HARRISBURG, Pa. — Dale and Tracie Brockhoff and daughter, Sarah, of Brockwood Belgians, Dayton, Armstrong County, earned grand champion honors at the draft horse hitch competition Jan. 8, during the 101st Pennsylvania Farm Show.
This event has exhibitors of all ages participating in multiple classes, including unicorn hitch to six-horse hitch classes. Judge Kyle Love evaluated each team and its driver for manners, showmanship, performance, and conformation.
Brockwood Belgians placed first in six-horse hitch, four-horse hitch, unicorn hitch, and team hitch, tallying enough wins to receive the purple banner.
The reserve grand champion was Lew Biddle and Rachel Gruber, of Oak Hall Farm, Boalsburg, Centre County,. and Gerald Allebach and Melissa Allebach of Windermere Farms, Spring Mills, Centre County.
In addition to the show, the Pennsylvania Draft Horse and Mule Association inducted John M. Cole, Centre Hall, Centre County, into the Pennsylvania Draft Horse Hall of Fame.
Cole has also been inducted into the Pa. Livestock Association Hall of Fame and the Percheron Horse Association of America Hall of Fame.
Also, Ben Miskin, Hampden Township, Cumberland County, was crowned the 2017 Pennsylvania Draft Horse and Mule Association youth representative. Miskin is a sophomore at Cumberland Valley High School and is a member of the FFA.
