New Jersey’s 2022 Governor’s Award for Horseperson of the Year was awarded to Carey Williams, who has served the industry with Rutgers University since 2003. Carey accepted the award at the 65th Annual New Jersey Breeders Awards Celebration at the Horse Park of New Jersey to kick of the Month of the Horse in the state.
“Dr. Williams is a champion for the New Jersey equine industry and her love for horses and the people involved has been evident throughout her career,” NJDA Secretary Douglas H. Fisher said. “She is truly deserving of this honor for all of her years of dedication and service.”
Carey began at Rutgers University as an Equine Extension Specialist with the broad goal to establish a strong program in the field of equine nutrition and exercise physiology, while building relationships with the equine industry. She is a leader in researching antioxidant supplementation and oxidative stress in horses, and her research has positively impacted the field of equine nutrition. The results of her antioxidant work have been recognized nationally and internationally in the nutrition and veterinary fields.
New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Joe Atchison III, Horseperson of the Year winner Carey Williams of Rutgers University, and Rutgers University Equine Science Center Founding Director Karyn Malinowski
She expanded her research into the area of forages, pastures and helping horse farm owners create an environmentally friendly farm. The award winner was the team leader for a large project that created a state-of-the-art equine Best Management Practice (BMP) showcase at the Equine Science Center’s facility at Rutgers University.
Her extension program has focused on improving equine nutrition, pasture management and horse husbandry. These programs have drawn professionals from many areas of the equine industry including veterinarians, feed and seed dealers, farm managers, horse trainers, massage therapists, 4-H leaders, volunteers, and youth.
She maintains her involvement in the equine nutrition industry as an active member of various scientific societies, including as a member on the board for the Equine Science Society, the organization of which she has been a member for 23 years. In recognition of her work in equine nutrition, she was recently appointed to the Coordinating Committee for the National Research Support Project (NRSP-9) of the National Animal Nutrition Program.
She is involved with several riding and showing organizations, including the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association, and the Horse Park of New Jersey, where she has been engaged as a key volunteer.
Other awards included Horse Park of New Jersey Volunteer of the Year to Amy Butewicz, who started in the 4-H horse program on the local, state, and national levels. She has given hundreds of hours to events and park activities. In her spare time, Amy rides and is a licensed harness horse owner.
Jacqueline Tanzi, a senior at Howell High School, was named the New Jersey Youth Horseperson of the Year, Agriculture Achievement Award Winner. She competes on the 4-H circuit and at open dressage shows. Jacqueline, sponsored in the Youth Horseperson of the Year competition by the New Jersey Horse Council, is involved in training and exercising horses and has volunteered at Riding High Farm’s therapeutic riding program.
Katie Eick collected the $1,000 Ernest C. Bell scholarship presented by the state Equine Advisory Board and named for one of the panel’s founders, Ernest C. Bell, a horse breeder. Katie, who is from Farmingdale, , is a recent graduate of Rutgers University with an Animal Science degree with a concentration on Equine Science.