret

• Carmel Designs  has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge with 2 custom made pairs of chaps in your choice of colors!

• Vitalix Inc  has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge with 4 Vitalix equine lick tubs

• Born In The Barn Creations of Central City ( 308) 946-5449 has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge with 2  bar stools handcrafted from Red Cedar Logs found right in Central Nebraska along the Platte River!

• Four Winds Ranch has sponsored the Five Star Futurity with 2 certificates , each for a 1 night stay for two horses, complete with RV hookup at the horse motel in Central Oklahoma

• Coastal Pet  has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge with 3 FIve Star Embroidered Accent Halters!

• Pleasure Perfect  has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge  with a custom rail shirt

• Fancy Tack has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge  with a custom 3 Piece Lycra Set! (sleezy, hood, tailbag)

• KMK Paint Horses has sponsored the Five Star Futurity Challenge  with a 10 Piece Stainless Steel Grill Set!

• Cindy Clark  Of The Central City Mall Has Sponsored The Futurity With One Stall And Office Fee Refund For One Exhibitor. This Item Will Be Drawn For At Random The Day Of The Show.

• Gene Steffy Dodge of Fremont, Nebraska Has Sponsored The Select 2 Year Old Hunter Under Saddle and The Jackpot Late Weanling Filly Classes With Beautiful Gist Buckles! They Are Also Offering A Refund Of One Office/Stall Fee To Be Given Away At Random The Day Of The Show

• The Boot Lady   Has Sponsored The Futurity By Offering A Free Custom Dyeing Of Any Pair Of Boots You Send Her To A Color Of Your Choice. This Item Will Be Included In The Random Drawing.

• Darn Fine Trailers of Rapid City, South Dakota Has Sponsored The Five Star Futurity Challenge , Supplying Five Star Tshirts For Every Entry At The Show!

Classes Offered-The Five Star Futurity offers a futurity show on Saturday which is followed by a Open Show on Sunday.  The Saturday Futurity show features a showbill comprised of Select Futurity classes and Jackpot Futurity classes.  The Select Futurity classes are open to the get of stallions that are nominated to the futurity.  Entry fees are $100 when paid by June 1st.  All monies are kept in the class that is entered.  Select Futurity classes for 2007 include:
Early Weanling Colts
Late Weanling Colts
Early Weanling Fillies
Late Weanling Fillies
Yearling stallions
Yearling mares
Yearling geldings
Longeline
2 Year Old Snaffle Bit
2 Year Old HUS
3 Year Old Western Pleasure

The Jackpot Futurity Classes do not require that the stallion be nominated to the Five Star Futurity.  Entry fees for these classes are $50 when paid by the first entry deadline.  The Jackpot Futurity Showbill includes the following classes:

Early Weanling Colts
Late Weanling Colts
Early Weanling Fillies
Late Weanling Fillies
Yearling Halter Mares
2/3 yr Old Halter Mares
4 & Older Halter Mares
Yearling Halter Geldings
2/3 Yr Halter Geldings +$200
4 & Older Halter Geldings
Yearling Halter Stallions
2/3 yr Halter Stallions +$50
4 & Older Halter Stallions
Yearling Longeline +$500
2 Year Old Snaffle Bit
Walk Trot W. Pleasure
Non Pro W. Pleasure
Jr Western Pleasure +$50
Jr English Pleasure
Sr W Pleasure +$300
Sr English Pleasure

The Open Show to be held on Sunday, September 2nd, 2007 offers a full slate of performance and fun classes for stock horses.  The show will be judged by Karen Craighead.  Entry fees are $5 per class with a $15 office charge.

