World champs in American Paint horse competition

Five Lafourche Parish teams brought home top honors at the American Paint Horse Youth Association World Championship in Ft. Worth, Texas, June 28-30. The state’s Paint Horse junior team was named Reserve World Champions and World Champions in the oral reasons presentation. The East Thibodaux Middle School Future Farmers of America members are Paige Quebedeaux, Justin Matherne, Donee Fields and Cody Simons. The Louisiana Paint Horse senior team – Katie Authement of Central Lafourche High, Sara Thibodeaux and Megan Bouviere of South Lafourche High and Josh McCarthy of Thibodaux High School – won Reserve World Champion honors. All eight students also won numerous individual awards in halter, performance and oral reasons, ranking them among the top five in the world. Danny Quebedeaux, head of the East Thibodaux FFA, coached both teams. In the Open Junior 4-H/FFA Division, team members James McElroy, Mike Naquin and David Cortez, all students at East Thibodaux Middle School, placed fifth in oral reasons. Also participating at the competition were Cody Quebedeaux, of Thibodaux High; Kaitlyn Rogers, of Central Lafourche High; Shelby Gravois, of St. Joseph Elementary; and Jordan Lagarde and Brandon Gauthe, both of East Thibodaux Middle.

World champs in American Paint horse competition