Becoming a Sponsor-The Five Star Futurity is still looking for sponsors.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please visit this link: http://www.fivestarfuturity.com/forms/Sponsor Levels.pdf

Current List of Sponsors for Class Buckles-

• Non Futurity Classes
  Do-Over 2 year Old HUS
      Gist Buckle By Jay Star Ranch
  Do-Over Western Pleasure
      Gist Buckle By Jay Star Ranch

• Specialty Awards
  Hi Pt Palomino WP Horse-
     Trophy Saddle By Rystrom Quarter Horses
  Hi Pt Paint Breeding Stock Horse-
     Gist Buckle By ABSPHA

• Select Futurity
  Early Weanling Colts
        (Champion) Gist Buckle by Vitalix Inc
  Late Weanling Colts
         (Champion) Gist Buckle by The Collision Center
  Early Weanling Fillies-
       (Champion)Gist Buckle By PNI Ranch
       (Champion) - Harris Show Halter By Triple C Ranch
  Late Weanling Fillies
        (Champion) Gist Buckle by Studnicka Inc
  Yearling stallions
      (Champion) Gist Buckle by  Rigo Sandoval Carpentry
  Yearling mares
      (Champion) Gist Buckle by Kurtzbein Paint Horses
  Yearling geldings
      (Champion) Gist Buckle by Double T Ranch
  Yearling Longeline
      (Champion) Gist Buckle By Cedar Hill Quarter Horses/Texas
  2 Year Old Snaffle Bit
      (Champion) Gist Buckle By Riso Quarter Horses
  2 Year Old HUS
       (Champion) Gist Buckle by Gene Steffy Dodge
  3 Year Old Western Pleasure
        (Champion) Gist Buckle By Riso Quarter Horses

• Jackpot Futurity
  Early Weanling Colts
       (Champion) Gist Buckle By Don Hagen Trucking
  Late Weanling  Fillies
       (Champion) Gist Buckle by Gene Steffy Dodge
  Early Weanling Fillies
       (Champion) Gist Buckle By Don Hagen Trucking
  Late Weanling  Fillies
                *(Champion) Gist Buckle 
  Yearling Halter Mares
               *(Champion) Gist Buckle
  2/3 yr Old Halter Mares
        *(Champion) Gist Buckle By Vorderstrasse Farms
  4 & Older Halter Mares
               *(Champion) Gist Buckle
  Yearling Halter Geldings
               *(Champion) Gist Buckle
  2/3 yr Old Halter Geldings (total added $200.00)
                 *(Champion) Gist Buckle
       $200.00 Added Money By Triple T Paints & Quarters
  4 & Older Halter Geldings
       (Champion) Gist Buckle by Adams Farrier Service
  Yearling Halter Stallions
              *(Champion) Gist Buckle
  2/3 yr Old Halter Stallions ($50.00 added)
      (Champion) Gist Buckle by Vogler Semen Centre
       $50.00 Added Money by Vogler Semen Centre
  4 & Older Halter Stallions
      (Champion) Gist Buckle by Vogler Semen Centre
  Yearling Longeline- (total added $500.00)
             *(Champion) Gist Buckle
      $500.00 Added by Triangle Sales Company
  2 Year Old Snaffle Bit- (total added $350.00)
       (Champion) Gist Buckle by Pryor Ranch
       $250.00 Added By Dun Movin Ranch  
       $100.00 Added By Ok Real Estate And Auction Services
  Walk Trot W. Pleasure-
        (Champion)Gist Buckle by Jay Star Ranch
  Non Pro W. Pleasure
         (Champion) Gist Buckle by McCarron Equine Appraisals
  Jr Western Pleasure ($50.00 Added)
         (Champion) Gist Buckle by Running Horse Feeds
         $50.00 Added By Running Horse Feeds
  Jr English Pleasure
         (Champion) Gist Buckle by Running Horse Feeds
  Sr Western Pleasure (total added $300.00)
              *(Champion) Gist Buckle
         $300.00 Added By Don Hagan & Sons Trucking
  Sr English Pleasure
            *(Champion) Gist Buckle

For More Information-  Please visit the Five Star Futurities Website at www.FiveStarFuturity.com.